JJ van Rooyen is a 24 year old skateboarder, surfer, musician and photographer with the goal of turning his photo-taking into a professional career.
He says, “I’ve been obsessed with taking pictures since I was 10 years old. I remember the days taking action shots of my action-man being pushed in his car through a mud-puddle and my aim was to get a shot of the mud flying in the air as he makes the epic crash.
I loved the challenge of only getting one chance to capture the event. At 14 I started taking skateboarding pictures of my friends. Skateboarding played a big part of our teenage years and I’m stoked I captured some good memories.
This also pushed me into videography and making short films. We made tons of skateboarding films and organized our own film premiers for all our friends and family. In my final year of high-school I moved from Durban to Cape Town and quickly made new friends. I continued documenting my new surroundings through photography and film and made a short film (Grass so Green, 2006) about our small crew of high school friends.”
JJ went on to study film production where he learnt the digital form and technical aspects of photography and film.
While still shooting skateboarding events and bands on the Cape Town scene, JJ has recently started to enjoy landscape and portrait photography and does freelance photography jobs. Heartfelt Photography is his facebook page, started to share his work.
5 Comments
JJ is like a bolt of lightning hitting the sand and turning it into a blob of glass – able to create a valuable and lasting memory out of many bizarre moments, ideas, people, actions and sights using his trusted equipment! I’ve seen how he turns toys into real life action figures… I think he is still that same little boy having fun with his imagination, but his skills have developed so much to the point where he can invite other to join in and experience the fun with him! Proud of my boet!
Hey look it’s the Future Primitives!
It is inpiring to see someone who has received a specail gift and talent running with it. It challenges us, including myself, to commit to developing our own unique talents. These creations have the potential in changing the worlds of individuals. I find it so refreshing to experience the different sceneries through someone else’s lens and viewpoint; it truly brings forth the beautiful face of our Creator! Well done.
Excellent photography! Refreshing and vibrant!
Love the tool-kit and the calves shots the most! You’ve got the feel for it JJ! xx