Archive for the ‘Misc’ Category
February 23rd, 2010 by Chris
Skrywer van Santa Gamka, Eben Venter, het namens By met Stephen Dupont gesels oor sy wêreldbekende fotos en sy angswekkende ervaringe in Afghanistan.
Agterop die bakkie tussen die troep Afgaanse soldate voel Stephen Dupont veilig. Nog ’n trok met sestig of sewentig Afgane bo-op mekaar ry saam. Hulle is op pad na die papawerlande in die suidooste van die land. Hul missie: brand af en vernietig.
Stephen is slegs gewapen met kameras – ’n digitale SLR en ’n videokamera. Die soldate in hul bottelgroen uniforms troetel elk hul eie M16.
As fotojoernalis het Stephen wêreldbekendheid verwerf met sy foto in 2005 van brandende Taliban-krygers, die lyke aangesteek deur Amerikaanse soldate.
Boekbesonderhede
Fotos te danke aan TimeOut Sydney en Fader.
Cats: Afrikaans,
Fiction,
Misc,
South Africa Tags: Afghanistan,
Afrikaans,
Beeld,
Eben Venter,
Fiction,
Fotojoernalis,
Misc,
NB,
Photojournalism,
Santa Gamka,
South Africa,
Stephen Dupont,
Tafelberg
December 1st, 2009 by Ronel S
Cats: Afrikaans,
Biography,
Misc,
Non-fiction,
South Africa Tags: Actress,
Afrikaans,
Biography,
Charlize,
Charlize Theron,
Chris Karsten,
Ek leef my droom,
English,
Human & Rousseau,
Life's One Helluva Ride,
Misc,
NB,
Non-fiction,
Publisher,
South Africa,
Subtitle
November 9th, 2009 by Ronel S
Wine writer Neil Pendock, author of Sour Grapes, found reason to expand on the theme of his book’s title following the announcement of the closing of The Weekender newspaper. That’s another wine column lost, he writes:
The bombshell that this is the last weekend of the Weekender evoked the usual progression of emotions running the gamut from D to D: dismay, disgust, despair. From the B-(Bacchanalian) perspective, it’s yet another nail in the coffin of wine hackery with the loss of yet another wine column although agile Michael Fridjhon has a fallback slot on Business Day. But the loss of Penny Haw’s wine features (worth the cover price alone) is a tragedy, as no other organ covers her angles.
Book details
Cats: Food,
Misc,
Non-fiction,
South Africa Tags: English,
Food,
Misc,
NB,
Neil Pendock,
Non-fiction,
Pendock Uncorked,
Penny Haw,
Sour Grapes,
South Africa,
Tafelberg,
The Weekender,
Wine,
Wine Column,
Wine Writing
November 6th, 2009 by Ronel S
“There are two beautiful photographs that involve dogs” in the recently-launched collection of photographs, Alf Khumalo: Through My Lens, writes Marianne Thamm – whose encounter with Kumalo’s work led her to confront South Africans’ lazy thinking when it comes to stereotypes:
The first is of a young Nelson Mandela and his dog, Khrushchev, taken on a veranda somewhere during a break from the Treason Trial in 1956.
The photograph speaks volumes. Mandela, in his double-breasted blazer, is resting both of his boxer’s hands tenderly on Khrushchev’s “shoulders” while the dog lovingly nuzzles his master.
Book details
Cats: Misc,
Non-fiction,
South Africa Tags: Alf Kumalo,
Biko,
Dog Lovers,
Dogs,
Gilespie,
Gordimer,
Helen Joseph,
Kinshasa,
Makeba,
Mandela,
Marianne Thamm,
Masekela,
Misc,
Mohammad Ali,
Nakasa,
NB,
Non-fiction,
Photography,
Ray Charles,
Rumble in the Jungle,
Sharpeville,
Sisulu,
Sobukwe,
South Africa,
Stereotypes,
Tafelberg,
Tambo,
Through My Lens,
TimesLive,
Tutu,
Verwoerd
October 16th, 2009 by Ronel S
The launch of Through My Lens by Alf Kumalo was a happy celebration at the Nelson Mandela Foundation earlier this week. Somehow just having a launch at the Foundation brings out that sparkling touch of Madiba magic, with guests arriving dressed in their finest.
