SYMMEDIA

What an amazing opportunity to use some of my finer skills on the latest campaign! Read about the success of our latest campaign below!

Exploring Sumatra and discovering more and more about people all over the world. There is something so beautiful about the people of Indonesia I find. A live off the land approach close to the sea and a communal way of life. All images were shot on location for an upcoming surf film.

GETTING A FEEL - It's been a few months since taking the leap and diving into my passion and turning it into a career. With no certainties and exciting opportunities around every corner I am happy to have survived the first few months in the big wide world. I have been involved in some amazing projects and my camera has taken me some pretty mind blowing places. Happy to be on this journey and work alongside other passionate creatives. Be sure to check out my instagram for more frequent visual updates - https://lnkd.in/eyd9ebaS

3 years ago during a summer heat wave in Europe I was asked to travel to Marseille with director Monia Kashmire and document a story on the iconic Papa Omri, a local legend from Marseille know for serving up the most amazing mint tea tea and featured in all of the local city guides. Despite his old age and fame, he has to wake up every morning at 5:30 a.m. to sell mint tea and cans for one euro. I thought misery was less painful in the sun, and yet that's how small pensioners live today... What kind of society do we want to offer our forefathers? A long life of hard work? Does the French dream still exist? And above all, was it worth it to leave everything behind and cross the Mediterranean...? Samantha Groesbeek has been shaping the story with an inspiring approach. We cant wait to share it with you!

WORKING ON HOLIDAY - On my recent trip back to the Motherland - South Africa, I joined forces with an amazing crew and orchestrated with a select team a content shoot for Vye Cycle Kit in Hermanus. We created photo and video content for Vye. Here are a selection of a few of my favourite images. A big thanks to an amazing crew Director - Liam Vye Producer -Sebastian Hitchcock Models - Kelton Miller & Luka

A recent collaboration with Carbon Equity, capturing their annual community event. 📹

Some visuals created for Holie to showcase their new products launched in store at Albert Heijn! Always innovating and progressive this team! Let's keep on pushing the status quo.

To conclude our efforts to challenge fast/fake fashion AliExpress, we were sighted and told to remove the campaign from the online world. It makes it clear that what they are doing is wrong and that they do not intend to change their ways. Think before you buy and SUPPORT LOCAL!

In which state for you do feel like creativity flows most naturally? For me it's in the ocean. We all have that space where we perform best and feel a true calling. I fell in-love with the ocean in high school after having a fear of swimming for my younger years due to a near drowning as a youngster. After some swimming lessons and joining the school waterpolo team my confidence grew in water. Close family members were ocean lovers (Aden Kleve & Joshua Kleve) and I always looked up to them and their outlook on life. My dad found my first bodyboard in a rubbish dump and from that moment on I was hooked. After a few years of riding waves I began to take interest in documenting the ocean and picked up a few old cameras and began documenting us playing in the ocean. This then grew into a few years of making short bodyboard films on youtube and then later a full length film. (https://lnkd.in/eikg625W) This is where my love for video began and it continues to grow but I will always be grateful for the ocean allowing me to find my love for video.

Here's a picture of me, James. The Sym in media. I'm a water based film maker hailing from The Cape. I found my way to Europe in search of new challenges and professional growth. I found my camera when I found the ocean and they are still two of my deepest loves. Soon after setting foot on slightly flatter terrain I felt my identity being challenged as my surroundings changed. Having developed a style centred around the ocean and exploration I needed to re-develop my love for storytelling. During the few years I have spent in Amsterdam I have found a new love for film and a deeper sense of storytelling. Having worked on many projects with local creatives over the last few years led me to taking the step to making film my full time. Leaving my position as a hotel manager at the end of last year I am looking forward to getting involved with some exciting new creations this year and sharpening my sword!