One Photograph, a Lifetime of Memories
“Teresa” (shot on film in 2000)
I could not document all the feelings and memories of one of the happiest and most carefree times of my life in a way that gave justice to their significance. Then I found all those feelings in this one photograph, authentically expressed by the love of my life who shared all those moments with me. Hand in hand we walked through endless olive groves, vineyards, orchards and fragrant fields. We rode our motorbike across so many beautiful Greek islands, visiting beaches, monasteries and ancient ruins, and swimming in the crystal-blue Aegean. To fuel ourselves we feasted on fresh bread, tzatziki, olives, feta, dolmades, spanakopita and grilled aubergines. And to accompany these gastronomical delights, some traditional Ouzo in local Taverna’s, rich in local culture and islanders.
We shared with them their sense of good health, abundance, belonging and freedom of the soul. At that stage, I did not realize exactly how deeply my love for this place and the emotions of the time would be represented in a single image. But after the click of the button, there it was, and there they will always be. Precious memories, framed by the beautiful person who will always have my heart… at a little table in front of a beach-taverna… on a beautiful Greek island.
An Unforgettable Moment of Déjà Vu
“Santorini” (shot on film in 1991)
We are way beyond déjà vu here. This is one of the most significant images I have ever taken and one of the strangest experiences I ever had. I captured this moment in April 1991, in Santorini – during the very first time that I visited the island. The picture reflects the moment I first knew that I had been in this world before, and in this exact location. The way the clouds reflected on the sea whilst steadily and quietly being gazed upon by the architecture around me stirred fleeting memories deep within my soul, from a long, long time ago. While looking around me I instantly and clearly recognized very specific houses and tavernas, although I have never been here before. I experienced this strange and very deep feeling inside of me, the feeling of being away for such a long time but having just returned home.
As I said, I have never been here before. At that very moment I was home again, albeit in a way I could not understand. In that sudden and deep state of “knowing” and “belonging”, I somehow didn’t need to understand. I was just so grateful to have “returned”. I often reflect on this picture and the immense depth of its significance. It speaks directly to a part of me that I so briefly recognized. It is an anchor that steadies me on my journey through this lifetime. It also reminds me that many of the images I capture for others provide a personal gateway to something significant for them – that only they might be able to recognize and understand.
A Slice of Heaven in Karpathos, Greece
“Karpathos” (shot on digital in 2008)
On a beautiful idyllic morning in the Southern Aegean, amongst the Dodecanese islands, we took a boat to the town of Olympos, on the Northern tip of Karpathos and slightly off the beaten track. It was Summer in Greece, and we were far from the world, in a beautiful remote location, surrounded by mountains and relatively untouched by modern civilization. We strolled through alleyways and wandered into little shops. We walked into a curio shop where a friendly old lady assisted us. Inside the shop sat an even older lady (103 years to be exact) who was the old lady’s mother. In the shop next door, we found the local shoemaker, who spoke and smiled in Greek. It was a carefree time of freedom and peace and the wonderful aroma of the landscape, combined with freshly baked delicacies, hung in the air.
We came across local women baking bread in communal baking ovens on little squares in the village. We feasted on fresh figs, oranges and watermelon and drank ouzo, Mythos, and local fruit juices. We sat down for lunch at a quaint and rustic little taverna where there is, thankfully, no English on the menu. The owner personally came to our table and asked what we would like to eat. We said we had no idea, whatever they have (because the traditional dishes here are a little different from the rest of Greece). He smiled from ear to ear and brought one dish after another to our table until it looked like we were expecting 10 more people. He carefully and proudly explained, in broken English, exactly what every dish consisted of and how his wife and grandmother meticulously prepared it according to age-old family traditions & recipes. We were in another little part of heaven, and we did not want to leave, as with so many other locations in Greece. My beloved Greece, I will certainly be back.
A Tribute to a Mentor: Capturing Artistic Essence
“Paul Emsley” (shot on film in 1988)
Every artist’s journey is inspired by other artists and my journey as an artist is no exception. As a graphic design and photography student, I was extremely privileged to have studied under Paul Emsley, at the University of Stellenbosch. Born in Glasgow, Paul was raised in South Africa and was a significant role model and mentor to me. He consistently nurtured my creativity during my studies in the late 1980s. On a beautiful Autumn afternoon in May 1988, we were shooting in the art faculty’s photographic studio. A gentle breeze drifted through the open window and the light was perfect. I asked Paul to rest his elbow on the windowsill and to gaze through the open window. As I often do when I shoot portraits, I asked him to think of something significant and special. In the soft natural light, his artistic intensity and a strong sense of “self” reflected majestically alongside his gentle and kind spirit. All of these characteristics sat comfortably and firmly behind his strong personality. At that very moment, I captured this image of Paul. He went back to the UK in 1995 where he gave up teaching to devote himself entirely to his art.
Paul’s artistic genius was later recognized by royalty when he was commissioned to draw an official portrait of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (now Princess of Wales). He also created an official portrait of Nelson Mandela which now resides in the permanent collection of the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg. Paul’s work can be seen in numerous art galleries in London, amongst others. Apart from all his amazing achievements as an artist, the person that he was at that moment, in 1988, is preserved in an image that I often reflect upon – with immense gratitude to know him and to have studied under him.
The ability of an image to communicate the true essence of a person – so much more effectively than words could ever tell – is one of the most important aspects of true portrait photography. This regularly reminds me of why I love the art of photography as much as I do.