In the foyer, the Kings of Harmony choir brought beautiful voices and a touch of African rhythm to the night – the kind that gets you smiling and tapping your feet. NMF staff joined in with joyous ululating while friends, family and guests warmly embraced each other.
The book and the occasion served to honour Alf Kumalo and the exhaustive body of work which he has produced through his years as a photographer. Large banners capturing some of the themes and great moments of his work were placed throughout the venue and served as eye-catching reminders of the visual “poetry” of his photography.
After enjoying the welcome drinks, guests and media moved into the auditorium for the launch proper. Verne Harris, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, spoke in the stead of Achmat Dangor, saying, “Alf is very good at what he does, he’s always where the action is with a camera”. Harris praised Kumalo’s skill as a photojournalist and his unique ability to combine it with an artist’s craft. He said, “Every image in the book is a work of art”.
Harris reminded the audience of how Madiba does not want the work at the Foundation’s Centre of Memory and Dialogue to concentrate on himself alone, as an individual, but on how he was a part of a collective. Harris stated that Kumalo’s voice “through his images” is one of the important voices of the collective.
Next up was Tanya Farber, who wrote the words for this iconic new book. Having known Kumalo for 10 years, Farber noted how his work was a long and hard fight, not just a happy accident of fate. “He worked hard to be at events such as the Women’s March and the Sharpeville Massacre”. She jokingly noted how he always has “a camera as medallion around his neck” and that this night of all nights was the one time she was seeing him without it! She acknowledged the great privilege of being able to get to know “the man behind the legend” and how proud she is to have been part of making the book.
The Press Ombudsman, Joe Thloloe, then joined Kumalo for a discussion of his work. Thloloe likened Kumalo’s photography to poetry and called him “a great creator in light and shade”. Kumalo spoke of how enjoys “catching moments” rather than posing pictures and emphasised that photography is “all about light”. Both men recalled events from South Africa’s past, now captured in the book, breathing life and movement into South Africa’s Apartheid history. Pressed on whether he’d ever retire, Kumalo said he would simply take up using a digital camera when he starts walking with a cane.
The launch ended with sincere thanks from Kumalo to his family, colleagues, launch guests and all involved with the book. Guests then quickly dashed downstairs to buy Through My Lens, and a spontaneous and gleefully convivial party-within-in-a-party seem to erupt in the long book signing queue.
Gallery
Book details
Cats: Events,
Misc,
Non-fiction,
South Africa Tags: Alf Kumalo,
Biko,
Events,
Gilespie,
Gordimer,
Helen Joseph,
Kings of Harmony,
Kinshasa,
Makeba,
Mandela,
Masekela,
Misc,
Mohammad Ali,
Nakasa,
NB,
Non-fiction,
Photography,
Ray Charles,
Rumble in the Jungle,
Sharpeville,
Sisulu,
Sobukwe,
South Africa,
Tafelberg,
Tambo,
Through My Lens,
Tutu,
Verwoerd
October 12th, 2009 by Ronel S
Koos Kombuis has a reputation for being always entertaining – and lives up to it with his new book, Die tyd van die kombi’s / Short Drive to Freedom. Get to know Koos a little better with this 10-point guide to his life:
I am … Sh*t, how do I put this? I am … a citizen of the world.
Where were born? Cape Town, November 5 1954.
Who do you share your house with? Esné, my wife … ooh, I hate the word “wife”. Let’s say my partner. We are married, I just don’t like the words “husband” and “wife”. It sounds like one is in charge of the other, like cattle or something. I also share my house with my son, Simon (9), my daughter, Marleen (7), and two dogs, Griet and Piet.
