A Bygone Romance
Our first styled shoot in the "An Ode to Yesteryear" series brought together two remarkable addresses in central Durban: Old Fort Chapel and Durban Manor Hotel. Although they now serve very different purposes, both have witnessed the city change around them, and both offered far more interesting settings than a conventional photographic backdrop.
The Old Fort's history takes us back to 1842, when British troops under Captain Thomas Smith established a camp near the bay. The fort that followed became a garrison, and its buildings were later adapted for new uses. Most wonderfully for our purposes, the former magazine became a chapel and the inner courtyard a garden. The site was declared a National Monument in 1936.
It is difficult not to be intrigued by a place that has lived so many lives. Today, the chapel's quiet interior and surrounding gardens feel a world away from the military history that shaped them. For our photographs, they offered a fitting setting for bridal fashion with a distinctly contemporary sensibility.
Our second location was the Durban Manor Hotel, formerly associated with the Durban Club. Founded in 1854, the club began as a gathering place where members could read the news, play chess and billiards, and presumably discuss the affairs of the day. Its first clubhouse was built from wood and thatch, while the grander building we recognise today was completed in 1904.
With its Edwardian detailing, imposing entrance and beautiful original staircase, the hotel provided an entirely different atmosphere for the next chapter of our shoot. It was a pleasure to explore the contrast between these two locations, letting the architecture influence the imagery without competing with it.
That, for me, was the appeal of this first production. We weren't recreating the past, or pretending that these buildings belonged to another age. We were bringing contemporary bridal fashion into places with histories of their own, and allowing old Durban to have its moment in the photographs.
A Bygone Romance became our small tribute to the city, its architecture and the stories still held within its walls.
Contributors
- Bridal Gown
- Sadie Bosworth Atelier
- Cake
- Roxi Wardman
- Ceremony Location
- Old Fort Chapel
- Champagne
- G.H. Mumm
- Creative Direction & Production
- Albizia Road
- Décor & Furniture
- Elegant Party Rentals
- Hair & Makeup
- Nixon Makeup
- Jewellery
- Gold Club Studio
- Model
- Jess Ellis
- Photography & Videography
- Stories by Goya
- Reception Location
- Durban Manor Hotel and Conference Centre