Tom Burgers was a well known Cape Town press photographer in his time. He passed away at the end of 2017.
‘Karoo Pastoral by Tom Burgers
Publisher: Cedar Rand Press.
Genre: Photographic essay
Verdict: A ballad of words and image
Book Reviewed by Philip Todres This is a very handsome book – not inappropriately billed as ‘a ballad, of word and image’. Burgers sets out to capture his love of ‘the silence and timeless moments, the tremendous contrasts and the authenticity of the Karoo environment’. The current threat of fracking adds a poignant timeliness to this elegant tribute to the authenticity of the unique Karoo environment. The images capture the grand panorama as well as the detail of the vast landscapes. Ever changing sky-scapes range from dramatic to brooding and mystical. Wide open spaces reflect the harsh, rugged beauty of the veld as well as the seductive transformation to endless fields of dazzling, spring flowers. Seasonal patterns and activities are caringly and carefully observed. The farmer, the worker, the child appear in images that comment on rural rituals and the cycle of life. The camera allows you get to grips with both the people and the place. Paging through Karoo Pastoral you appreciate the diversity of the area and that sense of what makes it special and why Burgers so passionately dedicated himself to capturing that essence.’
