2011 and all that jazz

Well i have to admit 2011 was such a sprint year things came and went so fast one hardly had the time to take a breather and really realise how good things are going.Those  who know me know Iam an aspiring musician,a concert pianist to be specific so iam most definitely taking steps toward realising this dream first step (donations of old and unwanted piano welcomed and encouraged) is purchasing a 2nd hand piano,so i can stop hogging a friends family piano i could see he was getting tired of my unannounced visits followed by hours on his inherited piano.Every year in Joburg Newtown to be specific a ship comes in and settles on the Marifitzgerard square and for the whole weekend the fat cats and their wives or young skinny girlfriends black and white diamonds BEE types come out to play in the city during the Joy Of Jazz So last year i was invited to cover the event and i had excess to the event not just me but me and a partner so i went i saw and i had a lot of fun as i really enjoy jazz , in my opinion this genre is the funkier version of what you find in the orchestra classic stuff i tell you African jazz musicians in my opinion are the best in the world no disrespect to new Orleans.

JOBURG CARNIVAL(wish u were there)

The 31st of dec 2011 the morning weather in Joburg was very gloomy and quite ,i was two minded about going to the carnival ,but the photographer in me thought gloomy weather makes great light for making pics so up i went to the carnival and am i glad i went the participants from different regions in Joburg were clad in colourfull and outrageous outfits they were showing off their practised dance moves.Residents of hillbrow  were drawn out  by the du du dum dum of the drums ,waving in approval to the colourfull crowds passing below.so far the rain came down in drizzles nothing we could not handle the music was keeping my feet dancing and the participants gloating at the attention they were being showered with from onlookers.By the time we entered Braamfontein the puffy clouds started weeping on us painted bodies were melting made up faces started looking mashed up kids were now hugging their shivering selves.for them the fun was over.The media crew were diving for shelter to protect their filming equipment and notepads.but majority of the reveallers including myself could not stop dancing the drum beat .5KM down the line as we were about to get off the mandela brigde into newtown the sun beaming sun came out kids shed off their protective layer of plastic bags and rejoined their groups.at that moment a few k's from the finish line i realised how much fun the carnival is the ice cream vendors came out in their numbers and the fun walk carried on to the Newtown gardens were food packs and entertainment was awaiting the fun walkers.Cant wait for the soweto festival never been but this year its on like a scorn.

on the road

on the road going nowhere slowly ,id rather float than be here so i get on my love wagon and getting the hell outa here .there is no joy here just sorrow sorry i aint gonna take it no more hence my bags are packed boot full of water  iam out to get hydrated else where.see no point in staying no rain will  come this way this summer feels like winter flora dying of thirst me of stress so peace iam out

PRISON STATE OF MIND

Procrestination is a prison I realised today  blogger of note Nana Kofi helped me reach this realisation Ideas are diamonds in the ruff and we need to dig em up so we see them clearly and wash them and refine them basically work them like miners work in search of gold or platinum in the north west province.I went to visit leeukop prison a coupla moons ago and realised that many youngsters who are inside have realised that there is no time to waist in this lifetime.your dreams and hopes are never blocked by the prison warderer but by your own inhabitions and fears .Many don’t need to be behind bars to be prisoners.at leeukop I noticed that it was still like the paterns you find outside jail .there were those who saw their mistakes and were busy equipping themselves with skills and knowledge to help them hit the ground running once outside like Itumeleng Tshegara (21) who is in prison for five years for armed robbery is now a motivational speaker and  is also attending schooling  at the Leeuwkop correctional centre(wearing the rosary) and there were those who preferred to sit behind bars with their hands folded the whole day.

FEATURED:RIAAN BOLT

Portrait of an antique dealer ,this is by far one of my favourite photographs I made this year and also one that felt most natural while making.when I first met Riaan Bolt at his home in Linden he was calm and happy to see me, good sign number one: naturally I became happy to meet him .Juice or coffe he inquired juice I opted ,then it was the beginning of work for us ,Riaan tells me of the furniture he has on sale ,Iask him to tell me about him and he does so gracefully as if talking about his favourite friend; tells me he got into antiques by genes his parents collected he says calmy .Basically we clicked like long lost friends hence I see fit to feature this creative soul who is a qualified piano teacher/player,model and this I decided after our shoot he was great and has a beautiful face ,antique dealer and art collector of note.