Grant Difford - and this is my life

Random

2011-01-14T02:38:00.000-08:00

Here are two random shots that I found while browsing through my hd. The one is of Prime Circle I shot for a poster about 2 years ago. The other image is from a drive back for JHB day 2010, it was one of those, 'through the window' shots.

It's called a corona...

2011-01-14T02:28:00.000-08:00

A while ago, there was an amazing phenomenon that took place in our skies... I had no idea what it was called! I told smurf that I had taken a photo of it, to which she very quickly told me that it was called a corona... Being the boy that I am, I immediately jumped in my mind to the blue and yellow colour of Corona beer. Smurf, being the smart lady that she is, saw this expression on my face and laughed... Smurf is so clever..

Random stuff I shot on a street

2011-01-11T03:16:00.000-08:00

All you need is a flower

2011-01-11T03:02:00.000-08:00

Knave promo monster

2011-01-11T02:55:00.000-08:00

Meet Knave and some of the LT models - A buddy of mine Chris was shooting the promo shots for their new poster, and I thought this a great chance to shoot some behind the scene snaps with my new camera..

Bakgat

2011-01-11T02:20:00.000-08:00

So, a while ago I was asked to go to a music video filming for Bakgat - the location was amazing, so many things are possible in this hall beneath the JHB rail station. I love JHB! I cannot wait to shoot there again!

David Solomoni

2011-01-11T01:40:00.000-08:00

Meet the animal hunter, David. This guy is insane, he chased a lion in the bush one day, as he describes it, "Either he left, or I did."

Louise Carver

2011-01-11T00:26:00.000-08:00

Loyiso Bala

2011-01-11T00:24:00.000-08:00

Nadia Van der Merwe

2011-01-11T00:20:00.000-08:00

I was asked to shoot a bikini feature using ribbon - that was the entire brief. So we hired Key stone studio, as well as Nadia - and thanks to Blue Glue and Dax Martin this is what I was able to deliver!

Cara Burger

2011-01-11T00:16:00.000-08:00

Can you believe - this was in the middle of Bryanston!

Here - eat this cupcake

2011-01-11T00:13:00.000-08:00

Meet Lala

2011-01-11T00:12:00.000-08:00

I have a lot of work from last year that I really want to share at this point... The next few enties were shot over the space of 6 months - All of them editorial...

Editorial - Fire and Ice Hotel

2011-01-10T23:45:00.000-08:00

I love Smurf - Continued

2011-01-10T22:44:00.000-08:00

I have a new thirst to write. Last night I could only think of Smurf...

Here is what I wrote.

Anything for you

And I was falling, falling to my knees

Back from my intention to make it happen, it’s only you I want to please

Could you hear me calling, navigating the heavens with such grace and ease

As I cried out to the stars with a mighty chant

Could you hear me calling as I brought the rivers to a standstill on that faithful night

That night when I was calling, screaming from my heart

Could you hear that fierce cry that raised the clouds and set them into orbit

Nothing would block my path to the success I saw in sight

Unchained my feet raced across the earth, my intentions as pure as from the start

I leapt the mountains, gaining in height, praying just to take flight

And from the moon would I strike my prize, just to cut your name into the night.

For my sister on her wedding day

2011-01-10T22:36:00.000-08:00

Love is all around you and the stars will shine so bright

This love that has finally found you

Hand and hand you will follow each other into the night

The planets and stars will intertwine and the universe begins to circle

Your hearts begin to dance as you both take flight

Hand in hand you will follow each other into the night

Your passion and courage equally balanced in each other’s eyes

Dale glowing bold in brilliant white

Hand in hand you will follow each other into the night

Your loves illumination is all around you as you walk this sacred ground

It pushes back the darkness with its vigorous might

Hand in hand you will follow each other into the night

You penned your loves everlasting decree

And bid your hearts to intertwine

And into each other’s eyes you gazed

And freed your love so that it could shine

Forever knowing you are the perfect pair

This love you have found so just and fair

And silently you braved your way, hand in hand stepping forward into the night.

