[back to top]Mood: 
Pride Listening to: Mix of stuff from Usher to Muse Watching: So You Think You Can Dance Playing: World of Warcraft Drinking: Paint stripper/coffee :)
I got 2nd place in the Hollywood Carnival competition, run by ^DistortedSmile! I won a six month sub and some of the AWESOME dA emoticon stress balls (can't WAIT to get those!) 
Thanks SO much, guys! I'm really chuffed!
[link]
Also, welcome and thanks to all the new watchers! I normally thank everyone in person, but there's quite a couple and time is a bit of an issue lately.
Thank you so much for everyone's continued support and feedback. I hope I can get back into the saddle again soon. Been a little under the weather lately with bronchitis and a back injury.
It's a public holiday in South Africa today, Women's Day, I believe? So Happy Women's Day to all the girls and all the... *finger-snap-neck-wiggle* gurls!
Have an awesome week, everyone.
Take care,
Johann.
Hollywood Carnival
Pride I got 2nd place in the Hollywood Carnival competition, run by ^DistortedSmile! I won a six month sub and some of the AWESOME dA emoticon stress balls (can't WAIT to get those!) Thanks SO much, guys! I'm really chuffed!
[link]
Also, welcome and thanks to all the new watchers! I normally thank everyone in person, but there's quite a couple and time is a bit of an issue lately.
Thank you so much for everyone's continued support and feedback. I hope I can get back into the saddle again soon. Been a little under the weather lately with bronchitis and a back injury.
It's a public holiday in South Africa today, Women's Day, I believe? So Happy Women's Day to all the girls and all the... *finger-snap-neck-wiggle* gurls!
Have an awesome week, everyone.
Take care,
Johann.
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[back to top]Mood: Pride Listening to: Muse - The Resistance (BRILLIANT album!) Watching: Fringe Playing: World of Warcraft Drinking: Too much coffee!
You guys are killing me here... KEEEEELING!
A fourth Daily Deviation!? I'm absolutely gob-smacked and just... incredibly humbled, grateful and honoured! Thank you SOOO much to =pylangelov for the suggestion and ^pullingcandy for the feature. I cannot thank you guys enough!
This the second image from that shoot to get a DD and that shoot still stands as the most fun I've had in my time as a photographer. I got to spend a day with some incredible people and create a set of images that I'm exceptionally proud of.
This couldn't have come at a better time for me, as I've been struggling with my work for the last couple of weeks. While I'm mostly content with the images that I've been producing, I've had a nagging feeling that there's something missing from them. Over the last couple of months I've done a lot of things photography-wise that has led to less-than-fun situations where people took advantage and pushed their luck. And as a result I got to a point where I basically resented a lot of my work.
Trust me, it was a lot less dramatic than it sounds, but I realised something through all of this: I don't want to be a full-time photographer.
It came as a shock to me too, believe me, but I realised that I love photography too much to turn it into a job that I'll end up hating because I'd have to deal with full-of-shit clients and sacrifice my ideas and artistic freedom to fit in with the "norm" that people in South Africa expect.
Unfortunately the industry here is still quite conservative and as a result, I've been having difficulty... selling myself, basically. I was told that my work is "too edgy", for instance, and I ended up toning myself down to fit someone else's ideas. And that didn't sit right with me.
So I decided that I'd rather do my own creative work and have fun doing what I love, than try and create images for other people. I have a day job that pays for my passion and I'm happy with that.
That being said, if I had the opportunity to break into the entertainment industry as a photographer, I'd still grab it with every fibre of my being, because I believe that musicians and actors would let me get away with doing the shoots that I want to do
So, no change of career for me in the very near future. But I'm okay with it
Other than that, things are pretty quiet on this side of the planet. We've started moving around some rooms in our house and will be starting the repainting job this weekend. So that's been keeping me busy as well. And I'm loving it! Nothing reminds you that you're gay as much as a trip to shop for house accessories
Anyway, I best finish up. Thank you, EVERY one of you, for your AMAZING continued support and feedback. You guys have no idea how much it means to me!
Take care of yourselves,
Johann.
