Gita Claassen

Born in the Spring of 1987 South Africa to people who loved to travel and who loved nature even more. By the time I was human enough to realise that this is a privilege afforded to few, I had extensively traveled most of Southern Africa’s natural areas.

My interest in art and photography started on these trips, with a desire to capture and replicate what I saw. My interest in light and colour, both as creative and as scientific topics, followed suit.

The focus of my fine art photography is on highlighting environmental and social issues in a way which is true to life but also endears the subject to the viewer. If I have stirred compassion in the heart of an onlooker for the situation in the photo, I have achieved my goal.

By 2008, I immersed myself in the world of photography. In 2014, I completed the Travel Photojournalism course offered by Matador U, a program endorsed at the time by, among others, National Geographic.

I am for the rest mostly self-taught, trusting my intuition to make images, instead of abiding by strict photographic rules that often tend to leave images cold and clinical.

Prince Albert Pop-Up Group Exhibition, Kirkcudbright, Scotland, UK June/July 2022; Prince Albert Open Studios January 2019 – ‘Entitled’; Prince Albert Open Studios July 2018 – ‘Opuntia’ and ‘Krie’; Prince Albert Gallery (ongoing) – a selection of works from the exhibitions ‘Entitled’ and ‘Karoo’; Touch of Genius Art Gallery, Randburg Gauteng – ‘Portrait of Souls’, 2018; She.Clix Exhibition at the Photo & Film Expo 2017, Johannesburg; Trierenberg Super Circuit, Austria, 2015; Cameraland Cape Town 2015 – Featured winner ‘Pofadder’