The National Arts Festival, which is held in Grahamstown every year, is not just a arts festival. For Rhodes Journalism students the Festival is a way of life. It is non-stop roller coaster ride of performances, people, partying and getting practical experience in your field of study.
When you are a fourth year journalism student at Rhodes University you have to work for Cue (newspaper) if you are a writer or designer, CuePix (a photo agency) if you are a photographer, CueTV for the TV students and CueOnline for the new media students. Basically the journalism department becomes a hub of activity and craziness that by far surpasses that of any newsroom that I have ever interned in.
I worked at Festival last year in order to improve my low light photography and prepare myself for when working for CuePix would be mandatory in fourth year. And it was one of my favourite times both last year and again this year. You just don't get any better than getting paid to attend theatre, singing and dance performances of such high standards.
The CuePix staff would every afternoon have a diary meeting to organise which photographer would be assigned to which shows that were being performed the next day. The assigning was on a first-come-first-serve basis so you were assured at least one show a day that you were actually interested in watching and photographing.
As fourth year photographer we also had to produce soundslides during the Festival. These are the two that I produced and can be found on CueOnline: they feature Gary Thomas and acappella group D-Seven. I also supplied photographs for a soundslide on South African artist John Ellis
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| Abnormal Load is a theatrical piece by Standard Bank Young Artist, Neil Coppen, Grahamstown, 30 June 2011. CuePix: Tarryn Liddell |
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| Candace Gawler and Juliette Pauling perform in the student production Woemen at the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown. CuePix: Tarryn Liddell |
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| Gary Thomas a maestro at manipulating guitar strings performed at the Arts Festival. |
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| A man. A woman. A table. Interiors is about what happens when your life becomes as boring as your interior decorating. Starring Beren Belknap and Nadia Caldeira, Grahamstown, 8 July 2011. CuePix: Tarryn Liddell |
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| Rob van Vuuren is the winner of the inaugural Comics Choice Breakthrough Act Award and is performing at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, 30 June 2011. CuePix: Tarryn Liddell |
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