FACE TO FACE
Having just completed another "FACE TO FACE" Workshop where we explore shooting people in very different venues and light situations, I compiled a collection of photos where my aim was to capture a mysterious mood around my models. I like working with the ambiance of natural available light and at the moment explore window light in particular as I find it effective to produce evocative images and engage the viewer's imagination.

WINTER IN JONKERSHOEK

There's a certain slant of light,
Winter afternoons....
When it comes, the Landscape listens,
Shadows - hold their breath...
Emily Dickinson

It took me a long time to photograph my familiar world successfully but once I realized that the magic is on my doorstep every day, there was no holding back. In this collection of photographs taken from my garden in the Jonkershoek Valley, during our mild South African winter I have learned to take full advantage of the quality of the warmer light and its deeper shadows despite the short days and cold winds.

AUTUMN IN THE VINEYARDS

Walking in the Winelands around Stellenbosch is a never ending source of delight when the "Photographic Gods" illuminate the slopes of the mountains with a rich, warm Autumn light or start the day with thick mist.
Being receptive and embracing the elements allow me to immerse myself in the intimate knowledge of the vineyards as well as my inner landscapes and together they transform the experience into Images that reflect the creative appreciation of my familiar world.

50th DANCE OF LIGHT COURSE

It's a time for reflecting....
Having just celebrated my 60th birthday as well as my eldest daughter's engagement makes me acutely aware of the milestones in my life.
So, as I started the current DANCE OF LIGHT basic photo course I present in Stellenbosch, I noticed, not without some trepidation that it was the 50th one since 1996 when I began to teach photography.
Looking back at the long years of helping people to discover their creativity through the mediums of Ceramic and Photography I realize with pleasure that I have not lost my passion for these disciplines, and awakening the creative potential in my pupils still fills me with joy. Sharing my knowledge, taking pictures and especially evoking emotions through my images, sustains my creative hunger.
When I examine the layers of the beautiful, rich and intricate tapestry of my life, I see it filled with great opportunities and wonderful people who give me constant support, encouragement and inspiration.
The collection of recent photographs chosen to celebrate this momentous occasion is an eulogy to them all.

MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY

The macro lens allows us to discover a world that is only visible through the lens, therefore using a technique of selective focus, I enter the realm of fantasy and embark on the creative process.
The composition of these images need to be meticulously executed as the balance of every detail is crucial to its success.
I realized, long ago, that I am the one to control what happens in front of my lens because of what happens to me, deep inside myself on the other side of the camera, so it is essential that I must focus myself long before I focus my camera.
I become aware once again that it is not "what I photograph" but rather "HOW I PHOTOGRAPH WHAT" that says something about the way I view and celebrate life.

Join us on a MACRO WORKSHOP and immerse yourself in reverie and creativity.