Book details
Photo courtesy Jetstreaker
Cats: Biography,
Misc,
South Africa Tags: Afrikaans,
Biography,
Die tyd van die kombi’s,
Fiction,
Human & Rousseau,
Koos Kombuis,
Misc,
NB,
Short Drive to Freedom,
South Africa,
Sunday Times,
Times Live
October 7th, 2009 by Ronel S
Alf Kumalo: Through My Lens is an insider’s account, brimming with colourful anecdotes, humour and passion, of South Africa’s turbulent past. The world-renowned Kumalo shares intimate moments of pain and of triumph, in pictures and words. He was the one who escorted Nelson Mandela’s aged mother through the menacing crowds at the Rivonia Trial. He was there at HF Verwoerd’s funeral. He was a guest at Mohammad Ali’s home in Chicago and at the Rumble in the Jungle fight in Kinshasa. Kumalo joined Mandela on his first visit to America as SA president.
Kumalo’s life’s work is a visual documentary of a nation’s transformation, but he is also a storyteller of note. His first-person account of historic events and private moments is filled with humour and compassion.
An extraordinary and gripping eyewitness account, featuring amongst others:
* Nelson Mandela and his family
* Oliver Tambo
* Robert Sobukwe
* Steve Biko
* Desmond Tutu
* Helen Joseph
* Albertina Sisulu
* Nadine Gordimer
* Nat Nakasa
* Sharpeville
* Muhammad Ali
* Ray Charles
* Robert Kennedy
* Hugh Masekela
* Miriam Makeba
* Dizzie Gilespie
About the author
Alf Kumalo is one of South Africa’s foremost photo-journalists. He has been working in the field for fifty years and still freelances for The Star. In the sixties he was part of the now famous Drum team. Kumalo’s work has appeared in international newspapers like The Observer, The New York Times, and the British Sunday Independent. He is the author of two books, Mandela: Echoes of an Era and Alf Kumalo: South African Photographer.
His other achievements include:
Presidential Order of Ikhamanga (2004)
Nat Nakasa Award for Media Integrity (2005)
Several overseas exhibitions, including at the UN General Assembly in New York (2004)
Both well connected and highly respected, Kumalo is still actively involved in — and photographing — many top events in South Africa. He was the one photographer invited to Nelson Mandela’s private 80th birthday party at his home in the Eastern Cape.
Book details
Photo courtesy Oryx Media
Cats: Feature,
Misc,
Non-fiction,
South Africa Tags: Alf Kumalo,
Biko,
Feature,
Gilespie,
Gordimer,
Helen Joseph,
Kinshasa,
Makeba,
Mandela,
Masekela,
Misc,
Mohammad Ali,
Nakasa,
NB,
Non-fiction,
Photography,
Ray Charles,
Rumble in the Jungle,
Sharpeville,
Sisulu,
Sobukwe,
South Africa,
Tafelberg,
Tambo,
Through My Lens,
Tutu,
Verwoerd
August 20th, 2009 by Ronel S
Skorrie konings, biker dorings, seks, dwelms en leer, baie, swart leer. Dis die prentjie wat mense dikwels sien as daar gepraat word van bikers en breakfast runs, dit en die bygaande emosies van onrus en irritasie oor hierdie wilde manne wat tydens spitstyd deur die verkeer vleg.
Dit kan dus ‘n skok vir die gestel wees om uit te vind dat bikers lees, en ook verbasend goed kan skryf. Die bike-boek saamgestel deur bekende joernalis, Tobie Wiese – is gisteraand by die Donford BMW in Stellenbosch bekendgestel. Tussen soveel kragtige motorfietse kuier daar toe ‘n groep welgeklede mans en dames – bikers en skrywers albei – wat baie te sê het oor motorfietse, die oop pad en skryf. Onder die mede-skrywers is die kranige motorfietsryer en bekroonde speurskrywer Deon Meyer en die avontuurlistige Jaco Kirsten van TopBike.
Tobie, Deon en Jaco het ‘n informele vraag en antwoord gehou en die gehoor in stuipe gehad met stories oor hul eerste bike ervarings, die motorfiets op die voorblad (moontlik ‘n Harley Davidson – lees die opmerking onder aan die bladsy) – en dit terwyl Tobie ‘n geharde BMW ondersteuner is – en die keer toe Jaco gedink het hy’s blind na ‘n ongeluk (sy helm het egter net skuins oor sy oe geskuif so daar was geen permanente skade nie).
