Morningside Shopping Centre to host ‘I Love Film’ Black and White Photography Exhibition.

The art of Film Photography will come to life as
Morningside Shopping Centre hosts the Black and White
‘I Love Film’ Photography Exhibition from
6 to 14 September.
Shoppers are invited to delight in the work of over
40 photographers in a showcase of the understated elegance of black and white photography, shot entirely on film.
The photographs, on display throughout the centre
for the duration of the exhibition, will be hand processed and printed in a dark room by Dennis da Silva – one of few remaining hand photo printers currently in operation in South Africa. Dennis is a self-taught photographer and photo laboratory technician who started and managed one of the largest professional photo labs in Africa for over 45 years and has worked with many top local and international photographers and artists.Dennis holds an Honorary Fellowship from the Professional Photographers of South Africa (PPSA) and is on the management  team of the South African Professional Photographers (SAPP), serving as the Facilitator of Accreditation and Judging.
Dennis has been a judicator in many prestigious photographic awards both locally and internationally, including the prestigious Sony Photographic  Awards. Today he is known as a master black and white hand
printer and continues to print for noted photographers,
artists, collectors, galleries and museums around the world. In 2008 he was presented with the Sony Profoto Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to photography.
In a fast paced digital age, Alexi Portokallis says film photography offers a different perspective on the world. “It slows you down, it teaches you to stand still, appreciate the moment  and take that perfect shot because you only have 36 shots in one film roll”, he says. Alexi is a photographer and content creator; and is passionate about Johannesburg’s city streets and its people. He began shooting with his iPhone 4 and his passion for photographs quickly developed with the rapid growth of lnstagram. This passion eventually led him to discovering the joys of film when he took part in a weekend workshop with Dennis da Silva and saw his images develop in front of his eyes in a darkroom. Alexi has worked with multiple brands from all over the world, from fashion to architecture and lifestyle, to create original content and images to suit campaigns and bring client brands to life. He has over 85 000 followers on lnstagram and can be found on the popular app under
@alexioso. Alexi is also a proud ambassador of Leica
South Africa.
Adding even more magic to the occasion is that each of the unique,custom-printed photos will be available for purchase exclusively for Morningside Shopping centre
shoppers.
On Saturday 8 September; guests will be invited to attend the official exhibition opening in a celebration of the technique and artistry of pre-digital photography.
Morningside Shopping Centre is also hosting a series of free talks for seasoned photography enthusiasts and curious beginners, by industry experts throughout the day on 8 September. Among the many highlights is a Leica Camera & Sport Optics product  display by, the internationally renowned manufacturer of superior cameras, lenses,and binoculars.
Morningside Shopping Centre manager; Sharon Henry says the centre is looking forward to hosting a unique exhibition while profiling the work of the industry’s most talented photographers. “Black and white photography shot on film is especially captivating because it lends a timeless quality to the images and we’re delighted to be able to share this with our shoppers,” she says.
Free photography talks line-up:
11:30am I Dennis da Silva I Photography, film and darkroom print.
12:30pm I Miklas Manneke I The creative process that
goes into taking a photos and the similarities to video.
1:30pm I Alexi Portokallis llnstagram, apps and the basic principals of photography.
2:00pm  I Lee-David de Haas and Brad Donald I film
photography and street photography.