the best of vividtraining march 2011

The Best of

VIVID Training

V Interview: Dragonfly aka David Colyn

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V 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

V Daniel West Daniel West Daniel West Daniel West Caption: Digitalescape

V Graphic Art

V ArcticDusk Photography

V Dorette LabutteCaption: Dawn

V Karel

V Dorette LabutteModel: Kelly

V Kyle GouldenCaption: 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”

V Genny xGenocidex

V F8Images Gerrit du Toit Model: Dragon lady

V Chriszelda Photographer: Jacques de Klerk

Caption: Studio Shoot

V Salome HoogendijkModel: Moya

V LeonModel: Nicky Oosthuizen

“Nikon D90

Nikon 70-200 f2/8

Nikon SB600 Flash”

V Winslow7starCaption: Sepia Collection

V Roxanne ChurchyardModel: Caylin Anderson

Photography: Paulo Toureiro

V Kyle GouldenCaption: Kirti + Paresh

V Chanel Photographer: Johnny

V Graphic Art

V Frits Hoogendijk Model: Moya Fourie

Make-up: Talita Grove

“Used natural light”

V Jeanique Kasselman

Top & Bottom:

V Salome HoogendijkModel: Anneri Conradie

MUA: Maureen Grobler

V Kobus Schoeman Model: Tanya de Lange

“Hagne Bush Lapa shoot in Warmbad area”

V MariusCaption: X Pipes

V Graphic Art

V Chanel

V Interview:

Dragonfly aka David Colyn

V Interview:

Q. What 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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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�

V Frits HoogendijkModel: Moya Fourie

MUA: Talita Grove

“Natural light”

V Marthinus OdendaalCaption: Louise

V Rob

V Sharon NaudeCaption: Hand of Fear

V F8Images Gerrit du ToitModel: Hesmarie HellFire

F8Images Gerrit du ToitModel: Hesmarie HellFire

V Kyle GouldenCaption: 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?”

V J.C.Caption: Grapetiser

“Some fun for a competition”

V Kenny BeukesModel: Nicky

V Dorette LabutteCaption: Dawn

V Cindy Jacobs (Erasmus)Caption: Barn Girl

Photographer: Shakil Farooq

MUA: Maryke Visser

V Kobus Schoeman

Model: Tanya de Lange

“Hagne Bush Lapa shoot in Warmbad area”

V Jim Johnson

V Kenny Beukes Model: Nicky

V Jacques - Omega PhotographyCaption: Bridal shoot

V MarlieJ

V Kyle GouldenCaption: 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.”

V Marina JoostePhotographer: Nolan Lister

V Leon

“Nikon D90

Nikon 70-200 F2/8 Lens

Lightroom Edditing”

V F8Images Gerrit du ToitCaption: Morning

V ArcticDusk Photography

V Errol Mann Model: Vicqui

V Melissa

V Melissa

V Mike O'Brien Caption: U2 stage at soccer city - Sunset

Left & Right:

V Rob

V Hesmarie HellFire Photographer: Marius

V Lionel Lodewick

V Johan NothlingDesigner: David Tlale

V Moses VenceslauCaption: Latin Dancing

V Jacques Caption: The Dance

V Kyle GouldenCaption: Impending

Cover:

V Dragonfly

Winner of the “Pic of the Month” Competition