Die boek beloof om histeries snaaks te wees, maar het ‘n dieper kant ook. Deon het byvoorbeeld uitgelig hoe die belangrikste aspek van motorfiets ry die vryheid daaraan verbonde is. Die vryheid van die oop pad, van beweging en die moontlikheid om nuwe plekke en mense te ontdek. Soos hy dit stel – ‘n bike neem jou na nuwe stories.
Galery
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Boekbesonderhede
Cats: Afrikaans,
Misc,
Non-fiction,
South Africa Tags: Afrikaans,
Bikes,
Die Bike-Boek,
Misc,
Motorcycles,
Motorfiets,
NB,
Non-fiction,
South Africa,
Tafelberg,
Tobie Wiese
July 28th, 2009 by Ronel S
Human & Rousseau is baie opgewonde om aan te kondig dat Gedaantes en geraamtes: Omnibus 2 bekendgestel word by die St Paulus Kinderboekfees.
Kom ontmoet die skrywer, Louise Prinsloo. Sy vertel hoe sy haar navorsing oor spoke doen, en ná die tyd teken sy boeke. Vir oud, jonk en die wat nie kan besluit nie.
- Datum: Saturday, 01 August 2009
- Tyd: 9:30 AM for 10:00 AM
- Plek: St Paulus Primary School
Brummeria
Pretoria - R30 toegang vir grootmense, R20 vir kinders
- RSVP: Alicia Hendricks, 021 406 3477
(more…)
Cats: Afrikaans,
Events,
Fiction,
Misc,
South Africa,
Youth Tags: Afrikaans,
Bekendstelling,
Book Launch,
Events,
Fiction,
Gedaantes En Geraamtes,
Human & Rousseau,
Louise Prinsloo,
Misc,
NB,
Omnibus,
South Africa,
St Paulus Kinderboekfees,
St Paulus Primary School,
Youth
July 9th, 2009 by Ronel S
“Anybody who can write about sticking his hand up a horse’s bum so compellingly that I can’t put the book down for breakfast deserves to be read,” said Ian Scott at the launch on Tuesday of Roy Aronson’s A Vet’s Life. Despite two other book launches on in the city (and Michael Jackson’s funeral on TV), a goodly number of animal lovers, small children – and even one animal – turned out for the event.
Scott recalled the moment when, as a young boy, he realised that his budgie, Charlie, was unwell. At Dr. Aronson’s Kloof Street practise he learned that his pet’s cancer was, sadly, terminal. “But I left comforted, knowing what it was that ailed Charlie, even if it couldn’t be cured. It was good to know it wasn’t something I’d done.”
He said the book was “unpretentious in its honesty, offering insights into the animals and the humans who loved them” and recommended it to anybody with a passion for feathers, fur and scales.
Aronson took the podium and reflected on his delight upon opening the letter of acceptance he received from the publisher. “It read: Congratulations! You have joined the illustrious stable of authors that includes Breyten Breytenbach and Nelson Mandela.”
Perhaps the only one amongst Tafelberg’s line up who really knows what’s what in a stable, Aronson said, “I don’t pretend to be illustrious. I have no literary pretensions, but I tell a good yarn and I speak with my hands.” The stories in A Vet’s Life recall the pivotal experiences that aimed his life in the direction of becoming a vet.
The author acknowledged all who contributed to the successful publication and “Leopard’s Leap’s liquid support for local lit”.
(more…)
Cats: Events,
Feature,
Misc,
Non-fiction,
South Africa Tags: Adventures In The City And The Wild,
Events,
Feature,
It'S A Vet'S Life,
Misc,
NB,
Non-fiction,
Publisher,
Roy Aronson,
South Africa,
Subtitle,
Tafelberg,
Veterinarians,
Veterinary Medicine,
Vets
