20 Questions – Neil van Niekerk

Posted by kevin focht on Jun 30, 2011 in 20 Questions, News and Notes | 0 comments

Your Name? Neil van Niekerk
What brand camera do you use? mostly Nikon
Your age? 50
What lighting brand do you use? speedlights, Quantum, Profoto
Your favorite lens? Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR II
Mac of PC? Mac, finally
Your favorite lab? WHCC
Who was/is your biggest inspiration and why? Numerous photographers have inspired me, with their images informing my own style and approach. The one photographer whose work I dearly love, and whose gentle humor in his photography is something I wish I could infuse in my own work, is Elliot Erwitt.
How long have you been shooting ? professionally in the USA, since 2003 … as a hobby, since high-school days
Your favorite color? black, although some will argue that black isn’t a color but instead is absence of color
What piece of gear would they have to pry from your cold dead hands? The Nikon D3 (or whatever its future awesome successors would be), with the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR II (or whatever its future jaw-droppingly awesome successors would be)
If you could do anything else what would it be? Musician … however, I’m a much better photographer than I’d ever be a musician. So here I am.
How would you explain your style? get-the-job-done-alism.
Officially, I describe my approach to wedding photography as borrowing from the best elements of classic wedding photography, liberally mixed with modern photo-journalistic story-telling style. Ultimately, it is whatever I need to do to get the best photographs I can for the bride & groom on their day. ie, get-the-job-done-alism.
What advice would you give someone starting out today? Reconsider studying something in the engineering or medical field instead. You certainly won’t die a rich person, working as a photographer, but the journey is an interesting one, filled with great experiences. Just don’t expect job security of any kind. You will also have to work harder than you can imagine, since being successful as a photographer is a never-ending job in itself, constantly chipping away at it.
What do you mainly shoot? weddings, events, and potraits.
What’s your favorite thing to do when you aren’t shooting? Watching movies and TV shows (on DVD / Blu-Ray).

If I can recommend one TV series that is essential for photographers – Mad Men.
It is beautifully shot, beautifully lit, and every frame beautifully composed. It really is something to be studied carefully. Then on top of that, the story-telling is just as great – sparse and at times filled with subtle humor.
What did you have for breakfast? Coke
Favorite drink or cocktail? Coke
Most inspiring image you have ever seen? Going along with the earlier line of thinking of how Elliot Erwitt’s work inspired me, I’d have to say that his image taken at a wedding in Siberia, with the guy (best man?) sitting there with a knowing smirk, while the newly married couple looks at him with serious faces … that is such a keenly observed slice of life.
Coolest place you have ever traveled to for work? Aruba. I photographed a destination wedding there and fell in love with the place.