I have started work on a new project, possibly for my thesis for my final year. I am investigating the Trance music culture of South Africa, something that is very new to me, because of living in Namibia most of my life, yet it is something that I quickly fell in love with. Many controversies surround the Trance genre, a genre of music whose meaning and culture has greatly changed over the past twenty odd years in South Africa, and worldwide. I will be investigating these controversies over the next year or so, at both indoor and outdoor parties and festivals. Along with the research I gather from talking to people involved in this genre, which I believe will be the best way of gathering information about these controversies, I hope to develop my own unique conclusion to these controversies, accompanied by a visual counterpart.
I’ve been working on Andrew Putter’s masters project, photographing for him along with my friend Kyle Weeks. It started out as an assistant job for costume tests. As soon as we arrived, we got informed about what needed to be done, and practically landed up taking over all photographic aspects. Andrew later asked us to shoot the final project, which is set to be exhibited at the Michael Stevenson Gallery in Cape Town. The project revolves around the photographs taken by Alfred Duggan-Cronin of South African tribes in the 1920s/30s. Duggan-Cronin’s work has often been criticized for its artifice and stultifying, primitivizing view. By inventing an imaginary, inter-racial tribe, Andrew is attempting to reclaim something which goes beyond racism and colonialism. Something that he describes as sheer beauty.
Our second major project of the year involved capturing the landscape via the medium of large format. The concept revolved around how the landscape photograph constructs our sense of South African topography. After some back-and-forth brainstorming regarding how I could best demonstrate either hyperfocal focus or tilt/shift movements, the idea of photographing Robben Island suddenly popped into my head. I spent a rather large sum on this project. 4x5 Film (Provia 100f, not cheap), developing, scanning, printing, petrol, as well as tickets to the Island all needed to be put into consideration. I was satisfied with the outcome.
“It’s that ancient love
That you won’t outgrow
It’s the fee you pay
It’s the debt you owe
Is that subtle way
That you throw me down
I am inches above
The dust on the ground.”
Truth.
As part of our last major project of the year, we were required to explore different sociopolitical aspects locally, and in the landscape. 35mm film was the medium, and we were also required to update the film by two stops. My concept involved skateboarding. I shot this photograph of my friend Alessandro at a skatepark in Stellenbosch as part of my research for the project.
Maloof Money Cup 2011 - Kimberley, South Africa.
A few friends and I took the long journey, nearly 1000 kms, to Kimberley, for the Maloof Money Cup. It landed up being a weekend of absolute madness. There was a fantastic lineup of skaters, both local and international, entertaining the crowd, and I witnessed great skateboarding performed in a great park. The photo is of Bob Burnquist, a skateboarder I’ve admired since I was a kid.
