Change Is Coming: For My Photography And For This Site
When I look back at the images I have created since I started taking photography more seriously (i.e. when I got my first SLR in the late 1970s, a Ricoh XR-1) I can see that there has been some documentary-style impact from the beginning, mixed with what might be called the seeds of fine art.
I created images from the disappearing remnants of the coal mining industry in my home town, bad attempts to build high rises and social housing, and the changing environment of the small village where I lived.
In addition to these images, I tried my hand at model photography (no not taking images of nice-looking men and women - I was too young for that - but from plastic airplane and ship models) and creating artistic images of railroads and statues. Probably pretty childish and simple looking back at it now, but there was a beginning...
With the advance of my equipment, and traveling and living abroad, my photography became more focused on cityscapes and architecture.
In South Africa, I got even better gear (Nikon D700, and 20-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses) and my photography became wildlife-focused. Probably not a surprise.
After moving to the US I quickly discovered that the availability of huge wildlife parks and animals in the Greenville, SC area is quite limited. I also didn't want to lug a heavy DSLR and lenses with me anymore. I changed my cameras to two extremes: the small, inconspicuous Fujifilm X-Pro1 and the huge and tripod-based Mamiya RZ67 ProII.
With this change of cameras and re-discovering the images I created with my first SLR, photography became more focused on fine art and I got a renewed interest in storytelling.
Then came the X100F and soon thereafter the M4. Both were game changers for my photographic thinking and style: storytelling evolved into street and documentary photography.
At this point in my photographic development, I have made the decision to focus on street and documentary photography.
I will continue, however, to produce so-called fine art images. And to prevent confusing the viewers of my web site, I have decided to move my fine art images. After looking at several alternatives I selected SaatchiArt: it is a renowned platform, convenient to use for me and any prospective buyers of my prints, and SaatchiArt produces quality prints without me having to be involved on a daily basis.
Street and documentary photography, however, will have my focus. I already have several projects in mind I will work on when back in the US. And I am currently working on a project here in South Africa. This also will mean that the set-up of my site will change.
More to come or, as they say: "watch this space".