Renowned photographer visits Zini

The open bottles of Tassenberg at each end of the stage was evidence enough that the master of visual art is unconventional to the core

August 11, 2016

Kyle Cowan 1 minute read

HOW do you become an international photographer?

You take your camera, skip across the border into Swaziland, take a photo and Bob’s your uncle – you are an international photographer.

Renowned photographer Obie Oberholzer doesn’t do conventional.

The open bottles of Tassenberg at each end of the stage while he told his tale of travels, bizarre life and above all, exceptional photographs, was evidence enough that the master of visual art is unconventional to the core.

I was introduced to Obie at the door by Gideon van der Merwe, President of the Mtunzini Rotary Club.

The Rotary Club organised Obie’s talk to raise funds for various projects, giving locals an opportunity to meet the man behind the lens.

I tell him I am from the local paper, and Obie, a former Professor of Photogrpahy at Rhodes University, scoffs, making a joke about being splashed on the front page.

But as he shakes my hand, he winks and claps me on the shoulder with an odd gleam in his eye, and I get the first inkling that this man – who is considered a master artist with a camera – is every bit as mischievous as his reputation that proceeded him.

Being somewhat of an amateur photographer myself, much of Obie’s talk in his own quirky and downright funny way was a once-in-a-lifetime insight into the practices of an exceptional photographic mind.

While his CV of accomplishments is longer than this article and his WikiPedia page does no justice to the character of the man, he remains truly humble.

If you ever get a chance to hear Obie speak, do not miss it.

In the meantime, visit his website – obieoberholzer.net where he publishes pieces similar to the quirky pieces found in his numerous and popular coffee table books.

His parting advice – if you are ever standing in front of a bar, holding a book for a bunch of inebriated Koevoet counter-insurgent fighters to shoot at, make sure you don’t hold the book in front of your face.