Miller Rock The Boat

2011-01-10T05:52:00.000-08:00

Yes, I was on that boat - no, I don't remember a lot of details, but thank goodness for owning a camera...

The images are self explanatory...

Hello friends

2011-01-10T05:40:00.000-08:00

OK OK OK, I haven't blogged in almost a year! wow, how terrible of me..

This year however, I have promised myself to be more expressive, and to not keep things bottled up inside like that of my forefathers. In saying that, here is the low down on what has been going on.

1.I broke up with a girl
2. My best friend moved back to SA
3. I started dating another girl - and broke up with her 2 months later
4. I started dating a new girl - then felt like I wasn't over point number 1 - wanted to go back, but in the end it was better to be alone.
5. In between all of this, I worked the most ridiculous hours, really, I worked so hard that I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown...

6. A year past.
7. I met another girl, lets call her Smurf...

That is where this new chapter is going to begin....

I love Smurf!

I don't want to say things that are from smurfs side - so everything you hear, is from me and how I am feeling..

The first time I met Smurf was out one night in Greenside, she walked in off the street into the bar we were sitting in - immediately I forced my friend sitting directly in front of me to move, so that smurf would have somewhere to sit, somewhere right in front of me... The whole night was amazing, I had never felt a pull to someone like I did that night, I still can't describe it, but magical and amazing come to mind, but yet still don't do any justice.
What followed was something out of a fairytale, I would think up ways to impress her and she would think up ways to try get me to stop falling in love with her... It's funny now, but then, it was a serious matter.
We laughed and played, and every minute with her felt as if there could be no hurt in the world... All my problems disappeared when she drew nearer... And with her embrace, my knees would quiver, the world would fade to brilliant white and my mind would be transported to a land of infinite possibilities.

For some reasons which I am not going to write about, Smurf went away and left me broken, but being the man I knew I needed to be, the man I wanted to be, I got on with life. Sure it was hard and yes there were times when I wanted to break down and cry... But I couldn't show her weakness... Or at least I tried not to...

Then she came back and then she went away again - another part which I am not going to write about, as I feel that it not important now... cause...

Smurf came back, there was a letter, and on the letter were three words that I felt I had waited a life time to hear... She said she loved me, and that was all that was needed! I knew now that she knew what she wanted. I'm going to make her so happy... But not because of her, but because of me... In those months that Smurf was not around, I learnt a few things about myself, I learnt more about the man I needed to be, to be the man she needed me to be... In a way it was good that she left, but now that she is back, I will never give her up...

To be continued....

JHB Skyline

2010-03-08T06:50:00.000-08:00

While out on the town in Troyville, I came across this awesome sight! Believe it or not, but this is a 10second exposure....

Zanzibar - Awesomeness!!

2010-03-01T10:31:00.000-08:00

Every so often, you get to go to a place that just blows your mind - Zanzibar was mine. I was asked to do a wedding guide at a hotel called Azanzi and during this time I got a chance to venture into Stone Town, this must be every photographers dream location, it was amazing! I also got to go to Freddie Mercuries house, something that totally blew me away! I promise that as soon as the features have gone to print I will load them up, I think it is the best shoot I have ever done... The subjects I got to shoot were incedible! Thank you Lebo and Bryce!

Unlisted in Studio

2010-03-01T10:15:00.000-08:00

I was commisioned by Surreal Sounds to do a shoot with Unlisted a few days ago... They arrived at my studio with more beer than I ever thought possible! I made them leave it in the car, and this is what I got!

And Kim again....

2010-03-01T10:12:00.000-08:00

This girl really needs an agent!! Make it happen people!!

Meet Jean

2010-03-01T10:09:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine Jean went throught hell to look like this - I had to shoot it.... Now, lets make Jean a model?

MSC Sinfonia

2010-03-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

At the end of last year, I was in a very wierd head space to say the least.. Lucky for me, I was asked to shoot an editorial in Barra Lodge Mozambique.. Our mode of transport was the MSC Sinfonia cruise ship! Hell yes! So we rounded up to of the raddest girls to model for us, threw some equipment on a boat and off we went.. The weather was terrible it rained everyday, I didnt mind, Grant likes a challenge!

