About Peter
Peter Russell is a Cape Town based photographer with many years experience. From the perfection demanding stills fashion industry to behind the scenes commercial photography, he maintains a high level of professionalism with a flair for captivating, illuminating images that speak without the need for words.
Peter started dabbling in photography whilst in high school and easily learnt the basics of black and white developing and printing. Many years later he recalls this trepid beginning with a wise grin "if I knew then what I knew now I would never have been so hesitant". Photography is all about style, composition and technical mastery. "At such a young age I was learning technical proficiency and from there its a matter of hard work, practice and the other two elements to fall into place."
Choosing first to study graphic design, he them went on to complete a 3 year National Diploma in Photography at Cape Town University of Technology which provided him with suitable guidance and opportunity to express his creative vision and realise his passion. "What any degree in a creative field cannot offer you is work experience - and that's where you are made or broken as a photographer"
His foray into the world of photography began when he assisted some of the best fashion and advertising photographers in the world - all of whom seem to drop in to Cape Town at some point during their careers. With such a thriving local industry it didn't take Peter long before he found himself being offered travel to London, New York, Miami, California and Cyprus with those same photographers. It was during these travels that he was introduced to video as a medium to document his experiences. "The two are so beautifully interlinked yet allow different approaches within the same creative vein." He has gone on to work as a camera operator for companies like AV Alliance, Kilowatt AV, From the Hip Productions and Refresh Creative Media.
After experimenting in these different mediums Peter finds himself happiest photographing people and weddings. What people appreciate most about Peter is his relaxed, easy-going manner. He blends in and gets on with it without you even noticing. But what makes his work stand out is his approach: "wedding photography has become so creative - imagery that needs to last a lifestyle cant become out dated." So Peter's photos have their own distinct style and showcase the details of the day without losing its emotional resonance. Glancing through his portfolio you will notice he uses the increasingly popular 'fly on the wall' reportage style to glean the essence of the occasion. Couples end up with albums that not only show who was present and what the memorable moments were - but with a book that shows who they are as people and the beauty and love that surrounds them.
In his spare time as a keen surfer, he has combined his love for the sport with photography. From breathtaking action shots to personalised caricatures and emotive lifestyle compositions; he has captured the culture and sport for more than ten years. His work has featured in Surfer Magazine, Amped, Blunt, Locally Whipped, Saltwater Girl, African Surfrider, Zigzag and The Bomb surf magazines.
