Caedes

Artist Spotlight #40: dmk

Submitted by mimi 04/28/09 7:25 AM GMT

The next artist spotlight is Darryn, a.k.a dmk. Take some time today to enjoy his gallery and leave a comment or two. Darryn's biography:

I don't actually know how to express how absolutely shocked I am and what an honour it is to have my gallery showcased. When I got the message from Mimi, I had to keep going to the top of the page just to keep checking that it was my name and that she hadn't sent me the message by mistake :) So seeing as though its no mistake, I would like to thank anyone who thought my gallery to be worthy of being showcased. It’s such an overwhelming thought that my images do actually catch people’s eyes, and hopefully do more than just that. I hope that my images will be able to inspire (in the most humble way) just like I have been inspired by so many amazing and talented artists and photographers here on Caedes. Well part of the deal was that I write a short Biography about myself and let you know a little about my life and background, so here it goes...

My name is Darryn, I am 26 years old and I live in a small village called Kloof just outside of Durban city, South Africa. For those of you that don't know, my wonderful country will be hosting the World cup Football, or soccer as we call it over here in 2010. So there is lots of excitement and hype about that at the moment. I am the youngest sibling of three, my Sister being the eldest who stays near by with her husband, and I also have a brother who now lives in Australia.(WHY?) :P My parents are both retired and are also living in Kloof. So except for my bro( which I chat too occasionally on Skype), we are all still pretty close and spend good family time around many Braais, our SA word for BBQ's :) My other hobbies besides photography are not really hobbies but more a lifestyle, I love sport! I play a lot of golf, Football with my friends, and our No 1 sports here in SA are rugby and cricket which I don't really play any more since I left school, but we enjoy watching the local and National teams on the Tele.

Okay, so enough about the family before I bore you to death! I only started getting into photography about 3 years ago when I was in the UK on a working holiday. It was coming to the end of my Visa and I took the opportunity to do a bit of travelling around Europe, and you can’t go sightseeing and not take a camera, because at that point I never owned one. So I went out and did a bit of research and bought myself my first camera, being a digital one at that because me being young and hip wasn't even thinking about film, and thought that the fact that you could view your pics straight away on a little screen on the camera was just mind boggling to me, and for that reason alone I had to have one! Oh, so anyway I ended up getting a little Sony Cybershot 5.1m and little did I know that this little tool was going to start something in my life that I had no idea I would be so incredibly passionate about, and is constantly on my mind everyday, Photography. So if you end up looking through my gallery and come across some pics I took in Paris and Venice, then those are my very first pics I took as a "photographer". I ended up having my Sony for quite sometime and it took me a great deal of saving and patience here in SA till I managed to get my DSLR, a NIKON D80, which I ended up getting in November 2008, so I haven't had it for very long, but I'm making sure I get good use out of it and feels like I’ve had it for a lot longer. I managed to get a really nice deal with my D80, and got the Standard Nikor 18 - 55mm as well as a Tamron 70 - 300mm, so at the mo that's the only equipment I have and my trusty tripod. I do my best to make the most of what I have, because equipment here in SA is quite expensive for me. I'm hoping in the near future to add a Macro lens and a super wide angle lens to my bag.

My inspiration for photography comes from all you people here on Caedes, magazines, the Internet, and an amazing Australian landscape photographer by the name of Ken Duncan. I came across Caedes by a friend who told me about it, because she works for a church and uses some of the art for the projector backgrounds for the song words. She suggested that I put some of my pictures up on Caedes and see what people think of my photos, because I was a newbie in photography I had no idea where I stood in the photographing world and whether my pics were any good, I had some of my friends complimenting me on my pics, but thought they were just being kind and biased :) I'm really glad that I have become apart of this awesome community and with every ones comments and critiques on my pics, and by viewing other people’s work I have learned so much. And let’s not forget that I have made some wonderful friends here and I look forward to making many more!

I've been asked to name my favourite image in my gallery, and I'm going to have to go with "Signals". For me it was one of my most rewarding shots, the mood, the clarity, the time exposure, the comp, it's just an all round solid shot for me personally, and I remember being really chuffed with it and felt I achieved pretty much what I had in mind before I took the shot.

I would like to end off by just saying another thank you to everyone here on Caedes who have supported me, given me advice, encouraged me on my work, and inspired me by yours. I have really enjoyed my time here so far, and I look forward to many, many more years with all of you. I hope you enjoy my gallery.

