ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Since 2005 I've been photographing the annual maintenance shutdown that happens on the slopes of Table Mountain - where local technicians and Swiss Engineers, work in all weather conditions - to ensure the safety standards required so that tourists can ensure a bumpy free ride to the top of the mountain.
The Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne will be exhibiting 32 of my photographs as part of an interactive exhibition and I'm needing to raise the money to get there.
Time is of the essence as the opening is on the 27th of April 2022. As a professional photographer - being able to exhibit in an international museum, is a highlight, and being able to attend the opening would be unforgettable. I'm needing R27 000 to cover my travel expenses.
THE BACKGROUND
In 2005, I was commissioned by Table Mountain Cableway Company to photograph what was to be a project manual related to the cable changes that happen during their annual maintenance shutdown.
This was the beginning of a unique photographic journey. Since then, I've been the only photographer commissioned to photograph it in such detail which has resulted in my photographs being the only ones in the world of this engineering feat that happens in such a unique environment.
Besides the stories that I've written about it that, along with my photos have been published in magazines, in 2017 I self-funded and independently published a coffee-table book, "Changing The Lines." (This book is part of the Rewards below).
In celebration of TMACC's 90th anniversary, I had an exhibition, titled, "Man, Machine, and a Mountain." Within a week of the opening, the exhibition was closed as we headed into our first hard lockdown. Even though the exhibition wasn't viewed by many, it was very well received by the media, with one of my photos being compared to the famous picture of the workers sitting on top of a skyscraper in New York.
As the cable car system was built by a Swiss company, and the engineers that come out to work on the maintenance, along with South African technicians, are from Switzerland, in early 2020 I contacted the Swiss Museum of Transport, to find out if there would be any interest. A 2 year, a stop-start conversation ensued – thanks to the continuous waves of covid and lockdowns.
The museum, the biggest in Switzerland, which hosts 500 000 visitors a year, has put together an interactive exhibition focusing on tourism and ropeway travel.
Opening on the 27th of April 2022, there will be talks by Engineers, equipment on display, storyboards, and 32 of my photographs exhibited, in print and digitally, to educate, enlighten, and promote the importance of cable car travel – (think of all the ski lifts.) As Table Mountain offers the only cable car system in the whole of Africa, my photos highlight the behind-the-scenes work of the only cable car location in Africa.
THE PLAN
The plan is to raise enough funds so that I can attend the opening of the exhibition.
In return for your donations and contributions, I can offer 2 unique coffee- table books, signed by me which make for ideal personal and corporate gifts, a motivational talk when I get back from Switzerland, and, a half-day photoshoot.
About the Books:
Down the Line. I’m the only photographer that was given permission to photograph the train line between Cape Town and Simonstown. This resulted in my first coffee- table book, Down The Line. The significance of this book now is that it is the only book on the subject, and the trains are about to be replaced with new ones, so the images in this book will become a part of Cape Town and South African history. https://garyhirson.com/product-category/coffee-table-books/- Changing The Lines. Since 2005 I’ve been the only photographer commissioned to photograph the annual maintenance shutdown that happens on Table Mountain. This has resulted in me publishing a coffee-table book – Changing The Lines, which consists of images and the story of what happens during the shutdown. Again, this is the only book on the subject and signed copies are
available as part of this crowdfunding. https://garyhirson.com/product-category/coffee-table-books/ - A half-day photoshoot – whether portraits, an event, social media, lifestyle, or website-CapeTown only.
- About the Talk: “The Journey to the top of the mountain.”A motivational and inspirational talk that promotes, creativity, leadership, and the need to play. Details about the talk can be viewed at https://garyhirson.com/garys-school/talks/
YOUR REWARDS
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Pledge R380 = Reward #1
- A signed copy of Down the Line, a coffee table book, delivered to anywhere in South Africa. A perfect, personal or corporate gift.
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- I’m the only photographer that was given permission to photograph the train line between Cape Town and Simonstown.
- This resulted in my first coffee- table book, Down The Line. The significance of this book now is that it is the only book on the subject, and the trains are about to be replaced with new ones, so the images in this book will become a part of Cape Town and South African history.
- This book showcases, an honest report of commuting life in South Africa. Ideal for a personal or corporate gift.
- Included are also 50 specialised photographic screensavers with this reward!
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Pledge R420 = Reward #2
- A signed copy of Changing the Lines, a coffee table book, delivered in South Africa. A perfect, personal or corporate gift!
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- Working to a strict deadline, during Cape town's wet winter, and often high up on the cables, Changing The Lines showcases what the technicians and engineers have to go through to ensure the cables are changed on time and the maintenance shutdown is completed, so that the tourists can enjoy a bumpy free and safe ride to the top of the mountain.
