Ode to the wedding ring – My thoughts behind shooting specific detail shots

Ode to the wedding ring – My thoughts behind shooting specific detail shots

I have just read the article you wrote about your approach to photographing wedding shoes and I found this rather intriguing. I understand that you use the overall theme of the wedding when photographing details but please can you elaborate on this. i Would love to know your thought process behind each shot, even if you just have time to write about one or two. I know I am probably being cheeky asking you to do extra work but I noticed you now have a Q&A section on your blog.

Thanks for the email Lynne! Instead of going back to the shoe article which you can read by clicking here. Let’s chat about wedding rings as my approach would be similar for both objects. Firstly I would like to say that not every couple wants a ring shot … some would rather me take pictures of actual people as opposed to objects. I always ask my couples alot of questions before shooting a wedding and the answers they give me changes the way I approach the day.

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In the shot above the couple got married at the Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga. The red and white lighthouse is an icon of this area and very much loved by the couple. The bride was not from South Africa but the groom was and he had great memories of growing up in Umhlanga. I simply placed the rings on top of a post card I found of an aerial view of the Hotel. For me this not only places the wedding in terms of it’s location, it also evokes their mutual love for this landmark and each other.

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We took this pic in the Caribbean which is all about the white sandy beaches and cocktails with mini umbrellas. Enough said!!!

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When I arrived at this wedding I noticed the free newspaper for hotel guests at the door and grabbed it to draw reference to the couple’s wedding date.

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This particular couple live in the UK but specifically chose to get married in South Africa hence me using a map of SA to photograph their wedding rings on.

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Cagla is half Turkish/ half German and Brendon is from South Africa but lives in Zambia and they met in Australia and have traveled all over the world together. It was therefore important for me to communicate the idea of world travel and so I used their wedding invite with a world map on it as a base for their ring shot. They had their names printed onto M&M’s as sweeties for guests and I added these to the pic for some extra interest.

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It was a very rainy wet wedding … need I say more!

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There always seems to be sev and nuts available at Indian weddings and so I shot the rings with this unique Indian treat!

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This particular couple love to play chess. They also loved all the quirky details at the place they got married. This chessboard therefore became the perfect place to photograph their rings.

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I took this pic in Zambia. The groom was mad about tiger fishing and the lodge where they got married is right on the Zambezi river which is known for this type of fishing, in fact we actually photographed the guys fishing in the morning before the wedding. I therefore had some fun with a fishing lour and some hooks.

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ThIS particular couple came down from Joburg to have their dream beach wedding! I found a travel mag with a great beach shot on it and used this for their ring shot.

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This couple are both Afrikaans and very proud of their heritage. They got married on the bride’s Grandfathers farm and it was filled with all sorts of trinkets like old wagon wheels and potjie pots.

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Camilla and Don got married on Camilla’s family fruit farm up near Nelspruit – the one thing that struck me about their farm life was the fact that there were always grapefruits available for breakfast and so I photographed the ring with a breakfast tray.

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The Natal Midlands in autumn is absolutely gorgeous. I love the golden leaves that litter the crunchy driveways! This couple chose to get married on the farm where the bride grew up and they particularly chose an autumn month to get married on. It therefore seemed obvious that I had to photograph the rings using an autumn theme. This was a very rainy wedding … what more can I say!!!!

So in essence one can use detail shots to talk about the couples interests, the location of their wedding, the theme of their wedding, the weather on the day, the date of their wedding …….. etc etc
Instead of just taking pictures I like to tap into my passion for story-telling and create narratives. This makes the work more meaningful.

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Afrika Burn, Dust Storms and the Outex

Afrika Burn, Dust Storms and the Outex

Last week I published my favorite photos from my Afrika Burn experience. I also asked the question: “Who wouldn’t want to go to a giant dress up party where people ride unicorns and dance under a blanket of Karoo stars?” Afrika Burn is absolutely magical, there is no question about that, but even though you are encouraged to don your tiara’s, it is not a place for princesses.

The desert is an incredibly hostile environment. Boiling hot in the day, and extremely cold at night. There is no electricity or running water, and if you are a bit iffy about camping, porta loos or long drops, and insist on a 5 star ablutions and bidets, then Afrika Burn might not be for you!

From a photography point of view the desert is dust central, which is not exactly an ideal environment for a camera, especially expensive professional cameras like a Nikon D4. I was really worried about taking my gear to Afrika Burn as I rely on my camera for income!

