What equipment do you use?
For my digital work I use Nikon. I owned three Nikon digital SLR’s – a D70, D2H and D80. I sold the D70 to buy the D80 and then my D80 and D2H were stolen, aloing with all my lenses, flash nad memory cards. I used the insurance replacement money to buy a Nikon D2Xs as it does the job of both the D80 and D2H. I initially bought the D70 a month after it was launched in South Africa and it was the best thing I ever did. I bought a second hand D2H in “as new” condition for motorsport photography, and recently bought a Nikon 80-200 F2.8 on e-Bay. The 80-200 / D2H combination is excellent for motorsport photography as the focus speed is exceptional and the camera response is amazing. For film shots I still use the original Pentax MZ-50 SLR that was the first camera I ever purchased. I mainly shoot grainy black and white landscape stuff with the Pentax, so lens sharpness and camera response is not really an issue.
Do you prefer digital above film?
Generally, yes. The feedback from viewing the image immediately is a huge benefit, and the quality of DSLR’s these days is amazing. Shooting motorsport on film would be silly (and expensive). I still prefer to shoot landscape stuff on black and white film though.
How did you learn photography?
I taught myself, mostly. I also read a lot of books and used the internet as a means of finding good photographers to use as a reference and for inspiration. I have learnt a lot about motorsport photography from shooting with one of South Africa’s leading motorsport photographers, Danie van Jaarsveld, owner of Motorpics.
Who / what inspired you to take up photography?
I would say the work of Simon Marsden inspired me initially. I saw his ghostly black and white photos in a book about vampires, and after that I found and purchased one of his books – Journal of a Ghosthunter. His photos represented a means of showing something as I would see it, as opposed to what it really looked like. I have all of his books and still greatly admire his work.
What kind of photography do you enjoy most?
Difficult to say, really. Shooting abandoned and mysterious ruins is always exciting – not only for the photography but also for the general experience of being in or around such powerful places, for example Stonehenge or the beautiful castles and abbeys of Scotland and Wales. Motorsport photography is also fun, especially off-road and rally because you are forced to get outside and experience a bit of what nature has to offer.
Will you photograph my / my friend’s / my sister’s / my brother’s wedding?
No. Definitely not. I only photograph my friend's weddings, if they ask me nicely.
Can I hire you for a shoot?
You can, but see the wedding question above first. And don’t ask me to take photos of your cats either, I hate cats. Send e-mail to sean at vampire.co.za to enquire about availability and rates. (Please fix the address by replacing the "at" with a "@" - I have removed my address due to the proliferation of spam mail that I receive...)
Where were you born and where do you live?
I was born in East London in the Eastern Cape (South Africa) and I live in Pretoria (where I have lived for 27 years)
Are you married?
Yes, Angie and I were married on 15 March 2003.
Did you really ask your wife to marry you in Transylvania?
No, I asked her in a town called Tirgoviste, on the way to Bran Castle in Transylvania. But it was on the same day that we visited Transylvania. And it was in the grounds of the palace built by Vlad Tepes, the Romanian count who inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel.
What music do you listen to?
I enjoy goth, goth / metal and industrial. Favourite band – Fields of the Nephilim, and I also enjoy Sisters, Sirenia, Nosferatu, Tristania, NFD, Theatre of Tragedy, Two Witches, Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, Marilyn Manson, Rammstein etc.
Do you enjoy travelling?
Yes. I have been to the USA, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Scotland, Wales and England (four times). I love the UK – they have lots of castles, abbeys and stone circles to visit and photograph. And they speak English, which makes things easier. And my wife likes shopping in Camden, so we go there every time as well.
What are your five favourite places you have ever visited?
Highgate cemetery, London. Carreg Cennen Castle, Wales. Dunnottar Castle, Scotland. Vlad Tepes’ palace, Tirgoviste. Sansoucci Park, Germany.
Did you design and code your site?
Yes, that’s what I do for a living.
Do you have pets?
I have fish because they don't make a noise. |
