Throwback Thursdays: The Festival in pictures

Published on 18 June 2015

We’ve persuaded CuePix editor Harold Gess to share some of the more spectacular photographs he and his team took at the National Arts Festival in 2014 for our #ThrowbackThursdays series. Shooting fast action at low speeds, varying light conditions, being considerate of the audience and having a sense of when to press the shutter are just some of the considerations the young photographers have to keep in mind.

If you’re looking for the high-res versions of these photographs, contact webcontent@nationalartsfestival.co.za
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Photography is ‘drawing with light’ and theatre makes use of light, and sometimes photography, to ‘draw' a scene for the photographer to photograph once again! Shaun Oelf is silhouetted in character as Peter in Fishers for Hope, written and directed by Lara Foot at #NAF2014. The play used innovative stage design, including a jetty and water on stage, to create a realistic setting for its story. (Photo: CuePix/Alexa Sedgwick) — *Photography is ‘drawing with light’ and theatre makes use of light, and sometimes photography, to ‘draw’ a scene for the photographer to photograph once again.* Shaun Oelf is silhouetted in character as Peter in Fishers for Hope, written and directed by Lara Foot at #NAF2014. The play used innovative stage design, including a jetty and water on stage, to create a realistic setting for its story. (Photo: CuePix/Alexa Sedgwick)

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The Jazz Festival always offers a challenge to the photographer: brass, shining piano black, lots of red and yellow light and music stands everywhere. Sometimes one just has to improvise and let the photo reflect the music! Barney Rachabane is reflected in Darius Brubeck's piano as he performs at the Standard Bank Jazz Festival at the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, 25 June 2010. Rachabane was performing with Darius Brubeck, Marc Duby (bass also reflected) and Kevin Gibson. (Photo: CuePix/Harold Gess) — The Jazz Festival always offers a challenge to the photographer: brass, shiny piano black, lots of red and yellow light, and music stands everywhere. Sometimes one just has to improvise and let the photo reflect the music. Barney Rachabane is reflected in Darius Brubeck’s piano as he performs at the Standard Bank Jazz Festival at the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, 25 June 2010. Rachabane was performing with Darius Brubeck, Marc Duby (bass also reflected) and Kevin Gibson. (Photo: CuePix/Harold Gess)

Adam and Eve: The Musical. Photo: CUEPIX/Kate Janse van Rensburg — *Birds from the left, birds from the right, birds from the back, birds from the front. The photographer is left trying to make visual sense of the scene in 1/125th of a second.* Nicole Bessick performs as Eve in Adam and Eve: The Musical at the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, Thursday 3 July 2014. The musical was performed by the Waterfront Theatre School from Cape Town. (Photo: CUEPIX/Kate Janse van Rensburg)

Hugh Masekela. Photo: CUEPIX/Harold Gess — *The Festival just wouldn’t be The Festival without spending at least one night in a packed Guy Butler Theatre with everyone (including the photographer) just itching to get up and dance!* South African music legend Hugh Masekela performs in a concert in the Guy Butler Theatre in Grahamstown on 12 July 2014, at the 2014 National Arts Festival. Masekela, who celebrated his 75th birthday in 2014, performed with exuberance for an enthusiastic audience. (Photo CuePix/Harold Gess)

Le Song d'une nuit d'ete. IMAGE: CUEPIX/Mia vd Merwe — Photographers often battle to get great photographs of great shows because the lighting just isn’t good for photography but sometimes a show comes along that has a graphic quality to it and in which all the colours just work beautifully in the photo. Le Songe d’une nuit d’été was just that kind of a show. Joseph Aitken and Yumi Aizawa perform as the King of the Elves and the Fairy Queen during Le Song d’une nuit d’ete at the Guy Butler Theatre at the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, Friday 04 July 2014. Le Songe d’une nuit d’été, a Ballet by Michel Kelemenis, is based on Felix Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. (Photo: CUEPIX/Mia van der Merwe)

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