Clinton Friedman

Clinton Friedman is a commercial as well as a fine art photographer. He not only works on local projects in South Africa, but has also had the opportunity to shoot commissions in Miami Florida, Atlanta, New York City, London, India, China and Mozambique.

“Disguised, faded and torn. Chopped, stacked and waiting for purpose; this is what I saw on my first visit to a traditional medicine ‘muti’ market. There I discovered a paradox between my process (of photography) and the traditional healers’ ritual of - collection, preparation and application; this together with the promise of selected specimen revival, is what fascinated me most.

Walking through the intoxicating buzz, I select my disguised subjects, capturing in my mind, a reflection of a youthful presence below the almost dead facade of the specimen. From the market each specimen travels through a rebirth process, until ready for camera. Migration through time has left them with only their names intact. Absorbent and radiant, what a beautiful contradiction, this is what I hoped to reflect when capturing these images. The ritual of traditional photography is my chosen method of process, for these studies. As a professional photographer, I have been part of the digital revolution, and for me digital adds brilliant commercial value, yet for now it lacks in integrity and strength of process for my personal work. Each image is a celebration of life: they are electric, bold, graphic and absolute”.

Information courtesy of www.clintonfriedman.com