Blog

2019-02-24 - Having a Blast with Megaphase

Bright and early on a Sunday morning we were out on the road with Morgan and one of the Gauteng road marking crews from Mega Roads & Civils (Megaphase Road Marking) one of the many South African businesses that benefit from the assistance of Stefanutti Stocks Enterprise Development.

These guys use water- and air blasting techniques to clean the remnants of old paint, grease, diesel, dust and other dirt and grime from the road surface, before painting on the bright new road markings in long lasting thermal paint.

Given the attitudes of some motorists when faced with delays, it seems a bit of a thankless job sometimes, but remember, these people help make the roads safer for everyone.

It’s hot, sweaty, messy and sometimes even dangerous work, but the guys from this road crew were friendly, efficient and fun to work with. We had some good times behind the scenes on this photoshoot.

2018-09-03 - Think Tank Airport TakeOff

★★★★★

Think Tank makes the best travelling bags for photographers.

The Airport TakeOff rolling camera bag is my number one travelling necessity. It can pretty much carry half a studio, plus a fair bit of office, in relative comfort.

I usually fit in two pro-sized Canon camera bodies with my "most used" lenses attached, plus two additional lenses (all with lens caps), light meter, all the spare batteries, memory cards and filters I would normally use, as well as my laptop, tablet, phone and chargers for all the above. There’s even a stretchable side pocket for storing a compact tripod or monopod.

There are enough outside pockets to store pretty much eveything you may need in a hurry and a few waterproof zip pockets inside as well. More than enough compartments to keep everything organised - from backups of my paperwork to business cards, emergency medical kit to cash, sunglasses, prescription glasses, recreational reading ... everything but the kitchen sink.

With two of these - the second to carry Profoto lights, the “just-in-case” extra camera body, batteries, the make-up kit for portrait subjects and all the bits and pieces that didn’t fit in the first bag, you really do have everything you need at your fingertips.

The bag is made from fairly water-repellent, abrasion resistant material (featuring ballistic nylon and coated fabric) and has tall skid plates on the bottom that help protect the bag and your equipment from moisture, abrasion and dust, while the padded inside and padded, touch-fastening dividers cushion everything from shocks.

The dividers are all movable and removable and can fasten anywhere and in any orientation inside the case, so the layout is completely customisable. The sturdy YKK zippers are lockable, with the bag sporting a security cable as well.

The 80mm wheels are well designed, quiet and big enough to handle most terrain, and the telescoping handle is actually long enough at full extension so even a tall guy doesn't look like a knuckle-dragging gorilla when pulling it along. But the bag also has a neat set of tuck-away padded shoulder straps for those situations where the wheels can't cut it. Lastly it sports the traditional side carrying handle. as well as a top carrying handle with a second handle at the bottom - just in case you have to go fording rivers with the case held on your head ...

Lastly, at 355mm x 530mm x 220mm, it falls neatly within the size parameters most airlines have for carry-on bags. Which means even if they lose your luggage or leave it behind at OR Tambo International, you'll still have your most important equipment.

2018-04-17 - DDP March/April Newsletter

March Hares and April Fools
Who said you have to conform to succeed?

New Clients that feel like Old Friends

One of the highlights for the month of March was a mammoth photoshoot to update the image library of Consulta, an interesting group of people who have had quite an impact in marketing research since their founding in 1998.  

A research company, originally launched by a university - bound to be a bunch of stuffy academics, right?  Wrong.  

Friendly, fun, adaptable, creative - these people were a joy to work with.

Playing in the Dirt

Like big kids we spent a lot of time playing in the dirt with our friends from One Way Up Productions and Gerbera Brand Management.  

Shooting for earthmoving, mining, civil and construction involve a lot of rolling on the ground, throwing dust in the air, climbing things and crawling under and over stuff - most moms would never have believed you if you told them it was work.  

Luckily our fabulous clients like Stefanutti and Bidvest pay us to play in the dirt, as long as the photos are amazing.

We get Wired

Another large chunk of time involved long-time client Active Brand.

We photographed quite a people, not to mention several factories and machines, as well as shooting product photos for the catalogues of some of the Subsidiaries of the Barnes Group of Companies.

Of course, wire is not the only thing produced at Barnes, but we just couldn't resist using that line!

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