- Included are also 50 specialised photographic screensavers with this reward!
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Pledge R600 = Reward #3
- A signed combo set of both Down the Line and Changing The Lines coffee-table books, delivered in South Africa. A perfect, personal or corporate gift!
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- A combo pack of both, Down The Line and Changing The Lines.
- Reportage photography of a train line and a cableway - both unique. The perfect, personal gift.
- Included are also 50 specialised photographic screensavers with this reward!
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Pledge R5000 = Reward #4
- Motivational talk, “Journey to the top of the mountain,” at your business, school, conference, including a signed combo set of the coffee-table books
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- Photography is a form of creative expression but so are we.
- We embark on journeys and pursue dreams which add colour to our lives.
- One of my dreams as a photographer was to have a coffee-table book with my name on it. I have achieved, and I also have 32 images being exhibited in the Swiss Museum of Transport.
- This talk includes my photography
- Along my journey I faced; challenges, setbacks, obstacles, encouragement, and decisions – not to dissimilar what we face every day in life.
- As a professional photographer, transformation coach, and accredited trainer I‘ve come to understand three important components to a Createful life.
- We need to Play – as we need to look after ourselves – and the act of Play contributes to creative inspiration.
- We are all creative – and that it’s not only lined to having a photo hanging in a gallery etc.
- Leadership Skills isn’t a position applicable to a select few – but rather a set of skills that can be developed by all, and if we do, we can lead our way through life as opposed to just managing with what life throws at us.
- These three points along with others, and how we can incorporate them into our lives, are all presented in my talk. This talk, along with my photographs covers my journey to the top of the mountain.
- Included are also 50 specialised photographic screensavers with this reward!
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Pledge R6500 = Reward #5
- Half-day photoshoot – totaling up to 5 hours for corporate portraiture or an event. Limited to Cape Town only.
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- Whether portraits, lifestyle, social media, an event, or website photos, I'm offering my services for a half-day shoot.
- My only disclaimer is that the cost of this includes a maximum of 2 lights and is limited to Cape Town.
- The service includes the free editing and transfer of the images.
- Included are also 50 specialised photographic screensavers with this reward!
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Pledge R220 = Reward #6
- “Walking In The Clouds” screensaver photograph
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- This unique photograph formed part of my “Man, Machine and a Mountain,” exhibition which was closed after 5 days due to the 1st Covid related hard lockdown.
It has been compared to the famous picture of the workers on the top of the skyscrapers in New York- ““Lunch atop a skyscraper is considered one of the best photographs ever snapped. The image of the 11 immigrant workers taking a mid-air meal atop the nearly completed RCA building at New York’s Rockefeller Centre captured the imagination of the world. The danger, the intrigue and how the image was taken for years were part of the Zeitgeist.
It’s also one of the first photos to ever show photography as a true art form. At long last South Africa has its own version – of the men walking the cables of the Table Mountain cableway during its annual maintenance…”Adriaan Roets The Citizen Newspaper.March 12th, 2020
- ““Lunch atop a skyscraper is considered one of the best photographs ever snapped. The image of the 11 immigrant workers taking a mid-air meal atop the nearly completed RCA building at New York’s Rockefeller Centre captured the imagination of the world. The danger, the intrigue and how the image was taken for years were part of the Zeitgeist.
- Included are also 50 specialised photographic screensavers with this reward!
- This unique photograph formed part of my “Man, Machine and a Mountain,” exhibition which was closed after 5 days due to the 1st Covid related hard lockdown.
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Pledge R220 = Reward #7
- “Above The Clouds” screensaver photograph
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- I took this photograph from the roof of the cable car, on a day when the city was totally covered in clouds.
- It is also the cover of my book, “Changing The Lines.”
- This unique photograph formed part of my “Man, Machine and a Mountain,” exhibition which was closed after 5 days due to the 1st Covid related hard lockdown.
- Included are also 50 specialised photographic screensavers with this reward!
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Pledge R220 = Reward #8
- “High Flying Workforce” screensaver photograph
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- If you look closely at this photograph, there are men working on the top of the roof.
- They were changing one of the slack rope calipers that hold the tension in the cables.
- This unique photograph formed part of my “Man, Machine and a Mountain,” exhibition which was closed after 5 days due to the 1st Covid related hard lockdown.
- Included are also 50 specialised photographic screensavers with this reward!
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Pledge R220 = Reward #9
- “A Spaceman Arrived” screensaver photograph
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- Part of the maintenance that happens during Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company is to ensure the upkeep of the roads and building etc.