Comments

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::Hottrockin
05/27/09 11:00 PM GMT
Hey, hey, hey...a BIG congrats on your spotlight!! You have an amazing gallery!! Luv the perspective ya got on "Up We Go"!!

Again, congrats and enjoy!!
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Why do the pictures come out square when the lens is round??
::100k_xle
05/28/09 12:21 AM GMT
Congratulations Darryn!

You certainly have a Unique and Original Gallery.
My Favorites are the Shoreline Captures.
Thanks for sharing.

E J
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This Image GRABBED my EYE. That's Why I Stopped By. Thanks For Sharing ! Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience
.JEdMc91
05/28/09 12:30 AM GMT
Congrats to you, you have a wonderful gallery!
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Music is the medicine of the mind..... Visit My Gallery.
::bean811
05/28/09 1:22 AM GMT
Hey!!! Congrats, Darryn!! The spotlight could not be given to a better photographer or a better person. It might have been a shock to you, but I wasn't too surprised to see your name on the home page just a minute ago. You know I love your photography...heck, we pretty much like all the same stuff ;) And it's really funny and interesting to hear how you got your start in photography...I pretty much started the same way...I'm a huge sports guy (my sports are baseball and surfing) and my first foray into photography came from being on vacation in Dominica.

I can't decide what my favorite shot of yours is...of course, I'm a huge fan of your waterfall shots (gonna go with Pot River Falls) and I love your shoreline series (going with Signals as well). "Spare" is also a really cool shot I like and "Comforter" is another great shot that adds a completely different element to your gallery.

Congrats again, man...well deserved. But, now you've set the bar for yourself and you gotta keep them coming ;)
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Check out my website
::Stevenn120
05/28/09 4:37 AM GMT
Congragulations, a well deserved honor
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I am not an artist,just a photographer,I capture what I see... Pentax K-10D
.Genver
05/28/09 4:43 AM GMT
Congratulations,it is well deserved,you have very nice photos.
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::_SNAPDRAGON_
05/28/09 4:56 AM GMT
Yay, great to see another southern hemisphere artist spotlighted, even if they are South African (sorry, between this past summer's cricket and the looming tri-nations rugby I couldn't help myself:) Seriously though, your work is awesome and I want to thank-you for sharing such magnificent images of your unique and wonderful landscape with us. Well deserved and well done, congrats, Kelcey.
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.mesmerized
05/28/09 10:28 AM GMT
Congratulations Darryn! You have a fabulous gallery and are most worthy of this nomination...looking forward to more of your images in the future.
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Shadow is a colour as light is, but less brilliant; light and shadow are only the relation of two tones. Paul Cezanne
=ppigeon
05/28/09 11:01 AM GMT
I really like your african portraits. Congrats Darryn :-)
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-Pierre-
+purmusic
05/28/09 11:04 AM GMT
Well deserved accolade, Darryn.

Hard to choose a favourite from amongst your photos, that
said ... I really enjoyed and continue to enjoy these two shots in particular:

"A Moment"

"Another Moment"


Congratulations and am looking forward to seeing more work from your mind's eye and from behind the lens. Enjoy your time in the limelight. :o)
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"An eye for an eye, and soon the whole world is blind." - Mahatma Gandhi
::fogz
05/28/09 12:44 AM GMT
Congratulations Darryn - this recognition of your work is very well deserved - I can honestly say that there is not one image in your gallery that I would call average - a gallery you should be proud of.
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..thanking you in advance for your comments. Please know that all your comments are appreciated....." Live well, love much, laugh often!" .... mygallery
::Toto_san
05/28/09 12:52 AM GMT
Wow. Wow. Wow. You really deserve it, African Master. I do like your portraits as they express so much emotions. My other favorites of yours are your wonderful Umhlanga beach and Drakensberg shots. Looking forward to seeing more exciting and artsy work from your great country. :)
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For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, His eternal power and Godhead;... Rom 1:20
::cynlee
05/28/09 2:28 PM GMT
I perused your gallery again and there is not one image that I don't like less than very much. You seem to have a knack for photography and certainly you have a great eye. Congrats on this distinction. You definitley deserve the recognition. Bravo!
Cindy
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::JQ
05/28/09 2:46 PM GMT
YAY!! congratulations, you so deserve it! :-) !! Enjoy your month of fame!! heheh. Jan
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::danika
05/28/09 7:13 PM GMT
Congratulations Darryn ... you have an amazing gallery & this honor is so well deserved. Enjoy!!!
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We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give ~ Winston Churchill
+KEIFER
05/28/09 7:43 PM GMT
I was unfamiliar with your works until now, as I don't get into the galleries as much these days due to bandwidth problems. Upon review, I would say that some of your works, your portraits, especially, are worthy of National Geographic

