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SPONTANEOUS SUCCESS
I told the guy at the counter I was doing a photo
spread for Fair Lady magazine and I needed a camera. I
guess he thought I was a nut-case but in the end he sold
me a used twin-lens Rolleiflex and told me to read the
manual and the instructions inside the film box. That
was the end of the paper flower money.
The shoot was a big success thanks to the heaven-
sent stylist from the Cape Times shoot, and because the
model we chose was a gem. Upbeat, beautiful, and
humble, nothing was too much trouble. "Want to try it
again?" she’d say. "Let’s try it this way."
The following week, I quit my job at The Cape
Times and rented a studio two blocks away from Fair
Lady’s offices. It was the start of a 25-year career as a
fashion photographer with studios on three continents
Desperation is a double edged sword. It can creep up
like a thief, stealing your sense of security and replacing it
with gnawing anxiety. It can be a raging fire that
consumes you, or a spark that ignites transformation.
In that moment, I discovered the secret to
Spontaneous Success. It’s not about waiting for the
perfect opportunity or until the stars aligned. It ’s about
embracing the desperation that drove me, and using it to
fuel my journey.
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