The #ProjectScouted Shoelaced Clothing fashion show sets the trend at The Factory Café

Fashion may change daily, but Shoelaced Clothing has proven that style is eternal. The Shoelaced Clothing fashion show, a highlight in the #ProjectScouted calendar, took place on Saturday night at The Factory Café in Glenwood and pulled out all the stops once again to show that Durban is not falling behind in any way.

Ryan Francis, designer of the label, was the man of the evening as all his dedication and hard work came to fruition as the stunning #ProjectScouted ladies walked the range, specially designed for them, and captivated the huge audience that turned up for the show. Before the show, amidst the madness of hair, makeup, and rehearsals, one would never have said that this relaxed guy with his easy smile was busy preparing for a major showcase. “There's no stress, hey. We've all put in a lot of hard work but it’s all worth it. I know it’s going to be an awesome show!” he said. And it certainly was.

The Factory Café is one of those few Durban spots that manage to transition from a chilled daytime hangout to a metropolitan night time hotspot. Having chosen the venue for its uniquely urban atmosphere, Ryan also wanted to honour one of the great artists who had marked the space with his work. He said, “The café having one of Pastelheart's pieces here definitely played a role in us choosing the venue. He was a historic Durban artist.” Shoelaced Clothing is also the first label to host a fashion show at The Factory Café and having now set the standard, it will not be the last.

With his inspiration for the line stemming from the Black Fashion movement, Ryan focussed his attention on the dramatic and the striking in his pieces. The breathtaking makeup, done by the talented budding artists, and some established graduates, of Make-up theCollege, was futuristic and on trend as seen at the recent Tokyo Fashion Week. Ryan's designs paired with gorgeous custom-made Becca Blair bags accessorizing the girls' looks, these elements put together created an edgy, daring and magnetic line-up. The special surprise appearance of the Brissett Twins, ambassadors of the Shoelaced brand, also created quite the stir and added a new dimension to show. An even bigger surprise, one that no doubt did not get noticed by many, was the front row visit from the only Durban based judge in project; Shelley Ferreira. Shelley used the opportunity to get a closer look at the top 20 before helping to decide which 1- move on. 

Owner of the college, the lovely Jacqui Bannerman also stopped by to show her support to her girls and to offer a little advice here and there, “This is the best kind of practical work our students can do. Being at a show like this exposes them to the working world of make-up and that's why we're so enthusiastic about being involved in the Project again this year”, she said.

With Just Green, our Project DJ, and Ryan Rockwell on the decks; the Firmin Twins, two of our scouts and also uber talented musicians serenading the audience; and the fantastic services of Cathy Vere owner of Hedgehog Party Services enhancing the venue with her professional and perceptive touch; this was a night to remember. Mithesh of Sound Solutions supplying the Sound and lighting that provided that professional finish rounded up a night to remember. The skilled videographers Mdumisi Nxele, Robbie Muller, and Brittany Hurrell were also there capturing the hype of the day that ran from a 10AM call-time for the Project ladies and crew to 11PM when the party ended. And, of course, our awesome photographers – Roy Esterhuysen, Simphiwe Mkhwanazi, Jerome Stoffels, Nilufer Yucel, Dalton Green, and Zaheera Engar – were all over the show getting you those behind-the-scenes shots.

Nothing is impossible when the right mixture of elements is combined. The Shoelaced Clothing fashion show is testament to that. It’s going to be extremely difficult for our judges to eliminate 10 of these lovely ladies, but this is where the best are separated from the good. But having reached here, these girls now have an experience of a lifetime already along with beautiful images to recall every moment by.

Behind the scenes images used here are from Roy Esterhuysen. More images can be seen on his facebook page and also the facebook page of Simphiwe Mkhwanazi. 

The first video done by Mdumisi of MEL Media & Productions can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/125405325 

Project Scouted featured photographer profile: Simphiwe Simz Mkhwanazi

A photographer who initially found his passion in fashion which turned into a love affair with taking photos, Simphiwe is one of the first two photographers who will be turning out images for the first stage of Project Scouted held at one of Durban's prime new locations, Hashtag Restaurant on Windermere Road. Lee Folkard Photography had a quick Q&A segment with this passionate and fashion-indulgent photographer about his beginnings in photography and his participation in Project Scouted.

Lee Folkard Photography: What was your inspiration to begin photography and how did you start in the business?