Another Moment

Rural Smile

Rural Child

.. but, seeing as I don't work for them, you'll have to wait a bit longer to be discovered .. just show them your "Omnipotent Wielder of the Gilded Shutter" card
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♪ ♫ When I grow up I wanna be an old woman...an old, old, old, old, old..old woman.. ♪ ♫
::jswgpb
05/28/09 8:09 PM GMT
Congrats there Darryn....have always liked your images. Enjoy my friend......you deserve it. Party, party. :)
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Always remember - Follow the Yellow Brick Road, it will lead you to OZ and the Emerald City. A very nice place to live. Trust me on this one, I live there. The Lion **** MY CAEDES GALLERY****Another Site I'm AT - MY DA HOME PAGE
::tigger3
05/28/09 10:42 PM GMT
Congrads to you and your gallery is most impressive. I love the water images, just perfect and beautiful. Enjoy your time in the spotlight. =^..^=Sandi
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Nature in all her glory is my uplift on life and so is my love of photography. sandi ♪ ♫
::solita17
05/30/09 4:16 AM GMT
A big congrats from me too! I looked in on your gallery and I am highly impressed... Your work is excellent, especially given that you have been at it for just three years. I love your water pictures, and of course, "Mister Grumpy" was one of my faves in the negative space contest. The simplicity in your work really grabs me.. and... the Nikon D80 is my camera too...
mary
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"Never let your studies interfere with your education." - Pete Seeger
::allisontaylor
05/30/09 12:29 AM GMT
Truly enjoyed reading your bio. It is very inspiring to read about the journey into photography. I like the diversity in your gallery, although I am drawn to the obvious such as Timeless and Signals. : ) Congrats!
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.vangoughs
05/31/09 12:47 AM GMT
Nice water works in there!Really like your perspective on things and keep it up.
Congrats and enjoy
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::Dunstickin
05/31/09 8:24 AM GMT
Many congratulations Darryn!...

a great honour indeed...

Reap the rewards, cos your pictures prove it!...
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* Owing to the deterioration in my hands, I find that I cannot comment as much as I should..But please know...I do look at all your posts!..and will leave my 'moniker' >OB< when I do so!...Thank you all * OwdBob'sGallery
::twinkel
05/31/09 6:40 PM GMT
Concrats Darryn....just took a peek into your gallery and it looks good...um...great...yeah, that's it!!

So...enjoy your time in the spotlights :o)
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Carpe Diem
::0930_23
06/01/09 2:20 AM GMT
Congratulations Darryn for a much deserved award. I have looked at your gallery and it is quite impressive. Sorry I haven't become friends with you, but I like to think all of us that do this have a special bond. In saying that, I believe we are friends.
Good luck to you and enjoyed your biography.

Tick
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Insure what you touch during your lifetime, is not coated with the fingerprints of apathy....Tick
::wheedance
06/02/09 10:25 AM GMT
Congratulations! I loved discovering the work in your gallery and I'm sure you'll have many more years of beauty to share with us! It's always a pleasure to learn more about each other and I enjoyed reading your bio as well. Keep up the good work! Hilda
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All of earth is crammed with heaven And every bush aflame with God But only those who see take off their shoes. - Elizabeth Barrett Browning<p> mygallery
::egggray
06/03/09 6:27 PM GMT
Your gallery is truly amazing. Your work inspires me to try something differant besides Wildlife photography. You very deserve to be in the spotlight. Gregg
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If you wish to purchase framed photos, prints or greeting cards of my work please visit my website .http://www.redbubble.com/people/ziggy7
::third_eye
07/21/09 3:43 PM GMT
Darryn, a tip of my hat to you. My apologies for the late arrival, but the kudos offered are done so withthe same gusto had I been the first to comment.

I took a spin through your gallery, and was amazed, not just at the quality of your work, but at how many images of yours I've seen, and liked quite a bit... without realizing they were all by the same artist. As time allows, I'll have to backtrack and share some thoughts.

Enjoy your "moment in the sun"! :o)

Rob
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Please, even if you don't visit my gallery, check out my "Faves".I've left them intact since day "1", and would like it if every image there got the attention they deserved.

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