JOHANNESBURG ā As the Davos crowds start to shift through the doors Alec finds some time to speak to another South African who finds himself at the World Economic Forum, Greg Beadle. Greg’s one of the official photographers at the WEF event and has captured some amazing images. It’s a far cry from his sunny yet dry abode in the Cape as he has to tackle the snowy weather. He also talks about snapping America’s number one, Donald Trump. From Alec and the Biznews team it’s a wrap and this is Davos Diary Day Five. – Stuart Lowman
We are on Davos Diary Day Five and look whoās with me, Greg Beadle. Greg, youāve been doing some amazing photographs, artistic and some wonderful stuff but youāre from Cape Town and youāre here taking photographs. You would think there were enough cameras in Europe.
Alec I never asked that question. Itās a privilege and honour to be here and be a part of this team, and thereās no guarantees so, if we donāt come back I really appreciated the opportunity to be amidst such great material, with some of the most powerful people in the world, and some important people in the world.
Are these, and I donāt want to use a Donald Trump term, but nice people or not?
Iām not really concerned if theyāre nice people or not. My job here is to create powerful storytelling images for the WEF, and thatās my job. I look through lenses and I donāt see what I feel but I look at what my client wants so I put my personal feelings aside and I think thatās normalā¦
But you must be seeing interesting guys. Who was the most interesting person that you shot this year at this place?
I think it was between world leaders of certain regions in the world, which is quite turbulent at the moment, and in a bit of turmoil. Just being part of the private session where people actually interact with each other. Feeling the tension and the emotions ā itās a privileged place to be.
So they wear their hearts on their sleeves?
They do, as I say, itās in house rules ā nothing can be shared about what happened, who is there and I just think itās such a privilege. Itās not my genre of photography. Iām more action events, sports, motoring dynamic based. My schedule is pretty crazy. We work 12-hour days. We do a little bit of rest time but there are 13 of us, (professional photographers) with 658 sessions to cover in 5 days so weāre covering from between 2 to 3 sessions an hour, and we have edit and upload images in between sessions.
I really want to hear from Gregās lips about this Donald Trump session that weāve just been to because Gareth and I stood in the queue for half-an-hour. We got to the front and we got these orange badges and then we showed them the orange badge and they said, āduck.ā They werenāt interested.
Was it your accent?
No, I didnāt even start with my accent so, we had to go to the other side and when we went to the other side, where the media were allowed. At WEF there used to be 2 entrances. The one was for participants, the other was for tradesmen and media so weāve come a long way from there because we have the same entrance now, together.
Heading back from a very exciting two days in Davos, Switzerland. Speech on Americaās economic revival was well received. Many of the people I met will be investing in the U.S.A.! #MAGA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2018
Wow, equality.
Yes, equality, but not in this case we were pushed to the one side and then we were told that there were already 150 media seats but have you seen anything like this at a business event, where you have these global nexuses of power standing in queues to try and see a guy that they all supposedly hate?
I think to sum it up when the president arrived yesterday and he walked up the staircase behind us at the moment. My interpretation was and I was too busy focussing on taking a photograph, Iām sure I heard a journalist say, āare you aware that youāre not very welcome in Europe?ā In typical Trump fashion he opened his arms up and said, ālook around you man, think again.ā Ā
So I think he interpreted it as a warm welcome rather than curiosity?
It seems so.
Well, they stood for him. After the event, I wasnāt inside but I watched it on the television, they did stand and clap and there was a standing ovation, which is interesting so as much as people make judgement on him and that Michael Wolff could not have helped because he said some pretty crude things about him as well. Heās got star appeal, and people clap but the Africans werenāt there. I donāt know how many Africans were in there but I was outside with a lot of Africans who really were not paying attention.
As controversial as he is, he is drawing attention. I was here last year photographing the meeting and my opinion again there were 20 times more world leaders than there were last year. So is that the Trump factor or is it the annual meeting, or what brings all the people together? I think, and in summary for myself, it feels like this meeting has been a very powerful meeting and particularly for SA. Weāre lucky to be part of the caravan, letās call it, and watch our deputy president and his entourage and his ministers ā Iām very proud to be South African.
Were you impressed by that?
Yes very much.
You donāt really mix with these people that often, these politicians.
No I donāt, and I think with our history that weāve been through ā Iām not a politician and I donāt follow politics very closely but for us back home I think thereās hope.
That is interesting. Even in Cape Town thereās a concern about whatās going on with the water crisis at the moment. Being a Capetonian thatās got to be uppermost in your mind right now, as it should be for the whole country. At least you heard the guys here and they wanted to do something about it.
Yes I wasnāt privy to any water discussions but living in Cape Town, and as you say, itās really a serious situation and I hope that all Capetonians take heed of the severity of the crisis.
ANC President Cde Cyril Ramaphosa met up with Zanu PF President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa met up at #WEF2018 earlier today in Davos, Switzerland pic.twitter.com/1plCLuXn0Z
— President Cyril Ramaphosa (@CyrilRamaphosa) January 24, 2018
Well this is Greg, and he has been taking the most amazing photographs. How do you do it? I once saw a commencement speech by a guy called Neil Gaiman, itās on YouTube. It was at the Philadelphia School of Art, and his off speech was, āif things get you down, if youāre up in the clouds just make good art.ā You make good art, you really do and I love being able to get your photographs, and putting them onto Biznews but how do you do it? How do you get your motivation?
Thank you for those kind words. I think and Iāll use another quote from one of our local legends, Gary Player, who says, āthe more I practice, the luckier I get.ā
No but your art is practice. Gary was good at golf and it felt like, āhere we go,ā theyāre telling us thereās another session.
Thatās the call for last round.
I thought it was for the cows that were coming home or to close the gate but Gary was a master and a legend, apart from everything else but thatās not always art. Iām talking about when you look at things you look at it differently.
I think itās the pressure I put on myself, to be fresh, to be original, try and find different angles. I donāt like submitting the same images again and again. If I shoot the same venue more than once I try and find different angles and I keep pushing myself and keep exploring. I keep it simple.
Well, youāve kept it simple and youāve kept it great so thank you. Itās been fantastic seeing you here and itās great to get you onto our Davos Diary. Yes and Gareth is holding and heās got a steady hand. When we were here in the past my wife used to be with me, insisting on bringing lights and a tripod ā she had to get it just right. Sheās going to be horrified with the way that weāve done it this year but I suppose itās natural and itās been lovely having you as our guest host for our Davos Day 5. Itās the last day, weāre nearly home.
Itās time to go home.
Thanks, Greg.
Thank you.