NY43

No easy road

2009-05-20T12:21:00.002+02:00

1995 - here all my furniture had just been taken away by the bailiffs after I lost a court case with Earl Spencer.

1989 (Photo: Eric Miller) Here I was being arrested during a demonstration against "whites only" beaches in Strand near Cape Town

1988 (Photo: Adil Bradlow) During a demonstration by school children against Bantu education, I was shot at by police for taking photographs.

1989 Strand. From inside the police van, I took this photo after being arrested - see 2nd photo above,

eclipse

2008-02-21T09:08:00.003+02:00

Lunar eclipse seen over Cape Town at around 05.40 this morning.

ijazz

2008-02-19T10:16:00.006+02:00

One from the recent past - back in 2005, I was selected as one of the world's top 100 photographers to participate in A Day in The Life of Africa photographic event. The image above - of my friend Porkie Klaas and his band playing jazz outside a shack store - was used in the book.
All the images can be viewed by clicking here.

The photo caught the attention of Mark Johnson and other team members from the Playing for Change foundation in the US who have undertaken a huge project to document street music worldwide. It inspired them to come to Gugulethu where they documented musicians jamming in Porkie's home. Porkie has been training local students informally, as well as holding regular jamming sessions in his front room for over 15 years. After filming, the foundation promised to raise funds to help Porkie realise a long-cherished ambition to set up a fully-equipped township music school in NY27. Happily, the school plans have now been drawn up and the builders start work next month.

I have been re-thinking this blog lately since my photographic career spans more than 30 years of South Africa's turbulent history. As a regular feature I will be posting 'one from the archive' - an image from a key moment in this country's history.

Bamako: African Photographers

2007-12-04T10:00:00.001+02:00

Here are two images from Bamako where I attended the 7th Rencontres Africaines de la Photographie last week.
At the top is local photographer Hamidou Maiga with friend.

Bottom shows photographer Malick Sidibe from Mali

For more images follow this link to my facebook page by clicking here.

You can also join the Bamako 2007 facebook group by clicking this link here.

Bamako

2007-06-09T15:45:00.000+02:00

My work has been selected for 'New African Photography Encounters in Bamako 2007' between Nov 23rd and Dec 23rd this year. Click here for more info.

This year's theme is 'Dans la Ville et au deLà' (Inside/outside the City) This photo essay documented the horse and carts that collect scrap from across Cape Town. Under the flight path of jets flying in and out of Cape Town's International airport, and on busy main roads linking the residential and industrial townships of the Cape Flats, an old-fashioned transport business flourishes. There are more than 500 carthorses and carts at work in townships like Nyanga, Heideveld, Gugulethu and Khayelitsha.

The photo essay was completed with the support of the Research output of the University of the Western Cape.

Cousin

2007-03-26T18:38:00.000+02:00

Portrait of Truegelion, my cousin in Johannesburg who was allowed to attend my aunt's funeral on a special pass, earlier this year.

Township Jazz

2007-03-06T08:54:00.000+02:00

I've not updated for a while because there's been a lot of work on - assignments for the New York Times, an intriguing diamond story and some paparazzi jobs thrown in.

One of the highlights of the last month or so was the Exiles 're-initiation' concert celebrating the re-opening of Parliament. It starred Louis Moholo and his 28 piece big band. I'll post a photo sometime soon.

For now here's a photograph from an on-going essay on township jazz. Double bass player Porkie Klaas with Soulman Penny in the background. I exhibited some images in this series at last year's Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

Bull

2007-01-25T15:44:00.000+02:00

Former Chief Whip Tony Yengeni was released from Malmesbury Prison on 15th January.

He conducted a traditional cleansing ceremony at his parent's home in Gugulethu. The ceremony involved the slaughter of a bull and there was a huge outcry from animal lovers and the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) after my photograph (see above) appeared in the local and national press.

