Yolanda Saayman Photography

Riek Creative
Napier, Overberg
15 April 2012

Every now and again one has the privilege to cross the path of someone who totally inspires you. Ulrich Riek is someone like that…

While on assignment last weekend in Napier, I decided to pop in at Riek Creative. This art gallery has caught my eye often en-route to the Southernmost point of Africa and now I could satisfy my curiosity and take the time to linger.

I was immediately intrigued by some of the sculptures. The lady behind the counter noticed my interest and commented: “The weird looking stuff is Ulrich’s.” I said that I loved it. It was different, abstract and had the touch of a very creative person.

While exploring the premises I saw a sign which read “Studio” and then another which read “Welcome” and so my inquisitive nature lead me further. Inside the studio or rather workshop (a converted barn), were what appeared to be scrap metal, tools, farm implements and what most people would describe as junk. A tall man with striking blue eyes invited me inside and we got chatting.

Ulrich’s art can be described as “Green or New Age” or a more complex description as found on-line: “Nature and Technology: The evolution of both, combined, make for interesting visual dynamics.”

As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure! He recycles discarded items and creates elaborative, functional art in the form of sculptures, furniture and paintings.

Ulrich is passionate about his work and when he talks about a piece, be it a coffee table, lamp or the new commissioned sculpture he is currently working on, his eyes spark with excitement. He gets lyrical about textures, shapes and colours and eagerly starts telling me about where he found what and how it became what it is now. Even his drawings of each piece, from where the planning took form on paper to the envisioned final product, are master pieces in itself.

As I paged through his sketch book I saw the reflection of an immensely talented artistic genius, a humble engineer living his outlook “everything is art”.

As for me, I found new inspiration in a dorpie in the Overberg and felt happy and blessed that I could have had a glimpse of Ulrich’s realm. The gist – I love his work!

Yolanda Saayman

Kirstenbosch
31 December 2011

Prime Circle proved once again why they are South Africa’s Number 1 Rock Band!

Some people have been queuing for the best seats in the house since 12h00 on New Year’s Eve-day, so when the gates opened at 19h00, it took less than 30 minutes for a crowd of 5000 people to fill the grass terrace in front of the stage at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens – a natural amphitheater under African Skies!

The vibe was electrifying and the air filled with excitement. The line up for the evening was No One’s Arc, Elvis Blue and Prime Circle with a special guest appearance by Dan Patlansky. Radio Goodhope’s Guy McDonald acted as MC and kept the crowd entertained during band changing, the Amarula Prize Draws and the Count Down to 2012.

Although the support bands are phenomenal in their own right, the crowd was there for one reason: Prime Circle!

I’ve had the privilege to photograph this outstanding band before, but Saturday night’s performance set a new benchmark and left me in awe…again!

Ross was belting out the songs off the group’s latest Platinum Album, Jekyll & Hyde, and throwing in previous hits like She Always Gets What She Wants and Let Me Go, to the crowd’s delight. He describes drummer, Dale Schnettler as: “A machine behind the drums!” and I am sure that Dale’s energy could have backed up any power cut in the Western Cape. As for lead guitarist Dirk Bisschoff - he is a performer who knows how to entertain the crowd and in sync with the fans, giving them more than the face value of their tickets. Together with bass guitarist Marco Gomes and keyboard player, Neil Breytenbach, they have the chemistry that produces the one hit after the other – winning them a SAMA award for Best Rock Album and MK’s award for “International Breakthrough Act”! So it is only fitting that they brought the show back to South Africa on a Summer Tour around the country, ending it off on a highlight with the New Year’s Eve Concert.

As for me: Photographing Prime Circle while they rock Cape Town into 2012 has been an adrenaline rush!

ROCK ON!

Yolanda Saayman

Vanessa & Lohan
03 Desember 2011
Weskusplek, Jacobsbaai

Ek en Vanessa het ‘n maand voor haar troudag foto-idees oor ‘n glasie wyn bespreek – ons was op dieselfde golflengte. Haar oë het geskitter van opgewondenheid: “Kyk, my uitnodigings het vandag gearriveer!”

Sy het alles noukeurig en tot in die fynste besonderheid beplan – elke detail is aan aandag geskenk – van die vetplantjie skouer-ruikers tot die dankie-sê geskenkies, die unieke vere confetti tot die eiesoortige “trou mars”! Haar en Lohan se spesiale kuierplek, die Weskusplek op Jacobsbaai, is maande vooruit bespreek vir die geleentheid…

Maar na al die fyn beplanning, was daar een ding wat niemand kon beheer nie – die weer!

Die wind het stormsterk teen 46km per uur gewaai en sou teen die middag se kant nog meer optel! Skielik is al die vooraf beplande idees gekelder. Die seremonie kon nie meer op die strand plaasvind nie en moes op 99 na die kapel skuif. Die fotos wat ons so intens bespreek en beplan het, was ook nie meer uitvoerbaar nie.

Ek was verlig dat Vanessa deur alles so positief en kalm kon bly – selfs die wind kon nie haar geluk demp nie en tot my verbasing, was sy selfs bereid om die orkaan buite te trotseer vir ‘n paar fotos! Natuurlik het ons lekker gelag toe die fotograaf (dis nou ek), onwillekeurig, ‘n paar duine ver agter haar reflector moes aanhardloop!

Die kapel was stampvol vriende en familie en ‘n bewoë Lohan het vir sy bruid en haar dogtertjies, Mieke en Mia, by die altaar gewag, om saam, ‘n nuwe lewe te begin.

Die seremonie was kort en kragtig en die feesvieringe het met regte Weskus gasvryheid begin. Heildronke is ingestel op Vanessa en Lohan se nuutgevonde geluk en ek vermoed dat die bruid se rustigheid ook later die wind, tot bedaring gebring het…

“Tussen woorde lê daar soveel dankbare ure,
tussen woorde vlieg my drome reg deur die mure
En ek weet ek is niks sonder jou
wat saam my drome bou en wie my vashou
in jou oë is die rede dat ek sing in die duister
As jy lag kan ek hoor hoe al die engele fluister
Wat my hart vir jou wil sê,
het in die stiltes tussen woorde gaan lê”

Yolanda Saayman