Photography
Until recently, every family had at least one film camera in the household. Today, however, most of those film cameras have been replaced by digital cameras. To the end user, using a point-and-shoot digital camera may be little different from using a similar point and shoot film camera, with the notable exception of how the images are output, on little flash memory cards instead of on film that must be developed. One technology replaces the other in performing the same task, that of photographically documenting people, places, and events. A thing to remember though, is that no matter how serious you might get about your photography, always try to have fun. Advance your skills as you see fit, but make sure that what you’re doing is enjoyable. The best photographs capture a certain joy, and that’s something you as the photographer have to provide. So keep learning, keep shooting, and keep having fun!
NICK ALDRIDGE
Photography water time light
Text Ally Mesnard Images Nick Aldridge
Capetonian
, Nick Aldridge, was born and raised in the Mother City and is obsessed with the sea and the coast. Surfer, diver and swimmer are only some of the names he uses to describe himself. To him photography means technology, beauty and the place where the spirit and the material world merges. His images have a dreamlike vibe to them; I’d describe them as beautiful, confident, sassy, compelling, haunting, bizarre, weird, wild and wonderful!
Do you have any formal training regarding photography? A stint at Cape Tech (graphic design, got bored), Fine Art at Michaelis (two years, got bored) photographed houses for the property pages of Die Burger for a week before being offered a job as a photographer . . . Fell in love with Photography and became so obsessed it was impossible not to learn. How technical is your photography? It is sometimes very technical, sometimes not at all. I have had a longstanding love of subtle Photoshop (and now Lightroom) adjustments. My shooting is mostly with the same settings on the camera though. (Shallow depth of field, and straight lenses.) Where is your favourite place to live and work as a photographer in the world and why? On the edge of a body of water, in an ancient city, close to a beautiful, wise face. In a strange and exotic land! Define the word “beauty”!
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When did you decide to become a photographer? Lying under a huge nest of weaver birds in the Kalahari with my father when I was ten years old, the dream got lost for many years and then found me again by accident . . . I’ve never really
Can you recall the first photo you saw that made you go WOW? William Allard’s series on Cowboys for National Geographic and Chris Jansen’s Nudes were hugely influential on me when I first saw them.
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You really have to go and see his collections in order to grasp the versatility of this photographer, but before you do here is what Nick has to say about his passion…
earned a living doing anything else.
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His digital portraiture uses editing tricks to its full advantage and will often create discussion and debate about, well… all sorts of things really! So there’s little wonder as to why he exhibits all over the world and has had work published many times over. The images on these pages are from his Nature Portfolio: water time light.
Greg Anderson
Photography
In Love with the Wild Creatures of Africa
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grew up on a farm in Mpumalanga, where from an early age he fell in love with the wild creatures of Africa. “I would at a young age spend most of my free time out in the bush and sometimes only came
Text J.K. Stevenson Images Greg Anderson
back home days later. I was very young when my mother would bundle my brother and me into the back of the station wagon and took us on an adventure into the awesome game reserves in South Africa.�
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What are the biggest personal or professional challenges you face on a daily basis? It would be to remind myself that there is a world outside Wildlife photography, the obsession can consume you.
Photography was a natural extension of his passion for the wild and it has added a whole new dimension to his travels. Greg has managed to capture the soul and essence of these wild creatures masterfully, reflecting above all his love and devotion for his subject matter.
Tell your funniest, scariest, most bizarre, most touching story from a photo shoot! The most touching experience would be the time I spent with a pack of Wild Dogs with pups in Botswana. Found this pack one afternoon on the bank of a river and after spending some time with them, it became clear they were quite relaxed so I got out of the vehicle and spent the rest of the time photography them interacting around me.
Can you recall the first photo you took that made you go WOW? I can’t recall a specific shot, but clearly recall the rush of excitement and anticipation waiting to see if I nailed the shot. Still have that rush to this day!
Describe what black and white photography means to you? Black and White gives you a different perspective of the beautiful creatures and places I try to bring into your home.
How technical is your photography? My photography is not that technical, but requires many hours in the bush looking for that one special moment and when it comes you had better be ready!
Tell a little secret about yourself that no one knows... There is a very special place I’ve found in Botswana and I’m keeping it to myself for the moment.
Where is your favourite place to live and work as a photographer in the world and why? I would have to say Southern Africa, because of the beautiful and unique wild places still available to us.
How do you feel about digital manipulation and to what extent do you utilize it? Too much digital manipulation in Wildlife photography destroys the essence of what wildlife photographers are trying to achieve, which is bringing the beautiful outdoors to the attention of world.
Who in this industry’s work do you admire and why? Wim van den Heever form Outdoor Photo, who has the knack of capturing the most insane
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What is your favourite image, either your own or someone else’s or both? Describe its creation or meaning to you? I would have to say its one of a herd of giraffe all looking at me out of curiosity, while I lay on my back in the grass photographing them. To add to the experience this took place in the Central Kalahari with not a living soul around for miles.
Tell us about the photographic equipment you use? I currently use Nikon with the D3s and 200 – 400 F4 being my favourite tools of trade. The D3s body gives me the ISO capabilities I require when photographing under low light, and the 200-400 F4 gives me a quality shot with the versatility of 200 – 400 focal lengths.
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How does your personality change when you look through the lenses? I’m not sure how my personality changes, but having a camera in hand switches me off from the rest of the world, where it’s just my subject and me.
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On leaving school he studied nature conservation and then worked for the Natal Parks Board as a ranger in Northern Zululand. After some years he left the bush to pursue a career in the corporate world, however, his love for the wild never dwindled and he was lucky enough to do both and travel extensively into the wild places of Southern Africa, especially Botswana.