Emily the Strange

2010-03-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

I was commisioned to shoot posters for the Emily the Strange range late last year. The client wanted a clean white background, so this is what i got... Sometimes clean is just the way to go!

Show Love

2009-11-11T01:22:00.000-08:00

I have started shooting for an events company called ShowLove... This is the mind behind the business, Tibz... I did a shoot with him last week... He makes for an interesting subject! Watch this post for more pics!

Something for the Teens

2009-11-10T05:44:00.000-08:00

People Magazine asked me to shoot something fun using alot of pink...? Ok... So I dragged the old portable backdrop out, grapped a spindle of paper and began constructing a studio outside..(I wanted the contrast of the sky to make the image a bit different).. So, three minutes after I secured the stands with weights, this huge wind kicked up, blowing my backdrop away! What a mission. But, by the end of the day, everything came together, and I even got to stand in the pink paddling pool! Yeah!

Living in the twilight

2009-11-10T05:04:00.000-08:00

I was commisioned to do a shoot with Monique van der Wetshuizen a few weeks ago.. I had to come up with something moody, and after just seeing the movie Twilight, I figured that was a good place to get some inspiration... The thing that made this shoot so hard to do, was that we shot at 2 in the afternoon - Not by my choice - but again, time was not on our side!

The streets have lights

2009-11-10T04:51:00.000-08:00

While walking down the street in Margate 2 years back, I found this kid holding a bulb in his hands trying to illuminate his mothers goods she was selling.. Needless to say, I found this extremely interesting and new that I needed a picture before going on my mary way..

Girls like bikes

2009-11-10T04:49:00.000-08:00

I was on a shoot with a good friend Michael Glenister, doing one of our many Exposure projects, when this girl caught my eye.. She works so well infront of the camera! Watch this post for more images of her!

Say hi Kim

2009-11-10T04:34:00.000-08:00

Meet Kim, she started working in our office, but randomly enough, before that, I got to shoot her in the Drakensberg...

DJ Fresh

2009-11-10T04:16:00.000-08:00

Every so often, a photographer gets the chance to shoot someone really awesome, and for me, that was DJ Fresh... But the things about shooting a guy like him, is that, time is always the limitation. I had an hour and thirty minutes to capture 5 images of fresh... Not an easy task to pull off.

Something Random...

2009-09-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

This is a feature pic I shot for cleo magazine with a title that had something to do with picking up guys... A very cool gallery exhibition was going on around us, and our male models where randomly picked from the drunken crowd, this made for a very interesting evening! The second pic is a mate of mine that came with for the party. Mikey makes a great light tester!

Hi, have you met kyle?

2009-09-05T12:33:00.000-07:00

Hi kyle!

Over a train track in Vereeniging

2009-09-05T12:14:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, trying to find a rad location can be a real mission, but fortunately for me and a good friend of mine, Mike, this was not the case at all!

Out on another shoot for our recently formed Exposure Project, we dicovered the coolest old broken down bird park in the middle of Auckenpark. The day was long and the sun was hot, but at the end it was well worth it! These are just two of the girls that I shot that day, more to come!

And this is your box...

2009-09-05T12:04:00.000-07:00

I don't think I have ever laughed so hard! These two guys are a non stop stage comedy... and pretty cool to shoot!

Norwood on Newtown

2009-09-05T11:15:00.000-07:00

So a while ago, some friends of mine asked me to shoot a few promo shots for them... We had no ideas as to where and what to shoot, so leaving it to chance and some nice natural light, we came across the raddest tags... Well worth the trip!

Rikki - The faces of

2009-09-03T06:05:00.000-07:00

This is something old, that has found its way back onto my screen.. A few moths ago, a friend of mine, Rikki, asked for a few studio type pics, I think this was her first time in studio, but came through with flying colours!

Tanya van Graan Swimsuit cover

2009-09-03T05:23:00.001-07:00

So I got the chance to shoot Tanya van Graan for a People Mag fashion feature, what a cool day! You cant ask for a nicer person!