Fourth DD, an epiphany and life in general
PrideYou guys are killing me here... KEEEEELING!
A fourth Daily Deviation!? I'm absolutely gob-smacked and just... incredibly humbled, grateful and honoured! Thank you SOOO much to =pylangelov for the suggestion and ^pullingcandy for the feature. I cannot thank you guys enough!
This the second image from that shoot to get a DD and that shoot still stands as the most fun I've had in my time as a photographer. I got to spend a day with some incredible people and create a set of images that I'm exceptionally proud of.
This couldn't have come at a better time for me, as I've been struggling with my work for the last couple of weeks. While I'm mostly content with the images that I've been producing, I've had a nagging feeling that there's something missing from them. Over the last couple of months I've done a lot of things photography-wise that has led to less-than-fun situations where people took advantage and pushed their luck. And as a result I got to a point where I basically resented a lot of my work.
Trust me, it was a lot less dramatic than it sounds, but I realised something through all of this: I don't want to be a full-time photographer.
It came as a shock to me too, believe me, but I realised that I love photography too much to turn it into a job that I'll end up hating because I'd have to deal with full-of-shit clients and sacrifice my ideas and artistic freedom to fit in with the "norm" that people in South Africa expect.
Unfortunately the industry here is still quite conservative and as a result, I've been having difficulty... selling myself, basically. I was told that my work is "too edgy", for instance, and I ended up toning myself down to fit someone else's ideas. And that didn't sit right with me.
So I decided that I'd rather do my own creative work and have fun doing what I love, than try and create images for other people. I have a day job that pays for my passion and I'm happy with that.
That being said, if I had the opportunity to break into the entertainment industry as a photographer, I'd still grab it with every fibre of my being, because I believe that musicians and actors would let me get away with doing the shoots that I want to do
So, no change of career for me in the very near future. But I'm okay with it
Other than that, things are pretty quiet on this side of the planet. We've started moving around some rooms in our house and will be starting the repainting job this weekend. So that's been keeping me busy as well. And I'm loving it! Nothing reminds you that you're gay as much as a trip to shop for house accessories
Anyway, I best finish up. Thank you, EVERY one of you, for your AMAZING continued support and feedback. You guys have no idea how much it means to me!
Take care of yourselves,
Johann.
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[back to top]Mood: 
Tired Listening to: Adam Lambert Watching: So You Think You Can Dance Playing: World of Warcraft Eating: Pasta! nomnomnom
Models: The Jordaan Family
Make-Up Artist: Zara Harvey
Location: Studio, Johannesburg, South Africa
Sheree-Lee contacted me a while back about getting some family shots done of herself, her hubby and their 2 year old son. She didn't want the usual, boring stuff though.
Things were going well until they brought the little guy into the studio. He lasted all but five minutes and started WAILING, so we couldn't carry on. I managed to get some nice shots of Sheree-Lee and Hendrie though and a couple of winners of the little guy and his dad.
Here are some of the shots:
Thanks, as always, for any feedback, favourites and watches. Even if I don't say thanks for all of them individually, I appreciate every single one of them!
Cheers,
J.
Studio Shoot - The Jordaan Family
TiredModels: The Jordaan Family
Make-Up Artist: Zara Harvey
Location: Studio, Johannesburg, South Africa
Sheree-Lee contacted me a while back about getting some family shots done of herself, her hubby and their 2 year old son. She didn't want the usual, boring stuff though.
Things were going well until they brought the little guy into the studio. He lasted all but five minutes and started WAILING, so we couldn't carry on. I managed to get some nice shots of Sheree-Lee and Hendrie though and a couple of winners of the little guy and his dad.
Here are some of the shots:
Thanks, as always, for any feedback, favourites and watches. Even if I don't say thanks for all of them individually, I appreciate every single one of them!
Cheers,
J.
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[back to top]Mood: Tired Listening to: Adam Lambert Watching: So You Think You Can Dance Playing: World of Warcraft Eating: Pasta! nomnomnom
Models: Naina Goolab and Kavir Vithal
Make-Up Artist: Zara Harvey
Location: Studio, Johannesburg, South Africa
Naina contacted me via a work colleague and wanted to get some nice shots of herself and her boyfriend, Kavir.
