PHOTOGRAPHY | douglas mark black photography NEWS/BLOG

2009.2 retrospective – the quiet sunset

By: DMB

09-01-2010

the quiet sunset.2 - Storms River Mouth, South Africa, 2009

Storms River Mouth Rest Camp part of the Garden Route National Park on the border of the Eastern / Western Cape has to be my favourite National Park in South Africa.

A strip of lush vegetation, a large and sudden topographic change down to the coast, and probably some one of the most awe inspiring and as ‘close to the ocean’ official camping sites and chalets that you will find without breaking some rule… and, then there’s the scenerey.

About the photograph:
‘the quiet sunset.2, Storms River Mouth Rest Camp, South Africa, 2009′

Unable to do justice to this incredible place – with one photograph – I have posted an image that captures a typical evening combination of sunset, coastal rock formations and just a hint of accommodation. It will take some time to get through the images captured here so keep a lookout on my website as I will be adding a ‘travel’ type section soon. If you are planning a trip to South Africa this is one spot not to miss.

_dmb

www.douglasmarkblack.com

2009.1 retrospective – snow in a dry land

By: DMB

09-01-2010

DOUGLAS MARK BLACK, PHOTOGRAPHY, TRAVEL

snow in a dry land.1, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 2009

2009 was an interesting year…3 countries, 3 continents, for almost 3 months at a time – with the last -being Australia, (which is where we have now settled). It really was, an interesting year.

Indulging in a little ‘retrospection’ the 3+ months in South Africa were definitely the highlight of 2009. A unique opportunity to indulge photographically, slow right down, and spend time with family. Being in a place where you still have a sense of ‘freedom’ or unaccountability was both frightening and liberating at the same time and in stark contrast to the CCTV socities of most major international cities.

The country, on the cusp of hosting the 2010 Football World Cup, is an interesting place to be. Ignoring crime for a minute (if you can) and I am not going to blog down that road…I had some fantastic photographic experiences ranging from charging white rhino to a horrific RTA/MVA (for those in SA) outside my window at 3am one morning…
So, as a last look back over the shoulder at 2009, I have decided to share some of my highlights and the images created during that time.

As I have often found, when travelling, it’s the places and situations slightly off the beaten track that present opportunities that you would least expect to capture some of the most dramatic images…

About the photograph:
‘snow in a dry land.1, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa 2009′

The irony is that the nearest country town situated an hours drive by 4×4 is currently rated as a disaster area due to the incredible drought … far from the night glow of urban sprawl people in areas like this need one thing to survive and when no water comes out of the tap, you have a problem.

_dmb

www.douglasmarkblack.com

The other side…

By: DMB

29-11-2009

BLOG, PHOTOGRAPHY, TWITTER

It has been well over 2 months since I last blogged and almost as long since I picked up my camera with any degree of seriousness, or, to be honest, enthusiasm.

Alot has gone down, but we are now literally, on the other side (of the world), as well as, (I am hoping) on the other side of my creative detour. Theres been the odd moment of enjoyment with a competition win here, an awesome capture there, but on the whole, to have had some time out to get perspective has been well needed.

I recommend switching off your ipod, not logging into twitter and not surfing the net – not only as a good idea – but as an essential part of re-evaluating and re-inspiring your creativity or just general life.

Given time to think about: sameness vs. originality, more vs. less, quality vs. quantity, fear vs. courage and the general brevity of life…amongst other things wakes you up.

I think it was Oliver Wendell Holmes who said; ‘The human mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.”

What a great line.

Restart + Reboot.

By: DMB

14-09-2009

BLOG, DOUGLAS MARK BLACK, INSPIRATION, PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO

It’s been a month since my last blog post.
___________________________________

Q: Why might someone who is trying to promote their photography take a off month between posts?
…and while I am at it, take another few before the next one…?

A: Because someone may have lost direction, taken a detour?

Back in February I caught a post on Chase Jarvis’ brilliant blog (link here) to a video by the photographer Zack Arias, entitled: Transform. (watch it here) .

STOP.

Seriously.

If you are into any creative endevour watch it.

Thanks Zack.

Sometimes, we do just have to transform, and to nick the U2 lyrics from ‘unkown caller’:

RESTART AND REBOOT YOURSELF…

I have been in Perth, WA now for two weeks, having moved accross the world from London…so it’s the new home at least for now and I have decided to take some time out do just that.

NO BLOG. NO TWEETS.NO PHOTOS.