Simphiwe: Well, it actually all started with my love for fashion. My mother is a fashion designer, specializing in Bridal, so I fell in love with fashion that way. I'd began to download cool fashion pics for no particular reason. I just always loved it! When I got to varsity, my friends and I would take pics of each other with our phones when we thought we were dressed well. And then the more I followed fashion blogs and read magazines, the more eager I was to have pictures of that quality taken. So I saved up for a camera and then continued taking pictures of my friends and me. I guess that's how it all started. From then on, I just kept taking pictures of people which I still do today.

LFP: How did you find out about Lee Folkard Photography?

Simphiwe: I found about Lee through a friend, Jerome Stoffels (LFP: Who will also be a part of the project) at the Durban Fashion Fair. I looked up Lee's work and I loved it, so I started following his work on Facebook.

LFP: How did you become involved in Project Scouted and what motivated you to be a part of it?

Simphiwe: Lee and I met, as a recommendation from Jerome. I'm always eager to take photos of people, so the chances of me saying "no" to being a part of the project were very slim. I saw this project as an opportunity to meet new people. So here I am!

LFP: What do you think makes a good photo?

Simphiwe: I think when it comes to photography, there are no rules. It’s all based on how you see the photo. If you love what you see, then that's a great photo to you. A great photo for me is one that I look at and say "I'd print this photo and hang it on my wall".

LFP: What does photography mean to you?

Simphiwe: Photography for me is about more than just taking photos; it’s my passion, my love, and my joy. I sometimes find myself editing or just staring at one image for hours and I wouldn't have wanted to do anything else with that time. My mind is always buzzing with these cool images and my imagination can get very wild sometimes. I have found photography as a platform to express what my heart feels.

Be sure to keep an eye out for Simphiwe's pics of the pretty young ladies who were chosen to be a part of the first stage of Project Scouted shot on location at Hashtag Restaurant.

“Humans of New York” – The story behind all those stories

We live by telling stories. They are what makes life interesting, they are what show how uniquely different each one of us is but how intrinsically the same we are at the same time. Brandon Stanton, the creator of “Humans of New York” (“HONY”) was insightful and motivated enough to collect these stories that we all carry around with us and has, as a result, developed one of the most beautiful and creative photo-blogs ever.

29-year-old Brandon Stanton grew up in Atlanta and attended the University of Georgia and later went to New York after a short spell as a bond trader in Chicago. As a self-taught photographer, he travelled around New York City in 2010 and walked through the streets everyday taking portraits of complete strangers, originally just posting them on his Facebook profile. Today, he has collected over 6000 pictures of people he has met in the city.

He initially aimed to collect photographs with captions only in his first year of starting the blog but after starting to converse with his subjects; he began to include quotes with the photos that he posted. Stanton travels daily from his home in Brooklyn to shoot for about 4 hours before posting the images on his blog later. Today, “Humans of New York” has developed an incredible following on social media and has over 3,2 million followers on Facebook just waiting for him to upload more images.

The blog has become so popular and successful that a “Humans of New York” book was compiled in October 2013 and from the inspiration of “HONY”, hundreds of spinoff blogs have been created around the world.

When Stanton started “HONY”, he just thought it would be a really cool idea to create an extensive database of the people walking through the streets of New York. But today it has turned into much more. The blog has become a work of art that has managed to capture the inexhaustible beauty of people and the stories they carry around. He has also written about 50 short stories inspired by the people he has met along this journey. “Humans of New York” started with a simple but inspired idea that has grown, and is still growing, into a collection of something great and spectacular.

Birth Photography – A Growing Niche in Photography

We capture almost every important moment and memory in our lives, from weddings to birthdays, so why should it be any different with the birth of a child? Most people would squirm at the thought of having a camera in the room capturing the event of childbirth, but when it comes to birth photography the prospect does not seem quite as daunting. Birth photography allows for one of the most significant milestones of a family’s, and more importantly a woman’s, life to be documented professionally and sensitively in a way that you want it to be.

Birth photography is a relatively new concept so there are not as many photographers well-versed and willing in the genre yet. But at the rate that it is growing, especially as demand grows with some beautiful images being seen online, this will certainly change. Maternity photography was even once something thought of as strange and unappealing but is now a well-established area of photography with many photographers solely focussing on it.

Birth photographers mostly have their own styles when it comes to photographing the birth. But they include only what is agreed upon before the birth takes place. A lot of birth photographers focus on the strength and power that a woman has during childbirth and encourage their subjects not to worry about the way they look. And because birth is a sacred event, the photos that are produced will be the way you want them to be; either waist shots or reserved nursing shots.

