A working index of long-term photographic studies and commissioned essays. Each series is documented with notes on flight conditions, equipment, and the editing flow, so you can see how the final image took shape.
Client notes
These are notes from architects, editors, and developers who commissioned aerial work. They describe how the images were used, not just how they look.
We needed a full set of aerial views for a coastal development proposal. The flight plan was shared with us beforehand, including the exact angles and the time of day. That level of preparation meant we got usable frames for the planning submission without a second visit.
Mara van der Merwe
Urban planner, Cape Town
The series on the Foreshore ran in our quarterly print issue. What stood out was the consistency of the light across the whole set, even though the images were captured over different seasons. The technical notes helped our production team match tones during layout.
Daniel Okafor
Picture editor, Johannesburg
We commissioned aerial documentation of a warehouse site before demolition. The brief was straightforward, but the delivery included a full edit in Capture One with colour grading that matched our existing brand imagery. That saved our team a significant amount of post-production time.
Lindiwe Nkosi
Development manager, Durban
The salt pan essay was licensed for a documentary about industrial agriculture. The images held up well on a large screen, and the metadata provided made it easy to verify locations and flight dates for our compliance team.
Hannah Botha
Producer, Cape Town
Working on a tight deadline for a heritage impact report, we needed aerial views of a town centre within a week. The pilot handled the permit process and delivered a curated selection with clear notes on which frames were suitable for the report. No surprises, no delays.
Pieter du Toit
Heritage consultant, Stellenbosch
We have used the archive for two separate editorial features on coastal erosion. The searchable notes on equipment and flight conditions made it simple to find images that matched the specific narrative of each article. A straightforward licensing process from start to finish.
Sarah van Wyk
Features editor, Pretoria
Selected Series
A selection of commissioned and personal work, each with its own set of constraints, flight plans, and post-production notes. These pages document the thinking behind the images, not just the final frames.
This page frames a concrete subject instead of using a generic heading. It explains what is being considered, why it matters in the site's context, and what detail a reader can expect next. The copy is intentionally plain and specific, so it reads like a real content item.
Read the case notesThis item focuses on practical use, tradeoffs, and decisions that a reader may recognize. It avoids broad promotional claims and keeps the topic tied to a clear situation. The description gives enough substance for a real page rather than a placeholder card.
Read the case notesThis page gives the third item its own reason to exist. It covers a separate angle, includes concrete context, and avoids repeating the same promise in different words. The result should feel like a planned article, project, review, or offer.
Read the case notesThe series published in this portfolio are shared as visual documentation. Before you commission a flight, license an image, or reference a project in your own writing, it helps to be clear about what these photographs are and what they are not. The points below are meant to remove ambiguity, not to add fine print.
Every frame in this portfolio was captured from a drone or a medium-format camera during planned flights. The images document what was visible on a given day, under specific light and weather conditions. They are not topographic surveys, cadastral maps, or legal evidence. If your project depends on precise measurements or boundary verification, aerial photography should be paired with proper surveying tools.
South African airspace regulations, municipal bylaws, and private land access all influence where and when a flight can happen. The technical notes attached to each series mention the relevant restrictions. If you are planning a shoot in a sensitive area, near an airport, or over private property, factor in lead time for permits and landowner coordination. Not every location can be flown on short notice.
All images pass through Capture One and Photoshop as part of the editing flow. Colour grading, contrast adjustments, and selective retouching are standard practice in this studio. The goal is to present the scene as it felt on location, not to fabricate elements that were not there. If you need untouched RAW files for archival or verification purposes, that can be arranged separately and should be stated before the shoot begins.
Images from the archive are available for editorial, commercial, and personal projects, but the licence is not automatic. A photograph used in a magazine feature carries different terms than the same image used in a corporate brochure or a building developer's marketing campaign. When you write with an enquiry, specify the intended medium, circulation, and duration of use so the correct licence can be quoted.
A commission for an architect documenting a new development is not the same as a documentary essay on coastal erosion. The former requires repeat visits, consistent framing, and a tight delivery schedule. The latter allows for a slower, more observational approach. Before quoting a project, the studio needs to understand the subject, the location, and the intended audience for the final images.
Aerial work depends on wind speed, cloud cover, and visibility. Flights are scheduled around forecasts, and sessions may be postponed if conditions fall outside safe operating limits. This is not a matter of preference but of safety and image quality. Clients should expect some flexibility in the calendar, especially for coastal or inland shoots where afternoon thermal winds are common.