I found a great solution though, which I will share with you.

I have always wanted to start working underwater with my camera, and so I did a shoot with Ilse Moore a while back. Ilse is without a doubt South Africa’s top underwater portrait and art photographer, and suggested I check out the Outex system. Not only does an outex allow one to take a camera underwater, it is a brilliant protective system which really gives a photographer the freedom to shoot in conditions that wouldn’t normally be OK for a camera. I contacted Patrick from Outex South Africa, and after a few good chats we decided that we would start working together! And the next thing you know we were fitting my new outex system and I was driving off for the desert!

I got a lot of curious  looks at my “camera condom” whilst shooting at Afrika Burn. But when that dust storm hit, I was smiling! I could go out and shoot, and feel very comfortable in the knowledge that my gear was safely protected.

When I returned home from our trip,I found dust in every crevice of every single thing I took, except for my camera!!! I felt very glad I worked with the Outex the whole time I was in the Karoo!!!

Huge thanks to Patrick for sorting me out so quickly and professionally! Click to like his facebook page here

Below you will find a pic of my Nikon D4 in it’s Outex House and a pic of me shooting at Afrika Burn. Thanks to Riaan for the pic!

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Afrika Burn 2014 – Tankwa

Afrika Burn 2014 – Tankwa

I have always wanted to go to Afrika Burn, and this year I did!! What is Afrika Burn you ask? It is an arts festival which is held in the desert in Tankwa National Park some 18 hours away from the green lush beaches of Natal where I live. Why would I want to head all the way down there? Who wouldn’t want to go to a giant dress up party where people ride unicorns and dance under a blanket of Karoo stars? I cannot think of any reason to not want to experience a place where random acts of kindness are encouraged, and whimsical self adornment is a dress code! Afrika Burn is a festival where anything goes and the reality of typical life is left behind in the dust. Nothing can be bought or sold during the festival, gifting is a core value and the act of leaving no trace is a rule.

They say that you will never be the same after experiencing an Afrika Burn … the truth is that my life had changed so much before arriving in that dusty pan that I couldn’t understand what that actually meant. Now I do!

Will I be back next year? Damn straight!!!!

Huge thanks to all my camping compadres! My time at Afrika Burn could have never been the same without this very special chosen family. I feel so hugely lucky to have experienced all that we did with all of you! Love you all!!!!

Also huge thanks to Patrick from Outex South Africa for getting my Outex system to me in time. Looking forward to working more with you. Keep an eye out for my product review to follow shortly along with pics from the dust storm we found ourselves in!

All pics are were shot with my Nikon D4, Nikon 24-70mm 2.8 housed with an Outex!!

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Recent awards and accolades – 2013

Recent awards and accolades – 2013

It always feels a bit weird for me to talk about awards on my blog as it feels like I am boasting when the truth is I am always amazed at the recognition I have received. I tend to be in a constant competition with myself urging myself to make better images rather than looking at other peoples work. 2013 was a pretty good year for recognition that’s for sure. Thanks to my couples who put up with me and my crazy ideas, I wouldn’t be collecting awards if it weren’t for my clients!

Whilst we were in Mauritius I found out I had won the Admired in Africa Photographer of the year award. Not long afterward I opened an email to say that the image I had entered into the the Wedding friends One Shot competition had won!!! This competition was judged by the public at the Photo and Film Expo which is South Africa’s largest photographic expo. Shoow!

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Then I found out I got an international Fearless award which is always a biggy for me as every time they hold a competition the competition just get’s tougher! There are so many absolutely phenomenal photographers in this organisation. Have a click on their site .You wont be disappointed!

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Lastly but certainly not least I was included on a list of the Top 100 Wedding Photographers in the world. This really blew my mind!

Thanks again from the bottom of my heart to all the wonderful clients who have trusted my vision and particularly to Tash my assistant who is just the best!

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Best Wedding Pics of 2013

Best Wedding Pics of 2013

2013 brought with it some wonderful things to be grateful for but also some incredibly difficult challenges. Huge thanks to everyone for the support over the past year. Thanks also to all my clients … I feel blessed to have walked along a path filled with interesting people who have hired me to explore and create. Lastly thanks to all the service providers who we have worked alongside. I hope the year of the horse will be as noble and magnificent as the real life creatures! Let’s go 2014!

Here are some of my favorite wedding images from 2013!

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