Most birth photographers are on call within a time range – normally a few days – before and after the expected due date and do not charge by the hour but for a complete package. This takes the stress off the mother during the birth and in the days leading up to the birth. Most photographers aim for a photojournalistic style, capturing moments as they happen with minimal posing. If the natural birth happens to turn into a Caesarian, the photographer might not be allowed in theatre but will be ready straight after the baby is born and for the mother-baby reunion.

Childbirth is an extremely emotional time and details could be forgotten or missed during the event, but birth photography changes that. It is quite a beautiful thought; that a family will be able to treasure the first few moments of a child’s life through beautiful images forever.

Looking back to move forward

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”

-       Socrates

Socrates set the bar for most of Western philosophy and dedicated most of his enquiry and examination to the growth of human character and morality. He was a firm believer that once we as humans accept our ignorance and lack of knowledge in understanding the world and life itself, we would then be able to truly acquire genuine knowledge.

So it’s understandable that he would think that in order to experience a better and fuller future, one must look to the past for guidance and a little direction.

Maybe looking at what we could have done better in 2013, or even what we did not do at all, will give us a better chance of getting it right in 2014. Dredging up the past might not always be the healthiest thing to do; but at the start of a new year, taking stock of the year before could save you just a little time and effort – or maybe save you from making the same mistakes twice without even realizing it.

Socrates knew this. He knew that making mistakes is vital to growing as a person and building one’s character. But he also realized that because we all want a good future for ourselves, one of the best ways to get it is to look at the past and let our actions and experiences guide us to making better decisions in the present.

It was also Socrates who said, “Know thyself.” And that’s pretty important too. For if we look at our past and the life we’ve lived so far, doesn’t that give us greater insight into who we are and so move us along to where we ought to be?

Oscars 2014

Is it that time of the year again? 

The world’s most elegant night for the rich and famous has taken off. 

The Oscars 2014 promises to be bigger and better than ever before, this year being hosted by the one and only Ellen DeGeneres.

Dive in and explore the winners, memorable moments and juicy tidbits of the academy awards that hits screens live on Sunday the 2^nd of March 2014, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and televised LIVE on the ABC Network in the United States, as well as in more than 225 countries worldwide.

Nominations were announced on Thursday, Jan. 16, by "Thor" actor Chris Hemsworth and Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, whose members vote for the Oscar winners.

Been too busy to catch up on the red carpet? No problem here are the most interesting and nail biting sneak peek at the nominees as to what the academy awards has in store for you this 2014: 

And the Oscar goes too...

Best Picture

"12 Years A Slave"
"American Hustle"

"Dallas Buyers Club"

"Her"                                                                                                                                        
"Nebraska"

"Captain Phillips"                                                                      

"The Wolf of Wall Street"

"Gravity"

"Philomena"

Actor in a Leading Role

Bruce Dern - "Nebraska"

Chiwetel Ejiofor - "12 Years A Slave"                                                    

Matthew McConaughey - "Dallas Buyers Club"

Christian Bale - "American Hustle"

Leonardo DiCaprio - "The Wolf of Wall Street"

Actor in a Supporting Role

Barkhad Abdi - "Captain Phillips"

Michael Fassbender - "12 Years A Slave"

Jared Leto - "Dallas Buyers Club"                                            

Bradley Cooper - "American Hustle"

Jonah Hill - "The Wolf of Wall Street"

Actress in a Leading Role

Cate Blanchett - "Blue Jasmine"

Sandra Bullock - "Gravity"

Judi Dench - "Philomena"

Meryl Streep - "August: Osage County"

Amy Adams - "American Hustle"

Actress in a Supporting Role

Sally Hawkins - "Blue Jasmine"

Jennifer Lawrence - "American Hustle"                                                                                           

Lupita Nyong'o - "12 Years A Slave"

Julia Roberts - "August: Osage County"

June Squibb - "Nebraska"

Animated Feature Film

"The Croods"                                                                             

"Despicable Me 2"

"Frozen"

"The Wind Rises"

"Ernest & Celestine"

Directing

Alfonso Cuaron - "Gravity"

Steve McQueen - "12 Years A Slave"

Alexander Payne - "Nebraska"                                                                

David O. Russell - "American Hustle"

Martin Scorsese - "The Wolf of Wall Street"                                                                      

My expert predictions for the winners are in red :) Enjoy this start studded event.  

