Clarens Pro Photographer

Ian has been involved in photography for the past 40 years. He knows the secret to using light to exquisite effect and has an innate sense of creativity. A multi award winning photographer, he has earned a reputation for his extraordinary ability to produce perfect images that transcends fiction and draw their strength from the magnetism of everyday life. Friends, neighbours, passers-by –his subject matter always suggest a happy familiarity. His photographs are a sharp mix of documentary and fictional reconstruction.
A no-nonsense minimalist who loves to be different in order to
CHALLENGE, TO CHANGE, TO IMPACT…..to leave a legacy!!!
After studying photography full time, he finished top of the class with numerous distinctions and also received the Ilford Award for the best student overall.
Ian has worked with various cameras from Hasselblad, Mamiya, Linhof etc. Taught in the old school ways of film and developing your own work, he used 4x5 inch large format, 6x7 inch medium format as well as standard 35mm cameras.
For a period of time Ian also explored the television medium and once again received top honours and the award for best student overall. After a few years he returned to his first love though – photography - as the more creative and expressive medium for him.
During his career he worked as manager at the biggest privately owned photography laboratory in South Africa. He also worked as a medical/science photographer for the government and large tertiary institutions.

Ian was Head of Photography at a Design and Photography School and taught photography, design and composition for the young and upcoming generation.
He was also the first ever person to hold a one man photographic exhibition in parliament during 1994. In 2010 he was invited to be one of the main exhibitors at the KKNK Festival in Oudshoorn, titled “Karroo Nights” and it consisted solely of night landscapes of the Great Karoo.
Following that he had a very successful exhibition at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, which was held in conjunction with the 2010 World Cup Soccer in SA.
As a result of the above mentioned Ian was invited to give a presentation at the National Books Festival in 2011, the topic being low light and night photography.
Through the years Ian has held many one man as well as group exhibitions. He is hence often asked to judge photographic competitions, give lectures and information sessions on photography. Photographic workshops are one of his great passions, as he likes to empower people and promote photography as a window to life.
Ian has had his own very successful photographic studio since 1995 where the focus are portraits, families, babies and of course weddings. Informal and spontaneous is what he is aiming for with all his shoots. To capture the true feeling, character and atmosphere. A real chameleon – he is able to adapt to any circumstances or weather thrown at him!!
Some of the companies Ian has photographed for include:
Wesbank, Toyota, Commonwealth Secretariat, National Prosecuting Authority, MacSteel, Surefire Africa, Ruwacon, Ninham Shand, Spar, Griqualand West Corporation, Mimosa Group, Pepsi, MTN, Vodacom, Dept of Health, Roundtable, SA Tourism, FS Tourism, Bloemonline, Glassfit, Advocate Chambers FS, Child and Family Welfare, Specialised Commercial Crime Unit, Era Properties , Keller Williams Properties , Interstate Bus Lines, DermaPur, Samba, Dynamic Rental, Aurecon, MacDonald’s, Konica Minolta, Leapfrog Properties, Tupperware, Cell C, Miss/Mrs FS Pageant, Ofm, CRC Church, Euro Café, FS Woman’s Agricultural Society, ABSA, Dynamic Group, Oranje River Farmers Co, Central Media Group, Digital Platforms, Redstar Agency,FischerHoffman (PKF).
Publications and Front Covers:
Country Life, Passi, De Kat, Rooi Rose, Farmer’s Weekly, Huisgenoot, Rapport, Sunday Times, The Star, Die Burger, Oosterlig, Volksblad, NPA Bulletin, Getit, Bloemfontein Courant.
Through the years Ian photographed and spent time with the following people:
Nelson Mandela, FW De Klerk, Mangasuthu Buthelezi, Patrick Lekota, Eugene Terreblanche (AWB), Judge JT Steyn, Paul C Venter (writer Arende/Konings), Irma Joubert (writer), Amanda Strydom (actress), Brumilda van Rensburg, Clive Rice, Joel Stransky, Natalie du Toit, Francois Pienaar, Ryk Neethling, Joost van der Westhuizen, Schalk Burger, Gerhardus Liebenberg, Prof Kobus Neethling (President of SA Creativity Foundation), Prof Gerhard Verdoorn (Leading raptor and wild life expert), Bernard Swanepoel (Harmony Mine CEO), Brand Pretorius (leading conference speaker), Freek Robinson , and many more…