Quick Photoshoot on the Melville Koppies

2Summers | 23 May 2016
johannesburg melville melville koppies nature

Last week Wendy Carstens, the chairperson of the Friends of the Melville Koppies, asked me to take a portrait of her and her husband, David, at the top of the Koppies. The portrait is a gift for their daughter’s birthday.

I have huge respect for Wendy and the work she does maintaining and promoting the Melville Koppies Nature Reserve, with a small amount of money and a massive amount of determination. So I was honored when she asked me to take the portrait, but also nervous. I don’t do many assignments like this and I was scared of messing it up – that Wendy and David wouldn’t like any of the pictures I took and I would feel like a miserable failure.

Luckily that didn’t happen.

Wendy and David sitting on the Melville Koppies
Wendy and David at the top of Melville Koppies Central, with the northern suburbs and Sandton City behind them. This is the picture they chose.
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Another option, with Melville in the background. Wendy liked this one too.
Wendy and David-7480
This one was my favorite but I don’t think they wanted such a close-up shot.

Anyway, this is a super-short post. But I thought I’d show off some pictures I’m proud of and remind you that the Melville Koppies is (are? Subject-verb agreement stumps me here) the best park in Joburg and everyone should visit. The Friends of the Melville Koppies host great guided walks every weekend. Read more about the history of the Koppies and Wendy’s work here.