Sandile Mamela - spokeperson for the Minister of Arts and Culture is quoted in the Cape Argus "This is definitely not an SPCA matter, because it is not about cruelty to animals. Instead, it is about man's search for meaning, purpose and the redefinition of the relationship with the cosmos, God and his ancestry...
It is the constitutional right of all indigenous families and communities to perform rituals that reconnect them to their ancestors. That promotes peace of mind in their lives."

Comet

2007-01-25T15:41:00.000+02:00

Last week I photographed Comet McNaught which is still visible in the skies over Cape Town in the late evening.

Grootma

2007-01-09T12:07:00.000+02:00

Sinna Matshikha (nee Jason) born 1st April 1912 and died 8th January 2007 - my aunt affectionately known as 'Grootma' (great mother). She was my mother's eldest sister and the only one left in her family.

Here she was working as a domestic in East London. The photograph was taken in 1935. The girl's name I think is Nola. I tried to track Nola down through several magazines last year for an updated reunion photo - but it was not to be. Rest in peace.

Hot Tip

2007-01-02T15:17:00.000+02:00

Coleen Sullivan (middle) dumped fiance Justin (left) for the Earl (right)

Last month I received what is known in this business as a 'hot tip' - insider information that is very reliable.

Then last Saturday, the Daily Mail newspaper (UK) broke the story of Earl Spencer's budding romance with WDTN news anchor Coleen Sullivan. I got the first picture of the two of them together in Cape Town. The Sun's headline was 'Slimy Spencer with new beauty'...

Ten years ago Charles, Earl Spencer took me to court here in South Africa. The charge was 'invasion of privacy'. The Earl was attracting considerable media attention at the time from the fallout after the breakdown of his first marriage and his numerous affairs.

The general background of the case is relayed below (from the Freedom of Expression's Institute's website. They took up my case.

20. SPENCER v JASON
Freedom of expression issue at stake: law of privacy
The Cape Supreme Court issued a temporary interdict restraining photographer Fanie Jason from, among other things, photographing the Earl of Spencer without his consent, unless such photographing occurs while he is attending a "public function as a public figure". Two issues were at stake: The threat to the principle that a public figure can be photographed at any time in public; and the assertion that Lord Spencer, Princess Diana's brother, is not a public figure. Both did not bode well for freedom of the media. At the trial judges's order, the matter was ultimately settled and the principle that the media has the right to photograph public figures in public places was agreed by the Earl. The settlement was made an order of Court.

Status of the case: Settled

Christmas

2006-12-23T16:34:00.000+02:00

At Christmas my thoughts turn to people who have died this year - in South Africa and around the world.

I've been to more than thirty funerals in Cape Town this year.

In March 2006, photographer Gordon Parks died aged 93. I was lucky to meet him 2 years ago in his New York apartment. He was truly inspiring - since he excelled in so many disciplines besides photography.

Wherever you are ..

Merry Christmas.

N2

2006-12-19T15:41:00.000+02:00

Two fires in two weeks. This one was on my way to Langa on the N2 this morning.

Local press is interested only if there are 'bodies and blood', so I'm putting it up here.

One from the album...

2006-12-15T08:57:00.000+02:00

I was just about 22 here - trying to save up to buy my first camera. I tried my hand modelling for clothing catalogues for R50 a day which was quite a lot then.

I believe these shirts are back in fashion now - but maybe not the jacket.

Galloway

2006-12-09T21:30:00.000+02:00

Spent Friday following UK Respect MP George Galloway who is in South Africa for a whirlwind tour. He started at the Supreme Court where he lent his support to local squatters threatened with eviction from Vygies Kraal. He went on to address worshippers at Gatesville Mosque (pictured here).

New Res fire

2006-12-07T12:22:00.000+02:00

I hope there's going to be people out there interested in viewing these photographs and learning about life here in the townships and around the Western Cape.

Last night I was sitting in Porkie's Place - in Gugulethu. He's a double bassist I grew up with -I've been documenting his world for several years. You can view a picture here.

On my way home this huge fire had broken out in New Res informal settlement near Cape Town International airport. Luckily no one was hurt