Moods of Johannesburg // Derrich Gardner

About Derrich Gardner

BACKGROUND

About the Exhibition

Dates: 14 Jan - 12 Feb 2022
Venue: FotoZA Gallery

I have been taking pictures of the Johannesburg skyline since I moved to a new house on Northcliff ridge more than 10 years ago. Over the years the cityscape changed. The signs and billboards all changed, even the Telkom Tower. I fell in love with the view and every day brought a fresh surprise.

The photos on display started off as my "keep busy" during Covid and total lockdown in SA. I took a pic every day and posted it to my Facebook, building up a huge following and getting an amazing response. I then realized that Johannesburg is one moody place. The colours can change in a minute and I tried my best to capture what played off on the skyline stage.The pollution and traffic smog was gone and at last you could get clear details of Johannesburg.

The location is always the same spot, but my model (subject) is the buildings forming the skyline and the costume is the display put on by the sky, dust, clouds, weather and sun and moon. And every day there is a new surprise from this moody lady.

Derrich Gardner is a Johannesburg boytjie. He grew up in a farming community, Lawley, south of the City Of Gold. During his studies at RAU (University Of Johannesburg) he was one of the founders of the campus radio station and also station manager. Then a few years of military service in the South African Air Force followed after which he pursued his passion for media and joined the SABC.

PERSONALITY SUMMARY

Derrich Gardner can't sit still. "Rooimiere" the old people called it... almost like a healthy ADHD. Extremely curious and with a will to learn and do, he has a very wide field of interest ranging from gardening, travel, animals, the bush, computers, graphics, editing, music, writing, creative art, online work, new media, people, photography, fitness and healthy organic living.

BROADCASTING EXPERIENCE

Fully bilingual in English and Afrikaans, his 35 years of broadcasting started at Radio Highveld where his talent coloured the airwaves for 12 years, presenting from golden oldie shows, to midday and housewives requests, morning and afternoon drives, and reading news. When SABC's Highveld was sold to Primedia and became 94.7, Derrich was quickly snapped up by Radio Jacaranda, where he became one of the on-air personalities helping to reposition Jacaranda to a more commercial, modern and metropolitan station. He presented the afternoon show, and morning and afternoon drives for more than 6 years.

Derrich joined RSG 12 years ago. Initially doing the afternoon drive, Tjailatyd, and then initiated one of the most listened to weekend shows, Brêkfis Met Derrich (Breakfast with Derrich) on Saturdays from 06:00 - 10:00.... still going strong!

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Derrich's television career started with SABC's TV1 where he presented on shows like 50/50, Crime Stop, Eduspectrum (Educational), on SABC 3 he hosted a documentary series called "Shadow Worlds" dealing with all the society sub-genres people never speak about.

Later as a continuity presenter he was one of the first faces on the new SABC2 (co-presenting with Tumi Makgabo later ex CNN) when SABC relaunched their TV channels. After many years of live continuity presenting and field-presenting for Pasella, Derrich joined kykNET where he presented on Kwêla and was anchor (for 10 years) of one of their most successful music shows, DKNT (The kykNet Top Ten).

Behind the camera, Derrich co-produced an award winning documentary TV series on the Border War (Grensoorlog) which was also his brainchild. Later followed more music presenting and producing of music shows for SABC. Derrich recently presented a hugely successful season 1 (19 episodes) of "TuinToere" (Gerden Tours) for VIA. With his stills camera in hand, he takes us on a journey of the most amazing gardens in South Africa, telling the story, taking pictures and meeting the owners and designers. The second season is due for broadcasting mid 2022.

Derrich regularly consults for one of the biggest online music streaming companies in the world.

Derrich is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. The award was in recognition of many years of charity work done on-air in collaboration with Rotary International and SABC.

Purchase the images

All of the images on display are available for sale.
Should you wish to purchase an image, please email us on info@fotoza.co.za and we will assist you with the purchase process.

Pricing: