U-Turn

Multiple exposure photograph, 35mm film

Klein Karoo MMXI

Limited edition art photography print on archival paper

As a South African artist, I've always been fascinated by the unique beauty of the Klein Karoo landscape. This photograph, made with the multiple exposure photography technique on 35mm film, is an impression of the desolate and lonely beauty of the South African countryside. This technique involves exposing the same frame of film more than once, resulting in a moment of magical realism where our perception is expanded.

Shot during a solo photographic adventure along the N1 highway, the image captures a moment of frustration and isolation. I was lost and had missed the turnoff to Laingsburg, feeling alone in the semi-arid landscape of the Klein Karoo. But as an artist, I found inspiration in this solitude, and the photograph reflects the duality of the experience. 

The shuddering colours of the double exposure technique – combining deep blue and magenta filters – reads like vibrations on some unseen spectrum, imbuing the image with an ethereal quality that stirs the imagination. Shot on 35mm film, the golden light leaking into frame as a result of a serendipitous technical error was a delightful surprise even to me when I saw the final image developed weeks later.

Despite the dry banality of the scene before me, the use of multiple exposure photography adds a sense of surrealism to the image, elevating it beyond the everyday and into the realm of the otherworldly. It is a representation of the mysticism that enshrouds our everyday experiences, a reminder that the world is full of mystery and magic, even in the most mundane of places.

I am constantly inspired by the beauty and complexity of the landscape that surrounds me, and this piece is a testament to that inspiration. This print is a limited edition artwork, and each one is signed and numbered on the blockchain. I hope it will bring you the same sense of wonder and possibility that I felt when I took it. ‘U-Turn’ is perfect for those who appreciate the stark beauty of the South African semi-desert landscape.

This limited edition print is available in 3 sizes, in a run of only 10 prints in each size. The editions are verified on the blockchain with Verisart to ensure their authenticity. It is printed on Hahnemühle German etching paper, giving it a painterly texture and vivid colours that will last a lifetime.