Catch you on the other side…
_____________________________

VINTAGE

By: DMB

22-07-2009

PHOTOGRAPHY

VINTAGE

Originally uploaded by douglasmarkblack

PROTECTION

By: DMB

20-07-2009

DOUGLAS MARK BLACK, PHOTOGRAPHY

PROTECTION

Originally uploaded by douglasmarkblack

Photo (05.07.2009)

By: DMB

05-07-2009

BLOG, PHOTOGRAPHY

EDGE

Photo (03.07.2009)

By: DMB

03-07-2009

BLOG, PHOTOGRAPHY

HEART

Photo (02.07.2009)

By: DMB

02-07-2009

PHOTOGRAPHY

GEOMETRY

New images at Arcangel!

By: DMB

01-07-2009

DOUGLAS MARK BLACK, PHOTOGRAPHY

Douglas Mark Black’s latest images are now available at Arcangel Images.

Type ‘Douglas Mark Black’ into the search box to view over 1000 of Douglas’ atmospheric and conceptual stock images.

Douglas’ ‘vicuous dog’ image also currently features on Arcangel Images home page.

Photo (01.07.2009)

By: DMB

01-07-2009

PHOTOGRAPHY

COMMUNICATION

Exercise

By: DMB

26-06-2009

BLOG, INSPIRATION, PHOTOGRAPHY

Maybe its the current Lion’s Tour in South Africa, or the fact that my parents place, (where I am currently staying) has an ample selection of mountain bikes, but while out kicking a rugby ball around the garden this morning I realised how far I’d let my fitness slip. Heck, to kick and catch the ball is one thing, but then to imagine doing this whilst someone like Victor Matfield or Bakkies Botha is bearing down on you…

Some famous quote which I am sure you are familiar with says; ‘…the things that are easy to do are also easy not to do…’

…yip I know this blog is about photography, but next time your brain hits a wall and creativity and inspiration decide to take a time out…tell me you’re not inspired after a bit of exercise.

…better get mine in before 3:00pm Sat and we pull out the steak & beer…

Great Photographic Locations for Landscape Photography

By: DMB

22-06-2009

INSPIRATION, PHOTOGRAPHY, TRAVEL

Here’s 3 special locations that I have found incredibly awe inspiring and are just great for lansdcape photography…

Soussusvlei, Namibia –
There is something amazingly spectacular about the desert and the way light changes the colour of the sand – this is photographic paradise IMHO.

Les Contamines Alpine Lake Surrounds, French Alps, France –
France is so vast I am sure there are so many special little corners for amazing photography, one such place is the Alpine area of the Jovet Lakes a few hours hike up from Les Contamines. Fresh mountain air snow capped reflections in high altitude lakes – awesome.

The road to Mt. Cook, South Island New Zealand -
My 2 week experience of New Zealand (like most I guess) was largely weather dependant, thankfully the weather played its part and we were blessed with 10 from 14 days of sunshine, 1 such day was on the road to Mount Cook, from Christchurch. The light, the colours, the roughness of the mountain peaks – I could have spent a month there…

London & Paris…

By: DMB

17-06-2009

INSPIRATION, PHOTOGRAPHY, TRAVEL

…shots taken using my holga 120N…

LONDON

PARIS

…

PLASTIC

By: DMB

16-06-2009

INSPIRATION, PHOTOGRAPHY

Holga’s are fun.

I found out about the Holga watching the ‘extras’ DVD on (the first season*) of Lost…? * I think it was the first season…anyway…Matthew Fox was talking about walking around the set taking photos (something Jeff Bridges apparently does often – see his book here) and wanted a camera that could take a beach style environment, or something to that effect…

A little ‘googling’ later, enter Randy at Holgamods (its the A: to the last Q: on the page), next thing, a nice little Holga 120N arrived in the post (cheaper than UK). Thanks Donna for the help!

First film..total disaster…

Next film…more gaffer tape…

Many films later…a hack handheld panoramic of Trafalgar Square London….(its not everyones cup of tea)…now is it…but I like.

Trying something different can always be inspirational, or at very least educational, even if it doesn’t work exactly how you expected. This exercise requires the lost art of patience that you can bypass with a lens baby or PS filter…

A worthwhile investment in time and effort for a bit of creative crazy on the side…it will be used again soon…

James Nachtwey

By: DMB

01-06-2009

INSPIRATION, PHOTOGRAPHY

After my previous post regarding photographic inspiration I thought I would spend this month doing a series of short posts on this topic … they wont all be about photographers, and it wont be in any particular order, but here goes… No.1

James Nachtwey…

War Photographer…

VII Photo Agency…

Hero…

A few years ago a friend of mine living in France sent me over the DVDWar Photographer which if you havent seen try get hold of it and watch it – (Alan if you reading this thanks AGAIN for the gift!) and I found it incredible, hectic, but incredible.

