Ok, this is the last photograph I am going to post from the weekend. During the shoot at Top Star yesterday, Alan and I decided to climb to the top of the Driving Screen which we did. It was SUPER dodgy and I cannot believe we are still alive and un-injured but we did it and I had to shoot a photograph at the top. I had an experimental weekend where I tried to basically break my camera gear by changing all the settings even more than I normally do and this was another result of that. The skyline was quite boring because of the time of day it was so I white balanced way off and then underexposed a bit as well as change a few otehr settings on camera. I have to go back and shoot a sunset there one day. I will, you’ll see. Haha

Yesterday, Bloodline Ltd (the band) filmed a music video for one of their songs. They shot it at Top Star Driving and it was SUPER cold, SUPER windy and SUPER dusty so I didn’t shoot much. I don’t like getting dust and sand on / in my gear.

Anyway, I shot this photograph of a guy sitting on the bonnet of his car in between takes and hiding my camera in my bag. I had an idea in my head of how I imagined this to come out and tried to create it on camera by blowing out all the highlights and just boosting and dropping certain levels but it was a little rushed so it isn’t completely what I had in mind but I do think it came out alright.

I have already posted a photograph of this street light before and I think that photograph worked well, but when I was shooting there again on saturday, the sky was super cloudy but so boring and grey. I decided to try something different and I shot this photograph with the white balance WAY off so that it would result in the entire photograph being blue. I like it.

On saturday, Rudi and I tried to hit up a skate session. It has been super long and I am not sure if the location was terrible or if it was just me but it seemed for the first time in my life that I actually didn’t care much for it. Weird. I started skateboarding about 13 years ago and never once did I want to just pack up and leave. We did this and drove out to Nelson Mandela Bridge to try and shoot the sunset shots I have been wanting to do for ages. It rained so this never happened but we did get some good shots and it was just good fun being out there.

Yesterday was yet another amazing sunset while driving in traffic. I was behind buildings and it too me forever to pass a spot where I could actually see it properly and sadly it was a little too late to get the actual sun before it said goodnight but I really like this a lot anyway.

On set of the music video that I shot at yesterday for Zebra and Giraffe, I shot some photographs of an actor playing as a mad scientist. I love this portrait and everything about it. The “scientist” is standing in a lab set behind broken glass. The creator of the lab was Martin. I am so bummed that I don’t know what his surname is because he deserves props for one of the craziest things I have ever seen in my life. SO much detail. Amazing. Please send me Martin’s surname if you know it.

Zebra and Giraffe is ready to go and again I am going to push them because I think the album is awesome and going to do super well. Greg Carlin is the brains behind this project and this was my second shoot with him. I really like his ideas and am super excited to be working with him. He was filming a music video yesterday for his first single and these are some of the shots I got in between takes.

Yesterday we had our second excursion as the SA Photographers Group and it was super fun even though we got rained out. Basically, a group of our friends has decided to try and go on little photography excursions at least once a month and then all post one photograph from the day that we can all crit on and hopefully this will help us all to learn a bit more and be excited about shooting.

Visit the site by clicking here and comment if you get the chance.

Hope you are all well and thank you so much for reading. M

The debut album for Zebra and Giraffe is going to be hitting shelves super soon and you really need to look out for it because it is amazing and definitely going to take off in a huge way. Greg Carlin is the mastermind behind the album and I shot some photographs with him on saturday for use with press articles about the album. These are just 4 of the bunch that I shot with him and they are honestly a bunch of my favourites. Remember Zebra and Giraffe or you will miss out.

I am busy working on a project for a new confectionery boutique that is opening up in Rivonia in the next month and a bit and the owners are really awesome. The company is called Indulge and they will specialize in wedding cakes and good confectionery as well as have a coffee shop to just sit and relax. I photographed a selection of their wedding cake options over the last week and I really was shocked at how amazing they were. I am just uploading 2 photographs as I am still busy logging them.

Indulge is coming soon, look out for them.

My friends from Cassette are busy working on new material for their next album and I joined them at their secret band room on friday to see how it is coming along. It was good fun as always. A documentary is being made on the process so these are just some photographs of the afternoon I spent with them.

I am not sure of this guys surname but I think his name is John. He is busy directing / working on a documentary for the band Cassette and I went along on Friday afternoon for a bit to shoot some photographs behind the scenes and to see what was going on. I really like this photo a lot.

My friends, Bemo and Buddha, were guests on UJ FM last week and Alan and I decided to go along and party with them and obviously shoot photographs. It was super cool and hopefully they will get to do it again.