Leonardo DiCaprio – Hollywood’s Golden Boy

Since the world took serious notice of Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic in 1997 – as he played the carefree yet insightful Jack Dawson who delivered witty and endearing dialogues while charming the young, well-to-do Rose played by Kate Winslet – we have been mesmerized not only by his good-looks that have destined him to be a movie star, but also his undeniable talent that has secured him as one of the best movie stars of our time.

Leonardo, born in 1974 to a mother of German descent and a father of Italian and German descent, is said to have gotten his name by kicking for the first time while his pregnant mother was looking at a Leonardo da Vinci painting in Italy – almost as if his artistic instinct and intuition is intrinsic to his very nature.

Leonardo’s place in Hollywood was secured by his acute and sharp portrayal of Johnny Depp’s mentally handicapped brother in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. Some of the most acclaimed and celebrated movies of the past few years have starred Leonardo in prominent roles; Catch Me If You Can, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, Blood Diamond, The Departed, and Inception just to name a few. But it’s been his latest work in Django Unchained, The Great Gatsby and The Wolf of Wall Street that has made Leonardo Hollywood’s “golden boy”.

One of his greatest works to date has been his depiction of Jay Gatsby in Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, which left nothing to be desired by way of Leonardo’s infallible characterisation. He understands the attention to detail that goes into the craft of acting and his dramatic versatility and perception is what sets him apart from other actors – that and the fact that he never seems to age and still strongly resembles the youthful Romeo he played in Romeo +  Juliet almost 18 years ago.

He’s also just won the Golden Globe award for Best Actor in The Wolf of Wall Street, which came as no surprise. Leonardo manages to evoke such depth into his character, Jordan Belfort, a wealthy stockbroker who spirals down from his American dream, that he reminds us of what cinema is meant to be – breathtakingly beautiful and poignant.

But apart from his wildfire success and supreme creative capabilities, Leonardo seems like a genuinely good guy too. With his fervent activism in environmental issues and his philanthropy, he seems to want to leave more of a legacy than just being a great actor. Perhaps he’ll also leave behind a legacy of unabashedly loving leggy blondes – more often than not, Victoria’s Secret angels; Erin Heatherton, Giselle Bundchen, Bar Rafeali, and Toni Garrn as his current girlfriend, just to name a few. But maybe it’s the charisma and allure of all that wrapped into the package of Leonardo that makes him a true star.

Project Trinity

So the 2013 Lee Folkard Photograpy Project has been named and branded.

Launch date: To be announced

Details will be up on the blog and on the Facebook Page soon!

Why Project Trinity?
The project will aim to get a TOP 3 which will eventually be narrowed down to ONE winner! 

The project will feature 3 photographers. This is the first time this has happened in a Lee Folkard Photography Project. 

Each photographer will bring their own skills and creativity to the project and ultimately the WINNER will embody all 3 of the photographers visions. 

Please note: Lee Folkard Photography reserves the right to change any particulars of this project at any stage. 

My Thanks for 2012

I would like to thank all those who have chosen Lee Folkard Photography to capture your memories in 2012.

I would also like to thank those who have supported my work; those that commented on images and status's via the Facebook Page; Lee Folkard Photography.
Those who have retweeted or "starred" my tweets, via twitter; Lee Folkard.
Those who have read, commented and shared blogposts on the Blog - Lee Folkard Photography.

I would my loyal corporate clients who have made use of my services throughout the year. And also all those who have purchased images from the website; www.leefolkard.com.

I would like to thank all those close to me who continue to support my passion and my work.

Thank you.

Here's to seeing you again and again and again in 2013. Even if it is just through virtual contact.

[ Hello ]

A warm welcome to the newest member to the Lee Folkard Photography team; Sholene Ramdass.

Below is her first official blog post;

As the newly appointed assistant at Lee Folkard Photography, a very big hello!

Having so many interests and passions in life, I've never failed to grab any opportunity that has come my way. Applying for the position of assistant at Lee Folkard Photography, though, was a spur of the moment decision that proves that many things that are meant to be in life often happen without giving much thought to them. But now having got this awesome job, much to my surprise, I’m thrilled and very excited for the future!

This position will allow me to let my creative spirit run free and involves a lot of what I love – writing, fashion, entertainment, and photography of course, and will also broaden my horizons as a BA student majoring in Creative Writing.

 I hope to continue to keep you enthralled and captivated, as Lee has done so brilliantly, with the blog posts and to add a new element to Lee Folkard Photography, which has already established itself as an incredible company to be watched.

This is a new journey and there are great things on the way!

Sholene Ramdass; Photography by Lee Folkard Photography