You can also listen to James speak about his work here.

Adding meaning and significance to this degree to one’s photography must be an incredible achievement and yet James Nachtwey does it with such humility and ernest that one can only stand back in awe.

‘OBIE’ OBERHOLZER

By: DMB

19-05-2009

BLOG, PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO

This is the first post, in what will hopefully be a series of posts, about inspiration.

As I am currently in South Africa I thought I would blog about a South African Photographer that you should know about Petrus Cornelius Jacobus “Obie” Oberholzer who’s work is a constant source of interest and excitement to me.

Paging through his books, Raconteur Road & To Hell ‘n Gone always inspires me into what photography can be when imagery is based on wildly creative imagination.

After some on-line searching I recently came accross this video clip of the ‘Hotazel’ exhibition in Grahamstown

and this previous exhibition at the Photographers Gallery in Cape Town (following the link will show the exhibition images).

Check it out, buy his books and be inspired!

CRASH

By: DMB

03-05-2009

BLOG, PHOTOGRAPHY

Ok, so I haven’t blogged for a while and I am horrendously behind in Darren Rouse’s PROBLOGGER.NET 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Challenge.

But, I have just arrived in South Africa for a stretch of a few months for the first time in years and it’s been good to just sit under the blue African sky, drink a few cold ones and taste the dust…

So with the first week down, apart from enjoying the sunshine and trying to get an adequate internet connection working there has been some rural excitement worthy of attempting to capture…

Firstly I have a re-energised respect for people like Austin Stevens after having tried to *photograph a very fast juvenile boomslang (*read escape) 2 metres outside the kitchen door which was fun, thankfully it decided not to hang around and saved me having to run my ass off in the opposite direction…

boomslang

…yes its camera shake!

D200 with 50mm f1.8 lens
out of position = YES/
out of focus = YES/
totally inappropriate camera settings = YES/
to slow to photograph fast moving reptiles that bite = YES/

Secondly, I have a new found respect for Doctors, ok more specifically, small town ‘deal with all sorts of crap in the middle of the night’ type doctors, one such species who happens to be my host in SA.

Its dark, its quiet, its a little cold, its 3am post May Day Celebrations. Lying asleep trying to get into some deep REM level sleep and CRASH…wtf…i mean a BIG BANG…meters away on the other side of the road (as I later find out with aforementioned doctor-white surgical gloves-not knowing what to expect-one can never be too careful with blood and D300 in hand) we run outside to see a car has totalled the stop sign on the road opposite with about 5 passengers who have made abstract patterns with the front windshield….well, woke up pretty quickly, took a few record shots whilst doc got ambulance/police… up to the hospital.

CRASH

Verdict they are all lucky to be alive…realisation; apart from that’s the quickest way to wake up…it could have been very messy, thank God it wasn’t.

Africa’s an intense place.

2005/2006 Photographer of the Year Competition

By: DMB

01-01-2009

DOUGLAS MARK BLACK, PHOTOGRAPHY, TRAVEL

Douglas Mark Black’s image of the Na Pali cliffs, off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, achieves ‘commended’ status and is featured in the gallery of the 2005/2006 Photographer of the Year Competition, run by the Professional Photographer Magazine (UK).

To view the entry and see the winners gallery

*Updated: 01 January 2009

So the’ve deleted the link page! Here’s the image for those who asked to see it…

BJP/NIKON Dream Project Endframe Challenge

By: DMB

07-06-2006

DOUGLAS MARK BLACK, PHOTOGRAPHY

Douglas Mark Black’s entry into the BJP/NIKON Dream Project Endframe Challenge is published in the British Journal of Photography 05.07.2006. To view his entry and see the images just click here:
http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=336127

…

(Backdated Archive Post)

— douglas mark black photography NEWS/BLOG

2009.2 retrospective – the quiet sunset

2009.1 retrospective – snow in a dry land

The other side…

Restart + Reboot.

VINTAGE

PROTECTION

Photo (05.07.2009)

Photo (03.07.2009)

Photo (02.07.2009)

New images at Arcangel!

Photo (01.07.2009)

Exercise

Great Photographic Locations for Landscape Photography

London & Paris…

PLASTIC

James Nachtwey

‘OBIE’ OBERHOLZER

CRASH

2005/2006 Photographer of the Year Competition

BJP/NIKON Dream Project Endframe Challenge

ABOUT

LINKS

rss

RECENT POSTS

CATEGORIES

ARCHIVES

COPYRIGHT