The rest...

2009-08-11T12:40:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more random pics, I swear the next time I upload to my blog they will be in order of the way I shot them..

Below are some of my all time favourite shots!

Have you seen these?

2009-08-11T12:32:00.000-07:00

Something pink... Cause its cool!

This feature I did for spring this year... Simple but effective!

Another beauty feature for People Magazine...
I love this shot so much!

Some more rad stuff...

2009-08-11T12:24:00.001-07:00

It just looked so rad I had to shoot it!

Boys and planes.. nuf said!

The Parlotones...

A few more...

2009-08-11T12:15:00.000-07:00

Lets just say, Bethlehem, a racket and a girl!

What would woodstock be without VanCoke Cartel!

My lovely girlfriend Kate!

This was a fashion shoot for People Magazine with Julio Garcia.. What a rad guy!

Something a bit more up to date

2009-08-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

This was part of a wedding guide I did for People

Magazine... I loved the simplicity of the shoot.

This is the most random self portrait I have ever done!

Thanks Skraps for the rad edit!

This was a fashion feature for Izod clothing the day before the launch. Clint Brink was one of the models for the day.

A touch of heat

2008-05-02T11:39:00.002-07:00

This was a lingerie shoot that I did for People Magazine - it was alright until Load Shedding kicked in and screwed the shoot up! Thank santa for battery packs!

A few more nights and a camera...

2008-05-02T11:39:00.001-07:00

The random stage shots are from OKGO on their recent tour of SA.
Killer good times!

Norwood

2008-05-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

I shot this press kit for Norwood in NewTown two days after getting a new camera, interesting!

Seasons Wither 2008

2008-05-02T09:05:00.007-07:00

OppiKoppi Easter festival 2008

2008-05-02T09:05:00.006-07:00

What a party! good times, awsome people, wicked images!

Muse

2008-05-02T09:05:00.005-07:00

Simply the best live act I have ever seen!

Korn

2008-05-02T09:05:00.004-07:00

These guys were amazing live! A great lighting set up to photograph.

Kaizer Chiefs

2008-05-02T09:05:00.003-07:00

Good Charlotte

2008-05-02T09:05:00.002-07:00

Chris Cornell

2008-05-02T09:05:00.001-07:00

30 Seconds To Mars

2008-05-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

These were all shot at My Coke Fest 2008 - What a cool time!

Have a look

2008-01-17T12:15:00.000-08:00

Some interesting images. Ramndom moments.

A few good friends and a camera

2008-01-17T12:09:00.000-08:00

Some interesting things that caught my eye - through the parties and the madness~

Random band shots from 2007

2008-01-17T11:58:00.000-08:00

These are some random band shots that I took during the last couple of months - music has really become a huge part of me over the year, so you all are going to be seeing alot more.

My Coke Fest 2007 - Johannesburg

2007-05-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

THREE DOORS DOWN

My Coke Fest 2007

What an amazing line up!!

Here are a few shots of Arno, Stained, Evanesence, Hoobastank, and Three Doors Down.

I must say thanks to all the lighting guys, you really made it work! Also another thanks to coke for bringing us such a rad lineup!!

KILLA!!

HOOBASTANK

STAIND

EVANESENCE

ARNO CARSTENS

Misericord - Oh Yeah!

2007-04-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

To the Guys of the Cord! "Rock On!"

Some More Random stuff

2007-04-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

OppiKoppi 2007

2007-04-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some shots from Oppikoppi easter - and what an event it was! Here, I've got shots of Love Jones, Fuzigish and The Parlotones! Very awsome bands indeed!!

Some Random stuff

2007-03-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

This is just a small section of some images in no order..

Some Fashion

2007-03-13T08:09:00.000-07:00

This is a shoot I did with Natalie as part of an on going documentary of the fashion that changes in our never moving world...

Rife Shoot

2007-03-09T03:05:00.000-08:00

This the shoot I did with Rife, as always it was a real event so pretty soon the shoot became a party. Unfortunately, the band had a few disagreements a few days after the shoot and broke up. sad.