15
Apr
2010
Kriel, Portraits
| This is the second post with photos (hotshots) I took around Kriel. This time I thought it would be great to share a few portraits |
| Me and Deon was driving back to Jo’burg when we saw this lady walking in the same direction we were heading. At first, I passed her, but became so unsettled by the missed opportunity that I had to turn around. I drove pass her on the way back in the opposite direction. Not wanting her to notice us, we drove about a kilometre and then promptly turned back. We literally ambushed her. As soon as I got into shooting distance; I quickly turned my car sideways. Deon gave me my camera, fitted with a 70-200mm lens and I hammered the shutter at around eight frames a second. All the way trying to improve my composition. She probably noticed us and as she slowly turned around I quickly buried the camera out of sight. Eventually she took off again and this next shot was my reward: |
 Candid © danie bester www.daniebester.co.za |
| The story did not end there. Happy with my shot, I drove up to her. Politely asking her for a portrait. At first, she was quite unwilling but after what seems a few moments she probably realised that I ment her no harm. She told me her name is Lettie and then stared quite amusingly into the lens. Still seated, and with the 70-200 in my hand, I could only manage to get a headshot. I got my shot and offered her a lift in the same direction we were heading. She gladly accepted. |
 Lettie © danie bester www.daniebester.co.za |
| I took the next few shots, during our portrait class in Kriel at an old out of business petrol station. We had great models, but I couldn’t help myself in taking a few portraits of the locals: |
 Boxer Tobacco © danie bester www.daniebester.co.za |
 Unknown girl © danie bester www.daniebester.co.za |
 Unknown boy © danie bester www.daniebester.co.za |
Danie die foto’s is so mooi! Lettie se gesig vertel verhale van lank gelede. Die fotos is pragtig.
Brilliant News!!
Hi Glen
Great to see that you’re following the website and articles. Didn’t do much in Photoshop apart from running a filter (Nik’s Velvia Film) and cropping. I nowadays try to minimize the retouching, but still love to mimick film by using Nik’s Color Effex.
You’ll be glad to hear that I secured a great deal with a local company on wildlife safaris’ as well as a local conservation group.
See you when your’e back here!
Hi Danie,
You may remember me, Leigh and myself came to see you in February about photographing our wedding in September.
You told us the story about these Images you took of Lettie and showed us the RAW images too. I just want to say that it was a great and funny story, But the Images have had an awesome transformation.
My favourite is the top image. It is well composed and the colours are exceptional. The image draws you in and makes you want to know, “where has she come from and where she is going.”
Glenn