Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Barbara and Craig at Helderfontein Estate

There’s this thing about photographers.. not always so good with the words. After reading and thinking and reading and trying and reading and lying on the floor close to crying (well not really but I’m a fan of the dramatic) I decided.

I decided that I’ll write what I like (sorry Steve Biko) and pretend you’re not listening. I’ll write what I like and believe that it’s freeing. I’ll write what I like and I’ll start remembering.

I remember meeting Craig at Helderfontein in his shorts and flip flops, I remember his friends and best men playfully teasing him as they all got dressed, I remember everyone seemed to be family or the long lost brother of a best friend/sister/cousin/aunt/uncle. I remember Craig speaking to his gran (who was too sick in England to make it) “Not yet Nana” he whispered “She’s almost almost my wife, but not yet” as he stood outside the chapel.

And then the ceremony… Barbara’s bridesmaids taking their time down the aisle.
Slowly, one by one. I remember thinking “So this is how it feels…. A moment that you want to last forever and simultaneously hurry up”.

And my favorite image Barbara and Craig standing side by side, she turns her head to whisper something to him and he leans into her. Their heads close to touching. Such a slight movement.
But in a photograph it speaks volumes.

There’s so much more to talk about – first communion as husband and wife, Craig’s dad marrying them moments before. Brightly colored cocktails below birdcages’ filled with flowers. The best man’s speech and the laughter that followed.

But like I said… photographers are not always so good with the words.
So here are the pictures instead.