Ever since seeing Sebastio Selgado’s “Workers” book way back in 1999, I knew that social documentary is what photography meant to me. Since then I’ve always captured many “stories” related to what I see as “Life.”
My most in depth story has been the commissioning and photographing of the annual, maintenance shut down that takes place on the slopes of Table Mountain –engineering on a grand scale in a very unique environment. These images resulted in a book – Changing The Lines.
Due to my love of this style of photography I also photographed the train-line between Cape Town and Simonstown which resulted in a book. Down The Line is an honest documentary about commuting life in South Africa.
To speak or book Gary about an upcoming shoot, contact gary@garyhirson.com or 083 608 2194.
Besides having been commissioned to photograph engineering project review books, and reportage photographs for various companies I’ve also had my photo essays with text published in both local and international publications.
These include:
- Micro Artisan Coffee Roasters in Cape Town
- The life of coffee in Laos.
- Homeless people recycling waste – bettering their lives.
- Cooking in Cambodia.
- Walking with Baboons in Cape Town.
- Subsistence Fishermen in Mozambique.
- Afrikaburn – Africa’s own Burning Man.
- Life in an orphanange – The Winnie Mabaso Foundation
- A Drakensberg Village.
- And “Behind The Sets”.
Here is a brief video showcasing images from three of my latest commissions. The rest of my work can be viewed throughout this website.
