The Best of
VIVID Training M A R C H 2 O 1 1
V Interview: Dragonfly aka David Colyn
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Note from G:
Seems the year is in full swing, everyone is shooting, chatting and having fun. We have just had a workshop, that was very well attended, and lots of fun. The pics have been loaded onto VIVID, and I am very happy with what the guys and girls did. Some very good work. Then there was the Open day. Was good having Hedre here with the Pro Foto Lights, was good, I want a set. I have to say that Saturdays are not the best, as its very busy here around the studio in the morning. So next time it will be back on the trusty old Sunday. Keep your eye’s open, as the next one is on location, out in Krugersdorp. Its a great venue, and I look forward shooting there again. Lastly the quality of the images are just getting better, this was a good month for the magazine, look through it, you will find some inspiration in here. To the guys who got there images in, well done! Have fun, take some images, upload them and don’t forget to say “Hi” in Chat
G www.vividtraining.ning.com
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Daniel West
Caption: Digitalescape
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Graphic Art
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ArcticDusk Photography
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Dorette Labutte Caption: Dawn
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Karel
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Dorette Labutte Model: Kelly
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Kyle Goulden
Caption: Chriszelda - Lady Of Rock “The image warranted itself into adding a more magazine style. An edge , yet not enough for trouble. And honestly, I love it with the text. :D�
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Genny xGenocidex
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F8Images Gerrit du Toit Model: Dragon lady
V Chriszelda Photographer: Jacques de Klerk Caption: Studio Shoot
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Salome Hoogendijk Model: Moya
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Leon
Model: Nicky Oosthuizen “Nikon D90 Nikon 70-200 f2/8 Nikon SB600 Flash”
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Winslow7star
Caption: Sepia Collection
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Roxanne Churchyard
Model: Caylin Anderson Photography: Paulo Toureiro
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Kyle Goulden
Caption: Kirti + Paresh
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Chanel
Photographer: Johnny
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Graphic Art
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Frits Hoogendijk
Model: Moya Fourie Make-up: Talita Grove “Used natural light”
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Jeanique Kasselman
Top & Bottom:
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Salome Hoogendijk Model: Anneri Conradie MUA: Maureen Grobler
V Kobus Schoeman Model: Tanya de Lange “Hagne Bush Lapa shoot in Warmbad area”
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Marius
Caption: X Pipes
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Graphic Art
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Chanel
V Interview: Dragonfly aka David Colyn
V Interview: Q.
attracted you to photography? A. My father was a Kruger Park photo terrorist and by the time I was 7 I wanted to be just like him. He put a Chinon CE Memotron with an expired roll of Fugifilm in my hands and said “There you go�. Im not sure if the 24mm he hung on the front was deliberate or not but the fact that the elephants looked like green ants in all of the shots got my blood boiling. I have since striven to get closer and make better images (mutually exclusive in many respects ). I was hooked when the Yashika 635 came home one Friday afternoon, about the start of high school if memory serves, the 120 format gave me the opportunity to get closer and get larger, crisper images, faces started happening for me. Natural light and anyone that was prepared to sit still for 5 min was all I needed to harass the World. Q.
Did you study or are you self-taught? A. I was a professional student for many years, however photography was not in any of my curricula. The only
What
creativity oriented subject I ever studied was Statistics. Photography is purely self failed, I rely on my friends in the industry and a warped sense of beauty for the visions I produce. Q. When did you decide to go pro? A Every cloud has a silver lining, my thundercloud came in the form of a “downsizing” and my silver lining in the form of my good friend, Gerrit Du Toit. I did a few paid jobs while I was seeking an alternate employer and just didn’t stop shooting, I could not imagine sitting behind a desk, 9 to 5 and kissing a bosses ego butt, ever again. Full time was about a year or so ago, Semi has been for about as long as I’ve known G. One could argue the implication of pro, but I make enough money out of photography to keep me in trouble and ever hopeful. Q. Favourite subject and why? A People, people, people. Couples give me the most emotion and I love the interaction, not as easy to direct two models, but its worth every swear word. I do enjoy shooting body abstracts, mostly as a self indulgent exercise. I couldn’t see the good side of a building if it got up and slapped me with a dead fish and landscapes leave me ....... Well lets say they leave me. I have been working hard at getting motor sport under the belt, but it feels very much like wildlife
photography or watching television, just waiting for something interesting to happen. I need way more interaction with my subjects than what the former allow. Q. Do you have a favourite picture and why? A Without question my photograph of Antoinette from a Boudoir Workshop. It speaks to me of everything I wish to capture in an image, mood,
emotion, suggestion, poise, character, humour. I do find myself uncharacteristically at a loss for words when I look at the image. Q. Describe your style? A Hahahahahaha, Style? I don’t think that I have a style, or at least I don’t see any particular style emerging in my work. As many an evening at Corrie’s with Gerrit, Nolan and the rest of my reprobate mates will attest to. In my opinion style should be instantly recognisable, there is no mistaking an Annie Liebowitz or Ansel Adams image, or a Karl Lagerfelt for that matter, you have to think a Little, but Brian Adams’ images are
recognisable although you may not put his name to them immediately. A style is what Alexi Marina and Andy Silver give to an image that either you or I could capture and BANG it jumps out at you, that this is something special, something to aspire to with the realisation that your vision and theirs differ to such an extent that you will never imitate them. The advantage then being, that your work will take a turn and “you� should start emerging. I do strive to flatter victims (oops models/clients) ) but Id hardly call that a style, realism does carry weight in my vision, but only to a point and that twist of perspective does hold strong sway in A lot of what I shoot.
