Photographer makes lockdown child's play

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Not allowing the lockdown to frustrate his creativity, an architectural and interior photographer from Mossel Bay, Michael de Nysschen, took to playing with children's toys.

De Nysschen shared photographs on social media featuring his son's army figurines, seemingly on a reconnaissance mission.

Taking on a challenge presented to him after his first photograph was seen online, De Nysschen proceeded to create a few more images, featuring LEGO figurines and his daugther's Princess Elsa from the blockbuster animation flick, Frozen.

De Nysschen, on being asked to explain himself, had the following to say: "Lockdown doesn't mean shutdown." He admitted that the national lockdown was a trying time for him. "Actually, that's an understatement. We are not designed to be locked in."

To him, as a photographer, it can mean the end or the beginning. "End of business, or the start of a new line," he explains.

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He primarily photographs real estate, architectural work, hospitality and interior design subjects, hence being in lockdown means that he cannot work. "I am stuck at home. All my clients have their images. My retouching and editing is all done. So, what do I do next?"

The idea of shooting the kids' toys dawned on him after he came across an old cellphone image.

"So I thought, 'Why not?' Let us get the creative juices flowing again. The kids were summoned with their toys and we had the best of fun shooting the images. I had no real theme or idea. We shot what we had."

He realised that the aim was not to photograph what he sees, but what he feels. "The images hopefully make you think and form your own story. What was happening? Where were the soldiers coming from? What was going through the mind of Papa Smurf when he met his long-lost twin?"

De Nysschen says that the lockdown gave him the opportunity to bond with his children in a whole new way.

"How often does a 40-year-old man get to play with matchbox cars, Smurfs, LEGO and live out his passion for photography? There are more advantages to the lockdown than disadvantages in my opinion."

Despite the downside of dwindling finances, the upside is that nothing can replace the time you have with your loved ones.

"Do not see this time as one of loss. Use it to learn something new. Use it to improve and increase your zest for life."

A LEGO figurine revs it up.Photo: Michael de Nysschen