BYRON Du Bois’ surreal aerial photographs of the weekend’s #DurbanFire have thrust the Bluff photographer into the spotlight.
After hearing about the inferno on Friday, Byron headed to the area to see what he could capture. Byron is a keen photographer who tries to display the spirit of a moment and his images from the blaze have captured not only the moment but the mood.
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“I took my friend’s drone to South Coast Road, far away from the fire in the hopes of photographing it from a safe distance,” he said.
Unfortunately, the strong south-westerly wind meant he could not return the drone to his position and it led him on a chase through the area. He managed to recapture the drone with 20% battery life remaining.
When he took it home, he was able to download pictures which have spread through social media platforms and made him a household name.
The 30-year-old photographer’s striking images of the smoke and flames encapsulated the blaze’s danger and scale. As the cloud of smoke spread in the late afternoon, Byron’s photographs made the scene seem almost apocalyptic.
“This was the first time I have photographed something like this,” said Byron, who works as a commercial photographer, usually focusing on products. “I had no idea how far these images would spread and what an impact they would have. The one photo went viral almost immediately. It was mental.”
A couple more.Still burning. But looks to be controlled @MrCPT @dbntourism @ILuvDBN @MMStadium @durban_kzn @News24 @wordsfromshaun pic.twitter.com/Mgir5mXRwk
— Byron du Bois (@DoOb_s) March 25, 2017
The images have been used by weekend and regional newspapers, and the most impressive shot is featured on the front page of the SUN. As with many online photos, the image was even immortalised as a meme.
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Byron also took a few more photos over the weekend as the fire and the fight against it continued.
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“When I first saw it, I thought this is massive and I was glad that no-one had been gravely injured. If the wind had blown the smoke over the Bluff, it could have been much worse. From a photography point of view the smoke created quite a moody atmosphere.”
Byron has been a photographer for eight years and said he likes to make things look original.
“I like to show my own experiences and views through images. I like capturing unusual things.”
Follow Byron on Twitter or Instagram to view more of his photography.
Videos and photos from the South Coast Road blaze
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