I have this obsession with the sky, clouds and the sun so any sunset or sunrise is always exciting for me. I was stuck in traffic, like every other person always is I am sure, and have finally decided to try an chill out and rather shoot photographs while I putt along at 10km/h. I shot a bunch of this sunset but this is my favourite.

I also want to say that my actual photography portfolio site is starting to look like something. It is taking ages to get it done right but I am really liking it so far. Please head over to www.marcusmaschwitz.com if you get a gap and please comment on my photographs and let me know what you think. There is still a lot to be added and a lot to be worked out but it would definitely give me more reason to get it done if you like it.

Hope you’re all well and having a good week. Chat soon, m

My mom has a statue in our house and I decided to test something on it today. I shot this photograph of it with one light directly to it’s side and this is the result.

With everything that has been going on here I just realized that I hadn’t yet posted this even though I thought it was done last week. Crazy.

My friends from Harris Tweed have been in studio with Brent Knopf from Menomena and I went to shoot some photographs of them finishing things up before Brent headed back to Portland. It was super fun because they had some of the crew from the Wits Choir in studio with them to record vocals and honestly it all sounds incredible.

I cannot wait to hear this album when it is finished.

6 weeks ago my uncle Robert was rushed in to theatre with pains in his body. I am not the most technical guy but his main artery was about to burst so it wasn’t looking good. They operated on him immediately and fixed the problem but it was already too late and he spent the next 6 weeks in ICU fighting for his life. Our whole family spent last night in the hospital praying for him and just really loving him and being there for him. Sadly, he left us this morning at around 1:30am. It really is terrible and SO sad to lose anyone especially family but I think of seeing him last night and of how tired he looked and how much he had been trying and I feel almost relieved that he isn’t going through that anymore. It sucks and he is already missed.

The photograph I have posted was 2 months ago and it is of my uncle Robert (front) and my dad (back) riding quad bikes in a forest. I am so glad that we got to share many memories like this together but it is sad to know that we won’t ever be doing this again. Life is so strange and it can leave you in seconds. I won’t ever understand why or how someone can be here today and then not here tomorrow but I do know that I cannot control or change that. It makes me realize that life is way to short for stupid grudges and dumb little issues and that we should really live our lives. Make plans to see your friends and family, tomorrow might be too late.

Goodbye uncle Robert. You were a husband, a father, a brother, a son, an uncle and a friend and I am so sad to see you go and I know you are missed so much already. Please, if you’re reading this blog, think of my aunty Barbara and all of our family and friends. They need all the love and support they can get.

Ok, I think I have blogged enough now so this will be my last post for today even though this has been fun. This is just a photograph I shot last night of a storm brewing during sunset from my house. Clouds are amazing.

Haha, this post is going to create laughs. I have been mocked for ages now about still using a PC and after using Alan’s Mac for about an hour I was sold and I bought myself one. This photo is of Alan, Nantz and myself working in my lounge, actually I am lying, it is a photo of us watching the new Muse DVD. Either way, what a work station!

I really like these two photographs of Anja and Simon walking around on the Nelson Mandela Bridge.

These shots are of Nelson Mandela Bridge. The sun was already higher than I had wanted to shoot these at so I am not really that happy with them. I definitely will be going back soon to try these again.

The whole reason we went to Newtown was so that I could shoot photographs of the trains and the railway lines under the Nelson Mandela Bridge. These are some of those images.

Here are a bunch of random still images taken while walking around Newtown.

It was so good to see people having a good time in Newtown. John was practicing basketball and was cool enough to let me shoot some photographs of him.

I am busy teaching Anja some photography stuff because she always likes shooting with me and it she is quite good at it. I shot this photograph of her playing around with my D200 during our photoshoot in Newtown on sunday. Going to post a bunch more from the day now.

Colin and Justine tied the knot at the Westcliff Hotel this on saturday afternoon and it really was such a fun and special wedding to share. They hired a photographer so that we could party with them. I felt bad getting in the photographer’s way so I just shot a few photographs for them. I have a whole bunch actually but won’t post too many on here. Also want to say that I think that the colours of my photographs change slightly when I post on here. Weird.

Anyway, congratulations to two special people. Hope your honeymoon is amazing and looking forward to seeing you both soon.

PS> I shot a photo of Anja too that I really like so it is the last photo in this post. How cute is she?!

I saw my buddy Justin Davies on Saturday and he got some new ink. It’s been a while and it was good to catch up. I shot a photo of his arm, with the words “GRACE” tattooed on it, infront of an empty dodgy pool. I like this one a lot.

My friend Peter Fox (Peach) got married to his dream girl (Lindsay) this passed saturday and it was super cool to spend the morning with them on their special day. As always, I wish them the best of happiness.