It has taken eight years for retired meteorologist Bruce Clemence (69) from Fish Hoek to publish his latest book Cries and Whispers, a pictorial anthology of English Verse, lyrics and prose for South Africa, earlier this year.
A camera for black and white film received as a gift from his father sparked the passion and love for black and white images at the age of 12.
“My dad got me a black and white camera when I was 12. It is something about photographs, that moment it captures, it is like on a timeline and it still exists.
“To me a photograph, the experience, still exists; somewhere in space that moment has not been lost.”
Before starting his career in climatology, Clemence spent two years in London in the United Kingdom (UK) working as a photographer.
In his book, he refers to famous French photographer Henri Bresson.
“Henri Caritier-Bresson (1908-2004), the famous French photographer of the twentieth century, said: ‘It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera . . . they are made with the eye, heart and head’.”
“All talk of technology was banned at his photographic course.”
He adds that photography is an art, not a science.
“There are no details of the many cameras I used to create these photographs over the 50 odd years between 1965 and 2015. The black and white medium was chosen since it is more rare and more difficult to use than colour. Using the grayscale the photographer has only structure, form and light to make an impact; to create mood and atmosphere,” says Clemence.
Images in the book range from landscapes to portraits captured in South Africa and abroad.
“This book also came from my love of jazz. I probably know the lyrics to 20 hours or more songs so I started seeing these images and it just talked to me so I thought I would print it.”
The book, which includes poems, short stories and lyrics, is Clemence’s third self-published book.
“Take a colour picture and turn it to black and white and see that it looks awful, you need to be much more skilful and it is more of a challenge.
“Black and white images also stand out for example with portraits especially.”
His most memorable or favourite image in the book is titled “Montagu”.
“Someone gave me a book by Virginia Wolf which is called Haunted house which is a short story and it took me 20 years to understand it. She is a genius. The picture that was taken at the Montagu hotel is understood when you read the story. ”
Publishing the images along with short stories “forces people to not only look at the pictures but to read,” says Clemence.
The book is available at the Book and Coffee shop in Fish Hoek, Main Road.
Phone Clemence on 074 650 4338 for more information.
