Basie Van Zyl whilst I was on a trip with him to Kenton on Sea in 2009. A Truly colorful, vibrant, humorous, eccentric man and an absolute great photographer. Teller of Tall Humorous Tales and all of them True, not just tall tales. You will be Sadly Missed.
I know this post may seem a bit late but this morning whilst on Facebook I accidentally came across some news of the passing of Basie van Zyl on Monday the 10th of February 2014. To say I am shocked would be an understatement, I met Basie for the first time on a trip to Kenton on Sea in 2009 and quite a few other times since then and what can I say he was a true gem.
Basie was the most colorful, humorous, eccentric and lively person I have ever met in my life, he just loved life and he was never afraid to go anywhere, do anything or try anything, especially when it came to photography. Basie was almost permanently on the road, doing trips all by himself to crazy remote places where people were told “don’t go alone” he just had a “stuff that: attitude and just went.
I first met Basie online on the OutdoorPhoto photo forums and our friendship grew from there on until I met him in person for the first time in 2009 at Kenton on Sea. Basie’s photography just grew in leaps and bounds, he bent the rules, be broke the rules, he twisted the rules and he even invented some of his own rules.
This is such a sad loss for South African Photography. For those who never got to meet him in person, boy did you miss out. We would spend the entire day and night in absolute stitches because he was just so naturally funny and always had very tall humorous tales to tell …. and true tales not just tall tales.
Basie and I spoke lots on the phone but then lost touch over the last 2-3 years. He and I spoke at great length about producing photography E-books and I am glad to know that he produced one on Astrophotography and Night Time Photography which is still for sale by his family but it seems the link to buy it has disappeared. I will try and track it down and help get it up for sale again if his family is interested. Will try get in touch with them.
I am so glad I still had these photo’s of Basie that I quickly got out of my catalog’s this morning and I thought it only fitting I pay my own tribute to a true South African Photographic Legend. This is my own personal In Memoriam to a great friend and a great photographer.
Basie may you Rest in Peace, It was an honor knowing you and I’ll see you on the other side. I am sure you have already scouted the best locations for us to visit. Happy Shooting my Friend.
“The Lone Photographer”. Basie Van Zyl on my trip with him to Kenton on Sea in 2009. Basie was never scared to do or try anything, here’s proof when we walked way out into the ocean to try a new angle on a photo.
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