Dedication A b ig THANK YOU to all the people that have crossed my path, inspired my work and touched my heart which led to this exciting showcase of the African Big 5. I would like to thank my family – especially my wife Sandra for her love and her support in all ways. Without her great understanding and keeping it all together back at home, this project would have never been possible! Martin Osner who played a very special role. Not only mentored me through this “new” chapter of photography, but more importantly he believed in me and my work from the first time we met. Thank you Martin for your guidance, strength and support along my way. Thank you to my friends: Stefan Väth, Thomas von Walter and Michael Kaufmann, I enjoyed your company on my trips to Botswana and Namibia –your support has deepened our friendship. In Kenya I gained a very special friend: John Ole Masek - an extraordinary Masai guide. He was always a step ahead and taught me a lot about the bush, the animals and his culture. Further I would like to emphasise my friends and business partners whose paths have crossed my career once again and who have also added their own special expertise to this project: Thomas Gorny, Henning Krause, Jens de Gruyter and Marc Brinkmeier - thank you for supporting me in my endeavours and for always giving me the opportunity to look at things differently. Last but not least I am thankful for all the animals that made these pictures possible, you are great models of nature. Above all you have taught me patience and for this I am eternally grateful! Yours Klaus Tiedge
I recall a windy Saturday morning in August, awaiting a meeting with a certain photographer, Klaus Tiedge. A mutual friend, Tina, asked if I would make time to view his portfolio. I normally don’t accept initial one-on-one viewings, but was persuaded by Tina that he was worth considering. The door opened and in walked Klaus, wearing a large grin and carrying an Apple Mac under his arm. After explaining his desire to move over from commercial to fine art photography, he plonked his laptop down in front of me and asked for my complete honesty. Images of wildlife photographs sped by, one after the other with monotonous regularity. Well exposed, well lit, well cropped animal portrait after animal portrait just kept coming. Quietly, I was rehearsing my “predictable” speech - impatiently waiting for the slide show to come to an end. Finally, it was over. In the nicest way possible, I explained that I was not interested. “Ja,” he said, “but…”
“No, Klaus,” I explained, “this work is fine for stock and calendars, but it’s not exhibition material.” His face dropped as he got up from the table. He picked up his computer, thanked me for my time and was about to go when he asked, “can I show you one or two other pictures?” I felt quite sorry for him and said, “Ok, as long as they are very different from what we have just seen.” He showed me a magnificent photograph of a male lion shot with dramatic backlight - simple but captivating. “Is this your picture?” I asked. “Ja,” he replied. I exclaimed, “Why on earth did we waste so much time when you have work like this?!” He laughed and explained that he had just bought an expensive telephoto lens and was impressed at the quality and this is why he took so many closely cropped pictures. I said, “Klaus, here I see the animal, I experience the environment, I feel Africa! If you bring me more images like this, I will offer you a solo exhibition.” “Oh my God!” he said, stood up, shook my hand, thanked me for my time and left.
Over the next six months, Klaus embarked on a number of expeditions - each time returning with exciting imagery. After a while, I noticed a defined style appearing in his work. He was demonstrating an amazing ability to portray the animals in an adept, vogue-like manner. One almost got the feeling that the compositions had been predetermined and poses had been stylized - as if for the front cover of a magazine. I firmly believe that this ability is a subconscious influence from his days as a commercial photographer. Image after image turned up on my desk with regular flurry, portraying the wild in all its grandeur – Klaus style.
In January 2011, we sat down to put together selections for his solo exhibition. It was at this meeting that I realized just how serious this artist was about his work. Although he had sufficient images for the show, he still felt that he needed to put in one more trip. A few weeks later, he left for the Masai Mara in Kenya, armed with a personal guide and intense enthusiasm. Three weeks later, I got a sms which read, “lots of good pictures on my hard drive…heading for home, see you soon – Klaus”. The work was once again brilliant. His photography had matured even further and the last images were some of the best. Take a bow, Klaus Tiedge, your passion is electric and your photography has moved from predictable to unforgettable….well done, I wish you all the best for the future!
