Afrika Burn 2015

Afrika Burn 2015

My plan for Afrika Burn was to shoot the living daylights out of it. I actually planned to shoot the daylights, the nightlights and everything else in between. But Afrika Burn had other plans for me, so these pictures are a story within a chapter of my Afrika Burn experience. This year was my second Burn, and I can tell you that there will be more stories and more chapters as we are already thinking of next year. It hooks you like that!

For those of you who haven’t heard about Afrika Burn, it is an arts festival that could be described as Africa’s version of Burning Man, and it happens once a year in the desert in the Tankwa Karoo National Park. Thousands of people come together to form a community that celebrates love, life, self-expression and creativity. It’s a place where you can be your inner unicorn and not be judged, a place where there is nothing to be bought or sold, a place where you can dance naked under the stars if that is really what you can do, or you can just sit and watch the sheer whimsy and delight of it all! It is an artist’s paradise, a safe space for the inner child to run free and for the adult to learn that society could be better if we all practiced more kindness, generosity and sense of community.

Share this

Afrika Burn, Dust Storms and the Outex

Afrika Burn, Dust Storms and the Outex

Last week I published my favorite photos from my Afrika Burn experience. I also asked the question: “Who wouldn’t want to go to a giant dress up party where people ride unicorns and dance under a blanket of Karoo stars?” Afrika Burn is absolutely magical, there is no question about that, but even though you are encouraged to don your tiara’s, it is not a place for princesses.

The desert is an incredibly hostile environment. Boiling hot in the day, and extremely cold at night. There is no electricity or running water, and if you are a bit iffy about camping, porta loos or long drops, and insist on a 5 star ablutions and bidets, then Afrika Burn might not be for you!

From a photography point of view the desert is dust central, which is not exactly an ideal environment for a camera, especially expensive professional cameras like a Nikon D4. I was really worried about taking my gear to Afrika Burn as I rely on my camera for income!

I found a great solution though, which I will share with you.

I have always wanted to start working underwater with my camera, and so I did a shoot with Ilse Moore a while back. Ilse is without a doubt South Africa’s top underwater portrait and art photographer, and suggested I check out the Outex system. Not only does an outex allow one to take a camera underwater, it is a brilliant protective system which really gives a photographer the freedom to shoot in conditions that wouldn’t normally be OK for a camera. I contacted Patrick from Outex South Africa, and after a few good chats we decided that we would start working together! And the next thing you know we were fitting my new outex system and I was driving off for the desert!

I got a lot of curious  looks at my “camera condom” whilst shooting at Afrika Burn. But when that dust storm hit, I was smiling! I could go out and shoot, and feel very comfortable in the knowledge that my gear was safely protected.

When I returned home from our trip,I found dust in every crevice of every single thing I took, except for my camera!!! I felt very glad I worked with the Outex the whole time I was in the Karoo!!!

Huge thanks to Patrick for sorting me out so quickly and professionally! Click to like his facebook page here

Below you will find a pic of my Nikon D4 in it’s Outex House and a pic of me shooting at Afrika Burn. Thanks to Riaan for the pic!

Share this

Afrika Burn 2014 – Tankwa

Afrika Burn 2014 – Tankwa

I have always wanted to go to Afrika Burn, and this year I did!! What is Afrika Burn you ask? It is an arts festival which is held in the desert in Tankwa National Park some 18 hours away from the green lush beaches of Natal where I live. Why would I want to head all the way down there? Who wouldn’t want to go to a giant dress up party where people ride unicorns and dance under a blanket of Karoo stars? I cannot think of any reason to not want to experience a place where random acts of kindness are encouraged, and whimsical self adornment is a dress code! Afrika Burn is a festival where anything goes and the reality of typical life is left behind in the dust. Nothing can be bought or sold during the festival, gifting is a core value and the act of leaving no trace is a rule.

They say that you will never be the same after experiencing an Afrika Burn … the truth is that my life had changed so much before arriving in that dusty pan that I couldn’t understand what that actually meant. Now I do!

Will I be back next year? Damn straight!!!!

Huge thanks to all my camping compadres! My time at Afrika Burn could have never been the same without this very special chosen family. I feel so hugely lucky to have experienced all that we did with all of you! Love you all!!!!

Also huge thanks to Patrick from Outex South Africa for getting my Outex system to me in time. Looking forward to working more with you. Keep an eye out for my product review to follow shortly along with pics from the dust storm we found ourselves in!

All pics are were shot with my Nikon D4, Nikon 24-70mm 2.8 housed with an Outex!!

Share this