“To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event.” Henri Cartier-Bresson
If photography is the art of capturing a decisive moment, then adventure- and sports photography must surely be the pinnacle of action, frozen in time.
There’s no shortage of sports photographers here in South Africa, hungry for that fraction of a second that has IT, that has THE moment, the one we all love, the ultimate sporting moment. But how many of them have the raw talent to capture more than just action, to take photos that really grab attention, and make you feel you’re there, breathing the dust and flicking the mud from your cheek. Not many.
Over the years I’ve been privileged to get to know 13 photographers whose work does exactly that. In this feature I’ll be interviewing each of those pro photographers, one a week, looking into the person behind the lens and finding out what clicks their shutters!
This week we meet Nick Muzik, fresh off Table Mountain after shooting Ultra-Trail Cape Town 2017.
Nick Muzik “under cover” from the freezing temperatures whilst shooting in the Gobi Desert
LD: How and when did you get into photography? Did you ditch another career for the adventures of pro photography?
NM: My parents gave me my first camera at the age of about 8. My dad was into photography as a hobby, and so it became a love of mine too. Throughout university the thought of photography as a profession was there, but always more of a pipe dream. I went to live in the US after varsity and had to return home once a year to renew my visa. During this month or two at home I worked as an assistant in the local Cape Town photography industry learning the ropes. This went on for about seven years. When I eventually came home permanently from the US, I started a recruitment company sending young South Africans to work on ski resorts in the US. This lasted two years, then visa legislation changed and we no longer had a business. It was then this was my chance to give photography a full-time go. That was in 2008. I was super fortunate that I knew a lot people in Cape Town that could help me, and my love for sports and the outdoors was a natural fit with photography.
Running under ancient baobabs during the Mapungubwe Transfrontier Wildrun © Nick Muzik
LD: What other sports do you cover?
NM: Running and cycling have always been my bread and butter, but I enjoy shooting a wide variety of alternative sports – surfing, sailing, motorsport, as well as lifestyle photography and portraiture.
Portrait of Ryan Sandes taken from Kloof Corner, Table Mountain © Nick Muzik
LD: There must be many hair-raising moments in your memory bank. Any cliffhangers? Lost/smashed equipment? Extreme weather?
NM: Plenty! Funnily enough, the major ones all seem to involve WildRunner. When Owen Middleton and I get together, something crazy is bound to happen! The first Jonkershoek Mountain Challenge I shot for Owen (2011) was in horrendous weather, but I was determined not to let it get the better of me, so I stuck it out in the rain to the detriment of my camera. That was my first big insurance claim. Then I shot the Wildcoast Wildrun with Owen and had all my gear stolen out the bakkie. I got the gear back about two months later after spreading the word and offering rewards. That was a big claim… after which my insurer ditched me!
A competitor climbs one of the final mountains during the inaugural 2015 Ultra Gobi trail race, China © Nick Muzik
LD: What has been your most memorable trail running shoot and why?
NM: Definitely the 400km Ultra Gobi. I love travelling, and getting the opportunity to go to China was incredible. I would never had gone there if it wasn’t for trail running. It was the ultimate job, with the ultimate wingmen, Andrew King and David Fisher. We had 4×4’s and motocross bikes at our disposal to get around the course, and the organisers pulled out all the stops to make it a phenomenal event. We endured snow storms, sandstorms, extreme heat and freezing cold. It was every adventurer’s dream!
Ryan Scott running Mowbray Ridge, Table Mountain, Cape Town © Nick Muzik
LD: What are your photography aspirations? Any dream places or adventures or challenges you’d love to shoot?
NM: I’ve been really lucky to have had an action-packed 10 years of shooting. I’m definitely drawn to deserts and would love to shoot the Dakar Rally. I’d also still like to shoot our very own Skyrun – somehow it’s eluded me, but it definitely still has my name on it! My aspirations are to keep enjoying my photography and pushing myself to create memorable images.
Backlit trail running through Emmerentia forest, Johannesburg © Nick Muzik
LD: What has been the most compromising position you’ve had to be in for a shoot?
NM: Hanging off the back of a motorbike for eight days chasing the leaders of the Cape Epic is definitely uncomfortable and potentially very dangerous, although I’ve been lucky enough to come out unscathed for the most part. I’ve also had some scary moments shooting big wave surfing at Dungeons in Hout Bay, when wave sets have swung wide and we’ve had to outrun some thundering beasts!
Runner drops down into Echo Valley during UTCT2016 © Nick Muzik
LD: Whose photographic work has most inspired you?
NM: Kelvin Trautman – as a fellow Saffa, he’s really carved out a name for himself, and his images are up there with the best.
The work of Simon Bruty, Cory Rich and Tyler Stableford is also really inspiring.
Greg Goodall running Rocket Road at sunset © Nick Muzik
Runner passes two yurts during the inaugural 2015 Ultra Gobi trail race, China © Nick Muzik
Enjoying the wide open spaces and solitude of the Wild Coast Wildrun © Nick Muzik
Running through the driving rain at the 2014 Marloth Mountain Challenge © Nick Muzik
