It was the success of the 2021/22 Level.Up journey that inspired us to create something new, and from this, the IGNITE PHOTOGRAPHIC CLUB was born

This journey is beautifully summed up in this article written by Trudi and Nicol du Toit about our exhibition, that was published in Nicol’s Blog in his capacity as the PSSA Regional Director for the Western Cape

https://westerncapepssa.wordpress.com. :

Date: February 21, 2022 Author: Nicol du Toit

Looking for inspiration for your next photographic project? Do yourself a favour and visit the Level.Up photographic art exhibition at the PJ Olivier Art School in Stellenbosch. The work of 14 Western Cape club members who decided to Level.Up their work is being exhibited here until 4 March – and it is a pleasure to behold!

This is a culmination of two years’ inspiration and perseverance to take their photography to the next level – hence Level.Up. And judging by the quality of the work on display, they all succeeded.

The idea originated from the Artsy Fartsy group that Lynne Kruger-Haye ran from home for about four years. Photographers keen to explore creative photography, which was not popular in mainstream camera clubs at the time, met regularly and enthusiastically to share ideas and their work. In 2020 the Covid lockdown ended these get-togethers.

In November of that year, Lynne, who was chairperson of Tygerberg Photographic Society, decided to place it on a more formal footing within the club structure and to continue meeting on zoom. She invited Stephen Burgstahler, who headed the club’s Education portfolio, to assist her to develop a formal framework covering 12-months and to help coax the participants to achieve their goals.

Interest expressed at the Western Cape Photographic Forum encouraged them to cast the net much wider than just Tygerberg members and members from clubs across the Peninsula joined. Level.Up started with around 40 people, many from towns and dorpies as far afield as George, Knysna and Sedgefield. At the end of last year 26 completed their portfolios.

Participants were encouraged to keep a journal and work with an accountability buddy to keep them focused and inspired during the hard lockdown days. Lynne says the goal was to explore their own creative voices and produce a body of work that spoke to that message, culminating in the exhibition by 14 members from Western Cape clubs.

They managed to achieve that goal brilliantly. What I find particularly pleasing is to experience the different individual voices speaking to me with very strong messages.

Radcliffe Roelse from Durbanville club succeeded in giving a voice and putting a face to the homeless with his sensitive series of mono portraits titled Unseen Warriors. Fellow club member, Ockert Vermeulen, paid tribute to musicians whose lives were put on hold by lockdown in his photographic series, highlighting each musician with an author’s statement. The complexity of women’s lives was portrayed by Coert Venter, a member of both Durbanville and Tygerberg clubs, in a series where the model is seen interacting with an image depicting her darker side.

Good street photography always sends a strong message and the street scenes by Tygerberg members Roanne de Haast, Erwin Kruger-Haye (A slice of life) and Stephen Burgstahler (Street Palettes and Ways of Seeing).

Several photographers pushed the boundaries of so-called pure photography. One can see the influence of guest lecturer Nicole Palmer in the wistful, soft focus wave images created by Helderberg member Denise Whiteford.

Various fine art techniques taught by art photography maestro Martin Osner in his courses (he also presented a session for the Level.Up group) can be seen. For example, the mysterious 3D tree movements Andre de Koker created using colouring and composite techniques (above). Steve Trimby, who introduced the course and speakers to opening night attendants, was inspired by Osner to let the creative juices flow with salt painting, abstract multi-media and many other techniques to create his eye-opening fine art portraits.

Painting in Photoshop layers is another fine art technique used by Karen Donaldson from Tygerberg to create her beautiful flower portraits (above). Nick Joubert of Tafelberg also took his inspiration from nature with his protea landscapes shot from unusual angles.

Riebeeck Kasteel printmaster William Walker assisted the group with printing their work. Josie Norfolk went beyond paper printing by creating art with images of objects found within five minutes from her home and abstracts printed on perspex, wood and canvas.

David Barnes’ ironic and surreal images gained a new perspective when blown up to A1 size (above). And it came as no surprise that one of Lynne Kruger-Haye’s evocative altered reality images was the first to be sold – even before the exhibition was opened!

The heritage architecture of the PJ Olivier Art Centre – the former Rhennish Girls’ School – in Stellenbosch forms the ideal backdrop for the photographic exhibition. Introduced by Coert Venter, the headmaster Nelis Koegelenberg, has been very supportive. In return, Level.Up is sponsoring the full tuition fees for two scholars at the school for 2022.