New Website

Last weekend saw the launch of my new website. The site has been fully re-designed and has all new portfolio work and sections. I have also added all my fine art to the website including sections dedicated to Anthea Moys, Athi-Patra & my first exhibition the-neverending.

Please go to http://www.imagination.co.za and see all the changes.

Chris S

One night out

At a house warming the other night in Newtown someone decided to leave a flash and umbrella lying around. The Photos in this update are what in turn resulted. C

Dancers, Designers & a model in Wanted Magazine

Two weeks ago, Louw Coutzer (stylist extraordinaire) phoned me up and gave me a ten minute brief on the phone for an amazing shoot with dancers and Sanlam fashion week designers. I didn't know at all what I was getting myself into. Below is the final results of the newest Fashion Editorial in this months Bussiness Day Wanted Magazine.

Chris

Team Uncool Launch this saturday 23rd August

Hey,

Its finally time to announce the launch of the Team Uncool collective with an exhibition at the worldart gallery in Johannesburg. Come join us at 95 commissioner street for an extravaganza.

Team Uncool is m18j92t, myself, Kidu, Chinxxx & Johdel.

There will be a fully stocked bar and entertainment from mtkidu, m18j92t and Verevulf.

Please email me on chris@Imagination.co.za for more info. Also go to http://www.teamuncool.co.za

Thanks
Chris S

Love Jozi (The Xenocentric Range)

A couple of weeks ago a bunch of foreign nationals who know live in South Africa full time got together at Bradley Kirshenbaum the designer and creators of Love Jozi t-shirts flat in Killarney. After several glasses of wine everyone headed down the road to one of the two bridges that overlook the M1 South in the area and we proceeded to shoot them in his new range of predominantly black and while t's. The idea behind the shoot was to ask each person what they love about Jozi. At the exhibition and launch of the range at Huntlescaris a few weeks later the concept was revealed on beautifully designed posters with the persons name and their commentryon it.

The shoot was a memorable experience and besides from the odd few complaining about the cold, it was great fun!

C

Design Indaba Front Cover

The new Design Indaba Magazine front cover for the 3rd quarter 2008 will feature a collaboration between Athi Patra and myself. It shows him as one of his characters Beiruth. The exhibition with the rest of the work in it will be on at the Art Extra Gallery (373 Jan Smuts ave. Craighall, Johannesburg http://www.artextra.co.za). The exhibition named "of bugchasers and watussi faghags" will open open on the 20th August.

C 2008

The Story that broke my heart...

Below was a scene I walked through in Cape Town last week. A police officer (Inspector Lukas Nell) was shot dead in the same spot a few days earlier. The memorial was held on the location of his death and during the dreadful situation, his mourning mother collapsed and was rushed to hospital. It was a difficult scene to capture and i was hesitant to put it up onto the blog but decided it was an important story to tell. Good Policeman do exist.

Chris

Rock Werchter Festival 2008 in Belgium - A Music Lover's Wet-Dream

Rock Werchter is an annual festival that takes place in the small Belgian town of Werchter, which gets beseiged by roughly 85000 young music fans every year, who come to camp, party, and enjoy a massive line-up of some of the best bands and dance acts the world has to offer. It may not be as famous as the UK's Glastonbury or as well-attended as Denmark's Roskilde, but not only is it the oldest major music festival in Europe, it also has arguably the best line-up of any rock fest in the world, with the possible exception of Holland's Pukkelpop.

This year's line-up was any South African rock, dance, indie and electro lovers wet-dream, giving myself and photographer Chris Saunders the opportunity to see many of the acts we love the most and wouldn't usually have a chance to catch live. These are mostly bands which would never make the trip down to the southernmost tip of Africa, so needless to say, getting the chance to see them all during four days was a phenomenal experience. This year, artists on the bill included Radiohead, Sigur Ros, Beck, Neil Young, Nick Cave's band Grinderman, The Kings of Leon, Hot Chip, Kaiser Chiefs, Justice, Digitalism, Soulwax, 2 Many DJs, The Chemical Brothers, The Hives, Gossip, Band of Horses, MGMT, Mark Ronson, Gnarles Barkley, REM, Lenny Kravitz and many more. Even massive hip-hop star Jay Z and major metal moguls Slayer, looking a bit lonely as the only acts of their kind on the bill, made the trip to the land of mussels and waffles for the festival.

Surviving four days of such extreme madness requires many things, including protection from the rain which inevitably falls during the festival's four days, tons of Euros to buy food and drink vouchers, and a commited desire to run around frantically trying to catch as many of Werchter's best bands as possible, which can be difficult, since some of these acts are playing at the exact same time. Some impossible decisions had to be made: The Hives or Band of Horses, Gossip or MGMT, 2 Many DJs or Chemical Brothers - life is tough when one is confronted by so many difficult line-up clashes. Needless to say though, we left Rock Werchter feeling extremely fragile and utterly exhausted, but exhilerated and totally satisfied after seeing so much great music packed into one unforgettable weekend. I know it's wrong to boast but I just can't help it - Rock Werchter 2008 was, simply, incredible.

Contact Chris or myself (frieddaniel@gmail.com) if you are interested in a story on the event. - Daniel Friedman

Hair

The Kings of Leon

Sigur Ros's Finale.

A Thom Yorke close up

Elza Novak

The Editors Live!

An Emotional Crowd.

I have no idea what these guys where up to?

Be prepared, bring good footware.

After waiting 7 hours to watch Radiohead live it was great having the crowd support our weight.

More images can be seen in the next issue of SL magazine.

Bob Dylan in Pamplona

Its been since Barcelona that I've put out a Blog update. Daniel and I traveled up to Pamplona after Sonar, to the city where the famous running of bulls event occurs every year. Unfortunately we where a week out for the event and wouldn't have time for it. What we did make it for though was to Bob Dylan in concert, one of the most incredible experiences of my life. We heard rumors at the gig that this was his last European tour. It was an emotional time for many and I felt privileged to watch one of the worlds most amazing singer/songwriters/poets this world has ever seen.

Below is video clip I shot at the venue on my cellphone and an image of Daniel outside the venue is above.

Chris 2008

Sonar Day/Night (Day 3) 21st June 2008