• flickr Shortly after starting a graphic design career in the music industry, Holly Clark realized full-time work wasn't for her. She quit her job, traveled around the world, and has been freelancing ever since. Holly currently provides design and copywriting services to her clients along with the occasional stock photography shot thrown in. She has been documenting her travels to Africa since that world journey, 11 years ago. Along with her husband, a former safari guide, she also provides African travel consultations as well as escorts small groups around South Africa. You can see more of her photography on her flickr photostream.
Introduction
South Africa. A country with 11 official languages, a multitude of ethnic groups, known far and wide for its oppressive past, and now known for successfully pulling off the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In the weeks prior to the opening match, the country was buzzing with excitement. Businesses and homes alike were decorated with flags from the participating nations. Shopping centers had soccer balls hanging in every store window. Cars were kitted out with flags flapping from the windows & covering side-view mirrors.
The final day of the work week was designated "football friday" for the two months leading up to and during the main event with workers wearing South African football jerseys sporting company names. Foreigners from all over the world descended on the country filling its national parks, game reserves, restaurants and hotels. This country was humming. These photographs were taken between the two weeks leading up to the opening match and during several of the first games. Enjoy.
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SPIT-POLISH / JOHANNESBURG
A Johannesburg office building gets a quick clean two weeks before the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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SPRUCING UP / JOHANNESBURG
On the N3 heading out of Johannesburg towards Durban, the dividing hedges get their first prune in what could be a decade.
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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TOWNSHIP / STANDERTON
During aparthied, Africans were allowed to coexist amongst white residents for the purpose of providing labor and other services. They lived in what are called "townships" on the outskirts of town. Surrounding many of them are squatter camps, officially known as "informal settlements", which now house an untold number of South Africans and illegal aliens who flock to the cities to find work. You can find them in the smallest of towns, like this one in Standerton.
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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BUS STOP / VRYHEID
Three women await a local taxi outside of Vryheid. Even in the most rural settings, the fashions of the big city seem to make their way into the hands of the average South African.
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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BOYS AT THE BRAAI / LOUWSBURG
Starting the fire to get ready for the evening's bbq, known in South Africa as a braai. All over the country, South Africans gather with their own version of the braai, heavy on the meat, light on the salads, with a little pap (mealy meal) and sous (sauce) thrown in.
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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NO HAWKING / LIMPOPO PROVINCE
Despite the "no-hawking" sign, a fruit seller hawks his wares beside the orchard where he works
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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RUGBY AT SATARA / KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SATARA REST CAMP
A crowd gathers to watch a test match of the South African Springboks on tv at the Satara rest camp in the Kruger National Park
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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THE SERIOUS BUSINESS OF BEER / PRETORIA
A busy beer hall serving customers during a world cup match.
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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THE LADIES OF GHANA / PRETORIA
A Serbian fan poses with women from oposing team, Ghana, in Loftus Versveld Stadium.
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS / PRETORIA
Two South Africans teach a fan from Japan the proper way to blow a vuvuzela, one of the more controversial fixtures of the games.
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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IN THE THICK OF IT / PRETORIA
An excited fan cheers during a march around the stadium.
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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AFRICANS UNITE / PRETORIA
A South African flag flown next to one from Ghana during a match at Loftus Versveld Stadium
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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FACE PAINTING / SOWETO
A South African fan gets his face painted outside of Soccer City.
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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DECORATION / SOWETO
A painting inside of Soccer City in Soweto depicting a fan blowing his vuvuzela.
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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WORLD CUP FLARE / SOWETO
An American fan blows a vuvuzela during a world cup soccer match in Soweto's Soccer City.
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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AMBUSH MARKETING / SOWETO
The infamous Bavarian beer dress that caused quite a stir during the Netherlands v Denmark match. 36 Dutch and South African blondes were given free tickets to the game with one catch...wear this orange dress. Apparently some of the tickets had been provided by a British commentator, who later got sacked. They caused quite a bit of commotion on their collective marches around the stadium. In the end, all were escorted off the premises, several were detained, and two were arrested before being sent home to The Netherlands. FIFA nailed Bavaria out of court where they promised never to be involved in an unlicensed stunt again.
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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CLOSING UP SHOP / SOWETO
Dust blows off a Johannesburg mine dump in Soweto's Soccer City as two women clean up their food stand at the end of a World Cup soccer match.
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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THE VUVUZELA DANCER / RUSTENBURG
A fan blows his modified & elongated vuvuzela while supporting it with his feet
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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GREETINGS / RUSTENBURG
A young girl watches as crowds of people head home after a world cup soccer match in Rustenburg.
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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THE WAY OF THINGS / RUSTENBURG
Increasingly, wherever you travel throughout South Africa, people are living behind fences. Whether they are high-tech security fences, or low-tech deterents like this one, much of the country lives and works behind a barrier.
Photograph by Holly Clark / © Holly Clark. All Rights Reserved.
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Displaying 1 Comments
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Added Fri, Jul 30, 2010 - 12:04 am by TL Bradley
Congrats on the feature. This is wonderful.
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