They were SUCH a great couple - photogenic, funny and lots of fun to work with. We got some really nice shots and I'm very very happy with the results. They had some great outfits and we must have done about 5 outfit changes, LOL!
It's going to be really tough to choose the favourites from this shoot
Thanks in advance for all comments, favourites and watches. Even if I don't reply and say thanks to all of them, I really appreciate all the feedback you guys give me.
Take care,
Johann.
All images are copyright (c) Johann Marx. Unauthorised use (including manipulation artworks, websites, layouts, tubes, wallpapers, banners, blogs, CDs, posters, icons or any other use of this kind) is strictly forbidden. Please respect the model in your comments.
Studio Shoot - Naina and Kavir
TiredModels: Naina Goolab and Kavir Vithal
Make-Up Artist: Zara Harvey
Location: Studio, Johannesburg, South Africa
Naina contacted me via a work colleague and wanted to get some nice shots of herself and her boyfriend, Kavir.
They were SUCH a great couple - photogenic, funny and lots of fun to work with. We got some really nice shots and I'm very very happy with the results. They had some great outfits and we must have done about 5 outfit changes, LOL!
It's going to be really tough to choose the favourites from this shoot
Thanks in advance for all comments, favourites and watches. Even if I don't reply and say thanks to all of them, I really appreciate all the feedback you guys give me.
Take care,
Johann.
All images are copyright (c) Johann Marx. Unauthorised use (including manipulation artworks, websites, layouts, tubes, wallpapers, banners, blogs, CDs, posters, icons or any other use of this kind) is strictly forbidden. Please respect the model in your comments.
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[back to top]Mood: 
Zeal Listening to: Kraddy - Android Porn Watching: SYTYCD Season 7 out tonight! WOOHOO! Playing: World of Warcraft Eating: Toasted Sandwiches Drinking: Sprite Zero
Model & Make-up: Francois Nel
Location: Studio, Johannesburg
I've worked with Francois a couple of times. I photographed him and his boyfriend Eddie twice before for GayPages, once for a cover. But most of the time we worked together he was actually behind the scenes as (an extremely talented!) make-up artist.
This time, however, he was doing the solo modelling thing and showing off his new look.
I'm really happy with the shots and with how lighting turned out. I'm getting a few favourite set-ups now and I'm also getting the hang of rim-lighting a little better, I think. I still have a looong way to go though! I wanted to use our new Canon 580EX speedlights to add some more light, but I forgot to get batteries for them. Meh!
Anyway, I'm not going to babble too much, here are the shots:
Thanks in advance for all comments, favourites and watches. Even if I don't reply and say thanks to all of them, I really appreciate all the feedback you guys give me.
All images are copyright (c) Johann Marx. Unauthorised use (including manipulation artworks, websites, layouts, tubes, wallpapers, banners, blogs, CDs, posters, icons or any other use of this kind) is strictly forbidden. Please respect the model in your comments.
Studio Shoot - Francois Nel
ZealModel & Make-up: Francois Nel
Location: Studio, Johannesburg
I've worked with Francois a couple of times. I photographed him and his boyfriend Eddie twice before for GayPages, once for a cover. But most of the time we worked together he was actually behind the scenes as (an extremely talented!) make-up artist.
This time, however, he was doing the solo modelling thing and showing off his new look.
I'm really happy with the shots and with how lighting turned out. I'm getting a few favourite set-ups now and I'm also getting the hang of rim-lighting a little better, I think. I still have a looong way to go though! I wanted to use our new Canon 580EX speedlights to add some more light, but I forgot to get batteries for them. Meh!
Anyway, I'm not going to babble too much, here are the shots:
Thanks in advance for all comments, favourites and watches. Even if I don't reply and say thanks to all of them, I really appreciate all the feedback you guys give me.
All images are copyright (c) Johann Marx. Unauthorised use (including manipulation artworks, websites, layouts, tubes, wallpapers, banners, blogs, CDs, posters, icons or any other use of this kind) is strictly forbidden. Please respect the model in your comments.
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