Roddy's thoughts and pictures at the close of the day
Little did I know when I was finishing work on my exhibition for this year's #NAF19 that I was previewing the name change debate of the 1820 Settlers' National Monument. I've got a panorama, taken from the cuttings above the N2 bypass, that's entitled 1820 Settlers' Sunset. I've since been told that it looks apocalyptic.... Continue Reading →
I've been making symmetrical images for many years now. Usually of trees, grass, leaves, ferns and clouds - you can see plenty in my Symmetry in Nature book download. Recently I have been making them much more complex by dissolving nude female figures into the composition. Here's a good example from this years's #NAF19. It's... Continue Reading →
Forests are hard to photograph. They've got all the light and shade, shapes and textures you could want - but trying to get that in a picture and capture the feel of a forest is another story. On Christmas Day last year I took a very wet and slippery walk to Hogsback's Big Tree. On the way... Continue Reading →
Today's the big day - it's when I get my large prints back from the framers. I've worked on them for a long time but only seen them on the computer screen - and they can be big: 90 cms x 90 cms. I get a glimpse when I carefully unroll them as they come... Continue Reading →
Opening up a roll of prints takes me straight back to childhood. It's the anticipation, the long wait since you finished the post production and uploaded the images to your printer in Port Elizabeth or Cape Town. Then you get the email, they're done, and you have to wait for the courier to deliver. 24... Continue Reading →
The N2's not an easy road and I don't think many festinos' would think it's a delight: but most people will come to #NAF18 along it. Whether from Port Elizabeth or King William's Town it snakes its way across a whole sequence of deep valleys. I just love the names of the rivers. On the... Continue Reading →
This month certainly started with a bang - we had a spectacular storm last night that's given me another picture for #NAF18. I shall add it to the three night pictures in the Grahamstown Series I've already printed for Metamorphosis. You get such cool colours and effects in night photographs whether it's a moon rise, car... Continue Reading →
You must find a dramatic image to publicise your exhibition - that's what the #NAF18 organisers tell you. This year it was easy because Meagen gave me a photo shoot and we got some really striking images. For the photo shoot I made a set of motifs from tree ferns, branches and lightning that I... Continue Reading →
We collected another eight metal prints from Orms Print Room in Cape Town last week. They're going to be showcased in Metamorphosis, my fringe exhibition at the Johan Carinus Art Centre during the National Arts Festival 2018. The four monochrome prints are pictured here. They're unusual because they don't have any white. Instead the brushed aluminium... Continue Reading →
Metamorphosis is my theme for this years's exhibition on the Arts Festival Fringe at the Johan Carinus Art Centre. I've got 50+ images and more than 40 are new so with less than three months before opening I'm in constant communication with printers in Cape Town (Orms Print Room) and Port Elizabeth (Walker Digital). I'm... Continue Reading →
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