1998 to Current

Sowetan - Photo Editor

I mandated and executed the digitalizing of the Sowetan Photo department and its production. This was the first newspaper photographic department on the continent to outfit all its photographers with digital cameras and realize an image archive containing over 200,000 images which grows daily.

This digital transformation greatly reduced costs and the Sowetan now has one of the most modern photographic departments in the industry - this fact acknowledged by Kodak in a national advertisement campaign commemorating this achievement by the Sowetan.This was a period of personal fulfillment as I trained, coached and empowered people by introducing them to the new digital era of photography.

Roles include:

- responsible for all images chosen for the daily newspaper

- responsible for the digital scanning preproduction department

- daily photo transmissions, captioning, archiving and management of digital images - image resales

- developing extra income options from image production

- sustained teaching, training and coaching of current photo related skills

- coordination and implementation of intern photographer programme

- conceptualizing, overseeing content and production of magazine supplements

- coordinate coverage of major events and assigning photographers to news events

- coverage of major events including the Sydney 2000 Olympics, World Cup soccer

- managing of bureaus and personnel across the country

- member of the Sowetan Internet Task Team

1997

PictureNet Africa Photo Agency Consultant.

Three months contract with Mail & Guardian as Picture Editor (temporary position). Freelance photography for magazines and international agencies (Gamma, Reuters and AP).

1996

Consultant in the conceptualization, photography, design and production of PictureNET's online internet based digital image delivery system, the first of its kind in South Africa. Training staff to digitalize images and database them. (http:// www.picturenet.co.za/)

1993 - 1996

Contract photojournalist for Reuters.

Photo Director - Southlight Photo Agency

- Tasks included liaising with international magazines and syndication of images and feature packages, photography, negotiating contracts and deals for photographers (12 contributors) and small business administration. Southlight was the first agency in South Africa to employ digital scanning and transmissions through the Internet. Sold Southlight to PictureNET Africa.

1990 - 1993

Moved to London.

During 1990/1 I was contracted to Marlboro (Zurich) where my function was to cover all the European Formula One races in the FIA World Championship with emphasis on Marlboro's investment in the sport. The images would the syndicated around the world as illustrations for press releases to magazines and newspapers.

For the 1992/3 season I joined The Associated Press as their motorsport photographer (Europe) focusing on the Formula One World Championship and motorcycle Grand Prix events.

Returned to South Africa to cover the political situation for Reuters.

1987 - 1990

Reuters as a freelance photojournalist in Southern Africa covering news events throughout the subcontinent. Over this period, as a result of my affiliation with Gamma Photo Agency (Paris) and their worldwide syndication network, my work featured in numerous international publications such as Der Spiegel, New York Times, Liberation, Guardian, Time, Newsweek, US News and World Report, NYT Travel and several local and international inflight magazines.

Ran commercial studio with Consortium Advertising & Public Relations until 1989.

1986

Embarked on a freelance photojournalism career. United Press International (UPI)

- Contracted to photograph sport and news which included covering the unrest and political situation in Southern Africa. Freelance work for major magazines in the field of news, sports, features, travel, tourism, etc.

During that period I established a commercial studio in partnership with Consortium Advertising & Public Relations. My tasks here were primarily pack-shot and public relations photography but this also included the regular writing of press releases. My clients included Bates Wells, Camel, Kawasaki, Honda, Metzeler, Tiger Wheels, Anglo-America, Philips and the South African Superbike Championship.

1985

The Star newspaper

- Senior news/sports photographer. Responsibilities included news, sports and feature assignments, darkroom work and photo desk administration duties.

1982 - 1985

Rand Daily Mail newspaper - Senior news/sports photographer. Responsibilities included news, sports and feature assignments, darkroom work 1981 Die Transvaler newspaper - Junior news/sports photographer. Responsibilities included news, sports and feature assignments, darkroom work 1980 Commenced my career as photojournalist at Traveller, Bike&Track and SA Auto specialist travel and motoring magazines.Responsibilities included photography, darkroom and general administration.

1979

Matriculated from Damelin (distinctions in English and History)

COURSES, WORKSHOPS, DIPLOMAS & FIELDS OF EXPERTISE

Familiar and expert in all major photographic formats and technologies (film, digital, studio)

Familiar and expert with both Mac and PC computer platforms

Web Concepts and Design, Advanced Photoshop, Advanced QuarkXpress, Freehand, Modern Media Workshop (IAJ), Digital Transmission Technology, Damelin Management Skills Course

Besides participating in ongoing workshops and forums on photojournalism and related technology I have been a guest lecture at Rhodes University and the Institute of Advanced Journalism.

I keep abreast of all major technological developments and news in the world of photography through the internet and through regular workshops and seminars

HOBBIES

Photography, Videography, Motorsport (non-participating)

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

1991 - 1992 FIA accredited Grand Prix photographer for Marlboro (Zurich)

1992 - 1994 Role in coverage of the pre-freedom violence

2000 - 2002 Establishing and leading the first digital photo department in Africa 1995 + 2003 Guest lecturing at Rhodes and Institute of Advanced Journalism.

Most valuable contribution: Continually sustaining and maintaining Sowetan at the forefront of digital photo technology by creating and maintaining a state-of-the-art digital photo department for the newspaper - the first fully digital photo department in Africa.

REFERENCES

Sowetan (where I currently work)

Len Maseko (My manager) +27 (0)11 471-4158

PictureNET Africa - Naude van der Merwe (Business reference) +27 (0)11 642-0213

New York Times - Joao Silva (Personal Reference) +27 (0)11 802-2339

Any staff in the Sowetan Photo Department can be contacted for reference.