PRIDE OF AFRICA Namibia, Etosha Pan, close to Okondeka
UNISON Kenya, Masai Mara, Burrungat Plain
THE HUNT Kenya, Masai Mara, Rhino Ridge
UNERRING Botswana, Kasane, Chobe River
FROLIC Kenya, Masai Mara, Burrungat Plain
DYNASTY 1 Kenya, Masai Mara, Keekorok
TIMELESS Namibia, Etosha Pan, close to Doringdraai
VIGILANCE Namibia, Etosha Pan, Okondeka
MATRIARCH 1 Botswana, Kasane, Chobe River
AFRICAN VISTA Kenya, Masai Mara, Burrungat Plain
USHERED Namibia, Etosha Pan, close to Batia
MATRIARCH 3 Namibia, Etosha Pan, close to Okefontein
HARMONY Namibia, Etosha Pan, Okondeka
DUO 1 Kenya, Masai Mara, Paradise Plain
RETREAT Botswana, Savuti Plains, Pitsi Pans
SILENT WATERS Botswana, Kasane, Chobe River
DUO 2 Namibia, Etosha Pan, close to Gemsbokopvlakte
MATRIARCH 2 Namibia, Etosha Pan, close to Okefontein
AUSTERE Namibia, Etosha Pan, Rhino Drive
DUO 3 Namibia, Mudumu Game Reserve
PARIAH Botswana, Savuti Plains, Twin Hills
AFTER THE HUNT Namibia, Etosha Pan, Gemsbokopvlakte
BROTHERHOOD 1 Kenya, Masai Mara, Burrungat Plain
SANCTUARY Botswana, Moremi, Sitsh Pan
UNION Kenya, Masai Mara, Burrungat Plain
CAMOUFLAGE Botswana, Savuti Plains, Bushman Hill
FORTE 1 Namibia, Etosha Pan, Okondeka
SOLITUDE Namibia, Etosha Pan, Okondeka
SENTINEL Namibia, close to Mount Okanimbo
LAST NIGHT Kenya, Masai Mara, Rhino Ridge
FORTE 2 Kenya, Masai Mara, Meta Plain
SERENE Namibia, Etosha Pan, close to Aroe
SUNSET MEANDER Kenya, Masai Mara, Burrungat Plain
LEGION Kenya, Masai Mara, Paradise Plain
ETHNICITY Namibia, Etosha Pan, Twee Palms
CONVENE Botswana, Kasane, Chobe River
TRANQUILITY Namibia, Etosha Pan, close to Okondeka
OKAVANGO HARMONY Botswana, Moremi Game Reserve, 4.Bridge
REVERENCE Namibia, Etosha Pan, close to Okondeka
VANGUARD Kenya, Masai Mara, Rhino Ridge
GUARDIAN Botswana, Savuti Plains, Kwando Pan
AURA Botswana, Savuti Plains, Gobatsaa Hill
ALLIANCE Kenya, Masai Mara, Burrungat Plain
DYNASTY 2 Kenya, Masai Mara, Keekorok
BROTHERHOOD 3 Kenya, Masai Mara, Burrungat Plain
BROTHERHOOD 2 Kenya, Masai Mara, Burrungat Plain
SOLITARY Kenya, Masai Mara, Paradise Plain
Biography German-born Klaus Tiedge has been a prominent figure in the field of commercial photography for more than 20 years, having worked in numerous countries including India, Japan, Brazil and the USA. In 2001 Klaus moved to South Africa and settled down in Cape Town taking full advantage of the thriving fashion industry and optimal conditions that the region is renowned for. In 2008, Tiedge decided to shelve his commercial endeavours and pursue his passion for fine art photography as he turned his attention to the beauty and diversity of the African continent. Embracing the “modern digital darkroom”, Klaus has successfully traversed the boundaries between painting and photography. His editioned wildlife photographs have a unique stylized quality to them. Tiedge displays the distinct ability to give equal attention to the animals and the environment in which they are captured in. His impressions portray the animal as if it is being photographed for the front cover of a glossy magazine. Qualities of master lighting, brilliant composition and technical perfection are emblematic of an artist who has obviously done his time in the commercial arena. Besides his successful wildlife imagery, Tiedge is also kept busy with other projects. In 2010 he completed a series of stylized “on location” portraits of the Himba and Zemba people in North Eastern Namibia and an ageless portrayal of single baobab trees. Of late, Tiedge has been devoting a significant amount of time to going on safari in Africa as he continues to document its diverse people, animals and vistas.