It is quite a challenge to select 10 photos from a body of work produced over a year.
I set myself this challenge and it wasn't just to choose what I felt were my best photos but also highlight the memories behind the photos. Photography has been my solace for a long time. A place to which I could escape. Sometimes it has meant the difference between life and death. Trying to find the beauty in the brutality of what I was dealing with.
These are my favourites for 2013. By no means the only ones but the ones which do have special meaning.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do :-)
I set myself this challenge and it wasn't just to choose what I felt were my best photos but also highlight the memories behind the photos. Photography has been my solace for a long time. A place to which I could escape. Sometimes it has meant the difference between life and death. Trying to find the beauty in the brutality of what I was dealing with.
These are my favourites for 2013. By no means the only ones but the ones which do have special meaning.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do :-)
My top photo for the year is my black and white shot of Moses Mabhida Stadium taken during the Afcon Games. I wasn't shooting during the 2010 Soccer World Cup so missed out on all the opportunities for a night lit stadium. It isn't very often that the stadium is lit up. Vanessa, Leigh and I decided to go down and shoot that evening. A few things make this shot special. I got the lit up stadium from 3 unique angles. We stood up on the Ridge and could hear the anthem being sung in the stadium - what an amazing experience that was. This shot was a quick grab after dinner. We weren't going to go down to the bridge to shoot but decided to take the chance. And I'm very glad we did as I got the shot I wanted.
My favourite genre is B&W minimalist photography.
This photo was selected as the photo of the day on the B&W Minimalist group on Facebook. I'm proud that I am able to achieve the look I want with my photos.
Clarens Free State, July 2013
My first attempt at the Milky Way. A beautiful night - freezing cold.
Shongweni Dam June 2013
Maybe not a technically good shot but this holds a host of memories for me. Taken in a week when rock bottom was even worse than I imagined this shot reminds me that love is always around the corner. That there is beauty to be found even in the most unlikely of places. It restored my hope.
Imfolozi October 2013
A passing shot. He is so deep in thought.. I wonder what he is thinking about?
Imfolozi October 2013
Sitting up on the ridge and surveying all in front of you makes you realise just how insignificant and fragile you are in this great big world we live in.
My first successful capture of lightning.
August 2013 - Game Capture at the Imfolozi
I was fortunate to be able to witness this capture. Makes you realise there is a lot more that goes into the conservation of our wildlife and the people behind the scenes certainly do deserve our respect and gratitude.
Puddle Jumping... a first for me...
Phoenix Rising
I will protect them
I will defend them
I am their shield
For they are my all
Photo taken by Leigh Watson
Edit by myself