About Bob Martin
Through his magical lens, BOB MARTIN reveals his chameleon-like empathy
with all his subjects. He started his photographic career whilst in
Kenya during the Mau Mau emergency, working as a ‘scene of crime’
photographer as a reservist with the Kenya Police, and then, on his
return to SA as a Sunday Times photographer. He then broadened his
experience by working as a publicity-stills cameraman on a number of
international film sets, also assisting the legendary ‘Karsh of Ottawa’
on the film, “Zulu” with Michael Caine.
He was for many years,
SATOUR’s chief photographer, winning many international awards for
South Africa with his travel posters, from the ‘Travel Federations’ of
The United States, Canada, Europe and Australasia.
But his
artistic insight from behind the lens was fully realized when he began
to work as the only permanent theatre photographer for the Performing
Arts Council of the Transvaal (PACT). “I felt that I had found my
destiny,” says Martin. “I had many exciting, sometimes tragic moments
during my life as a photographer – such as the Sharpville massacre in
1960. It was, however, in the theatre, surrounded by the allure and
absolute genius of dance, drama and music – that I found my true
calling.”
Though an artist at heart, Martin is a skilled
“photographic artisan and technician” and his versatility allows him to
bring a unique perspective to even the most mundane shots.