- In this photo, an artisan is sandblasting the lines of the road to ready for repainting.
- He's kitted up like this so not to suffocate from all the sand and dust.
- This unique photograph formed part of my “Man, Machine and a Mountain,” exhibition which was closed after 5 days due to the 1st Covid related hard lockdown.
- Included are also 50 specialised photographic screensavers with this reward!
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Pledge R220 = Reward #10
- “Ghost Cabin” screensaver photograph
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- As the Cable Cars are big refurbished, they need to be repainted.
- This all-white cabin came floating through the mist and reminded me of a modern-day pirate ship.
This unique photograph formed part of my “Man, Machine and a Mountain,” exhibition which was closed after 5 days due to the 1st Covid related hard lockdown. - Included are also 50 specialised photographic screensavers with this reward!
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Pledge R220 = Reward #11
- “Skywalkers” screensaver photograph
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- So much of the work is done on the cable high above the ground.
- The technicians and engineers, although strapped in, are so comfortable working up there, often in the cold and blustery weather of Cape Town’s mid-winter.
- This unique photograph formed part of my “Man, Machine and a Mountain,” exhibition which was closed after 5 days due to the 1st Covid related hard lockdown
- Included are also 50 specialised photographic screensavers with this reward!
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Pledge R1500 = Reward #12
- Social Media Profile Portraits
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- Your social media profile picture is the initial viewpoint for our visitors and visually showcases us to them.
- What I offer is
- Professional photographs in a natural environment.
- Head and shoulder photographs
- 3/4 body length photographs
- Full-body photographs
- For two separate clothing outfits
- Available only in Cape Town.
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Pledge R8000 = Reward #13
- #1 Framed Print of a Unique Photograph
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- "Walking in the Clouds," the framed # 1 print (usually owned by the artist) is up for sale.
- In 2005, I was commissioned to photograph the annual, maintenance, shutdown, that happens on Table Mountain and have been photographing it ever since. The only photographer commissioned to do so.
- Swiss Engineers tightrope walk on the cable that pulls the cable car up and down the mountain above the slopes of Table Mountain while checking the rigging and tension.
- This picture formed part of the “Man, Machine and a Mountain,” exhibition, to celebrate Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company’s 90th anniversary.
- Print no#8 is the Hero photograph that will be exhibited at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne, for 3 years, from the 27th of April 2022
- Image and print size:
- The specs of the image are;
- WATERCOLOUR Giclee 750x1142mm PLUS 20mm white border for signature.
- FRAMING paper size 790x1182mm, 20x35 BLACK frame, show 45mm mount, strap & raise artwork, build-up, clear glass (OUTSIDE FRAME SIZE 920X1312MM)
- Review:
- “Lunch atop a skyscraper is considered one of the best photographs ever snapped. The image of the 11 immigrant workers taking a mid-air meal atop the nearly completed RCA building at New York’s Rockefeller Centre captured the imagination of the world. The danger, the intrigue, and how the image was taken for years were part of the Zeitgeist.
It’s also one of the first photos to ever show photography as a true art form. At long last South Africa has its own version – of the men walking the cables of the Table Mountain cableway during its annual maintenance…”
Adriaan Roets - The Citizen Newspaper
March 12th, 2020
- “Lunch atop a skyscraper is considered one of the best photographs ever snapped. The image of the 11 immigrant workers taking a mid-air meal atop the nearly completed RCA building at New York’s Rockefeller Centre captured the imagination of the world. The danger, the intrigue, and how the image was taken for years were part of the Zeitgeist.
Updates
Thank you for contributing to my crowdfunding drive!
Your contribution enables me to live a dream by attending the opening of the exhibition in Switzerland that will be showcasing my photographs.
I’m sure that not too long from now my crowdfunding drive will be forgotten by you, but the fond memories of me being at the exhibition will forever be etched in my mind, and that is thanks to you.
With the deepest of gratitude and love,
Gary
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Project FAQ
Who am I?
- Gary Hirson, a professional photographer and lover of a daily swim in the ocean.
Where am I based?
- Strand, Cape Town, South Africa
Why Crowdfunding?
- I believe that crowdfunding is a platform that engages like-minded people.
- The audience is willing to contribute to the creation of others’ dreams while receiving something cool and unique in return.
What is the plan once 100% funding is received?
- I will contact my Project Backers to thank them, and make arrangements to send them their rewards!
- I will give them all a social media shout-out!
- I will pay for my flight and accommodation and leave for my exhibition with a smile on my face!