Heidi Erdmann, director of Photographers' Gallery ZA and Sean Wilson, Cape Town Photographic artist

 

Talking Images 2007 series, started early in 2007 again as a 3 part event of photographic ‘Live Exhibitions’ coordinated by Jenny Altschuler for the South African Centre for Photography, and was highly successful. Held at the Biocafe in the CityVarsity School of Media and Creative Arts Complex, as part of the X-Cape Festival 2007, this earlier event drew crowds of eighty to a hundred people a night. Consisting of 3 evenings of photographic presentations by various photographers and photographic artists, an interesting mix of genres of photography was shown and interesting dialogue between the photographers and the audience entered into on each occasion. The delicious snacking intervals turned out to be fertile networking time too and much later discussion generated from these interactions.

Whether the portfolios shown were edits from work in progress or final bodies of work did not seem to be the issue here. An unusual acceptance that people were at different stages of their career and at different points within their personal photographic endeavors was evident. Encouraged by Altschuler to put aside the usual prejudices that divide most photographic communities, the discussions seemed to be within the contexts of visual literacy and image production. Among the photographers showing on the 3 nights, (8 portfolios per night of which 2 were a compilation of many young photographer’s work), were Jan Verboom, Svea Josephy and Jean Brundrit, Matt Jordaan, Dale Yudelman, Tracey Derrick, Gaelen Pinnock, Alistair Berg, Adam Letch and Jackie Sinclair, Jenny Altschuler, Jackie Murray, Eric Miller, The Icon Photographers Group under Garth Stead, Isgak Stemmet, Mandla Manyakama and the Ilisu Labantu Street photographer group under Alistair Berg, Thomas Niemeyer, Grant Steinfeld, Peter Badenhorst, Dale Washkansky, Mark Wessels and Jeremy Jowell.

The portfolios of work shown were of a high standard in general with
some photographers’ work wowing the crowd more obviously with
standing ovation. The final evening seemed to be the climax of the
series with the audience feeling freer to ask questions and respond
with comments.

One of the intentions of these events was to gage interest in and the
need for continuing the dormant South African Centre of
Photography. Two meetings were held in conjunction with the
photoshows and a sincere interest was polled on the part of those
present, in having a viable, inclusive photographic home with various
portfolios and projects.

Present in the meetings was a mixture of professionals related to the
photographic industry, from gallery and agency owners to curators,
lecturers and freelance photographers. Twenty names were collected
from those willing to give personal time to the forging of a new
centre. All present were in favour of the Cape Town Month of
Photography to continue. It was noted that a formulation of clear aims
and a mission statement was necessary in going forward with purpose.

REPORT continued: 9th December 2007

July and October saw two more successful Talking image events. The 2007 series culminated on MONDAY 15 October when 8 photographers presented their photographic portfolios with audience participation and interesting dialogue, discussing various parameters of photography. This time Altschuler included a supporting act of a selection of younger image makers, still on their way up the rungs of the career ladder. Sivan Miller, a matric student at Herzlia School and winner of the Cape Province Art award of 2007, showed the body of photographic work that won the award. Adriaan Mostert and peers, students from CityVarsity Film department, showed and spoke about their 3 minute movies prepared during their course projects.

The main act was the climax with photographers at the peak of their creativity and careers showing a wide selection of genres of photography. There were photo reportage and feature stories of Nikki Rixon and Buyaphi Mdledle, philosophical underwater sequences of Roger Horrocks, conceptual colour abstractions of Dylan Colhen and highly sophisticated commercial advertising photographs of Russel Smith.

A demand for more of these evenings was voiced and a preliminary date set for March 17 2008, the 2nd last Monday night of March. Submissions of portfolios of images of work in progress or finished bodies of work for this event are already open. All genres of photography from conceptual to commercial studio work and photojournalism are invited. It is important to consider time elements for presentation checks and no work will be accepted within the final week before the event. Email to sacentrphoto@iafrica.com for attention Jenny Altschuler or telephone Jenny on 0829355522.