Fluorescent Florida // Shawn Driman

About the exhibition

Photographer: Shawn Driman
Dates: March 2023
Venue: FotoZA Gallery

In 1982, during my first year at what was then Technikon Natal, I decided to change the world through the lens of a 35mm camera.

South Africa was in a mess, and photographic images could tell a helluva story with one click.

We needed change.

This took a fair amount of courage and daring, as political situations often became violent and deadly and the Security Police were certainly not on our side. Brave photographers like the 4 featured in the "The Bang Bang Club" paid a heavy price for their efforts.

As my technical skills improved I found myself immersed in the cables and equipment found in a photographic studio, and in the control one could have over the images. Slowly my focus changed from photojournalism to the safety and security of the studio.

The subject of food photography is notoriously difficult to master, but somehow this became my bread and butter. In fact, for the last 17 or 18 years this has been my main subject matter.

However.....

We live in God's own country, and the African bush and nature provide the ultimate lure. For me there is no other sense of peace and tranquility quite like the sound of nature. The feel of a camera in my hands is as natural as breathing, and the rush of knowing that a great shot is in the bag makes everything worthwhile.

But then.....

There is the funny side of stuff.
In order to survive in this mad human world we have to be able to see the ridiculous in the mundane.
There are a million funny things happening all at once, and to be able to capture even a tiny few, provides great satisfaction.

Both to me, and hopefully to you, the viewer, when you receive the delicious tickle of humour.

I hope you enjoy these moments captured on a journey through the state of Florida, USA, a little while ago.

The exhibition was interrupted by that crazy time of Covid and lockdown, but here it is.

With love and respect to all.

Shawn.