Photos

Festival Frames #1 - Trespassing Permitted

I take a lot of shots of live performances, where I rather enjoy the challenge of working under whatever lighting conditions (frequently difficult) which are available - I am fairly militantly non-flash shooting live performances. I would like to put a few up on TE - so to fit in with the requirements, there will be some notes on some local festivals.

Travel in Africa often attracts because of our wildlife - a holiday in South Africa is almost incomplete without a visit to the Kruger Park. But this continent has far more to offer - I have posted some examples of a rich archaeological heritage and there is massive interest in cultural events - especially music, but theatre and dance also get a major look in.

Trespassing Permitted was taken at the Grahamstown National Festival of the Arts which tends to take place over two weeks in late June / early July (in 2017 it will be 29 June to 9 July). The granddaddy of Southern African festivals, running annually since 1973. The Grahamstown Festival is modelled on the Edinburgh Festival, with a main programme and a very active fringe. There is a strong focus on theatre, dance, classical and contemporary music and performance art. There is also a Jazz Festival running simultaneously with its own venue(s) and tending to work mainly by invitation. Like any festival with a fringe, there is no guarantee of quality for some of the acts, but the jazz has never disappointed. For Jazz afficianados, Southern African musicians bring some very interesting local influences in to their interpretations.

The shot shows (part of) The Mike Rossi Project - with Mike Rossi on sax and Jason Reolon on piano. My thanks to all those great jazz photographers for inspiration and ideas.

In terms of visiting the festival - Grahamstown is a university town/city and the festival is scheduled in the holidays so that the university hostels and residences are available - booking a room in a hostel is very affordable - many of the performers choose this option so you can meet some of the players. Grahamstown is kind-of at the Northern end of the Garden Route, about 9 hours drive from Cape Town.