If you believe I have a recognisable style, please be sure to let me know, Id hate to have been put in a box and not know about it. Q. What, in your opinion, does it take to be a great photographer? A. I’m not qualified to make any comment on that. Talent and skill would be my first port of call, naturally the ability to translate vision into practicality is a critical skill needed, many a grandiose idea has faltered at the feet of logistics. Greatness? There, another ponder able
raises its head, is photographic greatness the ability to make the most astounding images? Or is it the ability to sell or publish those images you have made to the widest audience? For my part, I will continue giving of myself to the industry that I love, putting every ounce of emotion and skill that I have into every image that I make, and every piece of advice I will give freely to those that ask it. Let greatness be for those that seek it. Q.
What motivates you as a photographer? A Getting every image to tell the story I have in my head. I repeatedly go back to my previous work, recall
what I intended and compare it to what I achieved, there is little that motivates me as much as a failed piece of work. Simply put, I am motivated by beautiful images, my inability to communicate the story
frustrates me and drives me to make it simpler and easier to understand, I hope to one day understand it Myself Q. What equipment do you use? A. My first line of attack is a Sony Alpha 560 With a 50 mm f 1.8 for portrait work Backup is a Canon 400D With a Tamron 28 – 75mm f 2.8 Photon 200W studio light setup rounds out my astonishingly wide range of kit
Q.
Do you have any advice for aspiring photographers? A. No matter what equipment you have, learn what it can and cant do. Then shoot within its parameters, or push it beyond what it was intended to do and have fun with it. Learn to use your camera. Don’t think that better kit will make you a better photographer, It will make you a collector of camera equipment, but not a better photographer. Learn to use your camera. Ask those photographers that you admire to help you with specific issues, some will, some wont, respect their opinions and use what works for you. Learn to use your camera. Read widely, try as much as you feel up to, be liberal with your ears and miserly with your mouth. Learn to use your camera. Practice, practice, practice. A 365 photo-a-day project (or any variation thereof) is a good discipline to get into. You will see changes within the first month and share your images. Some will comment, some wont those that comment are not necessarily your friends and those that don’t, not necessarily your enemies. Pay attention to what is said, solicited or otherwise, take on what works for you and respect what doesn’t. Learn to use your camera.
Network widely, if no one sees your work it becomes almost pointless. There are exceptions to the rule, but let your exception be the quality of your work rather than your eccentricity. And, you guessed it.................. Learn to use your camera! Q. Last words? A. My heartfelt thanks to the innumerable people that have had both positive and negative influence in my photography and life for that matter. So at the risk of offending anyone by omission, I thank you all, photographers, makeup artists, models, chefs, hooligans, family, friends old and new, but most of all my three beautiful, loving daughters, Robyn, Jessica and Emma. Without your love and support (and sometimes not), I wouldn’t be me. I most certainly would not want to be anyone else, I’m just having way too much fun living what I love.
Contact info: 072 345 5510 davidcolyn@gmail.com http://vividtraining.ning.com/profile/Dragonfly http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=645517785 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dragonfly-Photo/267778297543
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Frits Hoogendijk Model: Moya Fourie MUA: Talita Grove “Natural light”
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Marthinus Odendaal
Caption: Louise
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Rob
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Sharon Naude
Caption: Hand of Fear
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F8Images Gerrit du Toit Model: Hesmarie HellFire
F8Images Gerrit du Toit Model: Hesmarie HellFire
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Kyle Goulden
Caption: Let The Pages Fall “Unexpected, yet it works. Funny how mistakes can lead you to the next step. The Title has two meanings, what do you think they are?”
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J.C.
Caption: Grapetiser “Some fun for a competition”
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Kenny Beukes
Model: Nicky
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Dorette Labutte Caption: Dawn
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Cindy Jacobs (Erasmus)
Caption: Barn Girl Photographer: Shakil Farooq MUA: Maryke Visser
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Kobus Schoeman
Model: Tanya de Lange “Hagne Bush Lapa shoot in Warmbad area”
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Jim Johnson
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Kenny Beukes Model: Nicky
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Jacques - Omega Photography
Caption: Bridal shoot
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MarlieJ
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Kyle Goulden
Caption: Come Along “I haven't shot studio stuff in a while, and got trigger finger. Say hello to Willie,*snicker snicker* . Which, BTW, in South Africa is pronounced. Vill-ie. Just Sayin. P.S. His first proper shoot.�
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Marina Jooste
Photographer: Nolan Lister
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Leon
“Nikon D90 Nikon 70-200 F2/8 Lens Lightroom Edditing”
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F8Images Gerrit du Toit Caption: Morning
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ArcticDusk Photography
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Errol Mann Model: Vicqui
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Melissa
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Melissa
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Mike O'Brien
Caption: U2 stage at soccer city - Sunset
Left & Right:
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Rob
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Hesmarie HellFire
Photographer: Marius
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Lionel Lodewick
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Johan Nothling
Designer: David Tlale
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Moses Venceslau Caption: Latin Dancing
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Jacques
Caption: The Dance
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Kyle Goulden Caption: Impending
Cover:
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Dragonfly
Winner of the “Pic of the Month” Competition