GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — Well-known local photographer, Mark Senekal, has decided to relocate to Hermanus in the Western Cape at the end of April.
After arriving in Graaff-Reinet in 1988, he quickly settled into the community and established Foto First in 1991 developing everyone`s
fi lms from Colesberg to Aberdeen and Cradock to Jansenville.
He soon got into doing professional photography, photographing everything for everyone in the district, from weddings to dead leaves on trees for clients.
Soon afterwards in 1993, he started a picture framing business, something he had learnt to do some eight years before. His skills at picture framing became well-known in the district and the opportunity to start a branch of Foto First and framing in Somerset East became reality in 1994, which he kept for a further four years before selling the branch off.
Today, the business he created, still continues in Graaff-Reinet, operating under new ownership since 2003.
In 1993, Senekal became involved with Round Table. For a further 7 years, he held office and Chairmanship as well. Also in 1992, Senekal was introduced to the Graaff-Reinet Club by Dr Larson when they started playing snooker on a weekly basis with other friends.
Today, Senekal and Dr Larson are still playing snooker every week (a record of 25 years which will stand in the Club for years to come!) Senekal also served as committee member of the club for four years.
In 2000, Senekal became involved in the Graaff-Reinet tourism industry. He served on the Graaff-Reinet Publicity Association as well as the Graaff-Reinet Heritage Society.
He soon started Karoo Quadbike Adventure Tours, taking tourists and locals alike for dusty and exciting adventures on one of his quadbikes. It was through this adventure enterprise that he prompted the Graaff-Reinet Publicity Association to attend the Outdoor Adventure Expo in Cape Town.
He designed and built the expo stand to accommodate the Camdeboo Conservancy, Graaff-Reinet Publicity Association, Karoo Connections and his Karoo Quadbike Adventures. The expo was a great success, taking the top stand award as the “Best Overall Exhibition Stand” at the show.
This afforded him a contract which would last over the next 12 years as the Eastern Cape Tourism Board`s primary expo stand designer, builder and contractor at the Getaway Shows and Outdoor Expo Shows all around the country.
During the time and between exhibitions, Senekal continued his graphic designs. His work can be seen at the museums (including the Robert Sobukwe and other exhibitions), Tourism Office (having designed the Graaff-Reinet website and their branding), the Union Schools (also responsible for the schools branding), the SANParks and Karoo Heartlands maps and countless amounts of guest houses, guest farms and business enterprises.
All this work also encompassed professional photography for which Mark gained popularity for his photographic skills. His work can be seen in many institutions, businesses and households.
His fi rst wedding assignment was in 1992, a year before his daughter was born.
Around fi ve years ago, Senekal started his picture framing business again, after a spell where his previous picture framing business, (Frames Unlimited) had closed down due to the owner emmigrating to the UK.
Since then, Senakal has earned a reputation for his artistic abilities and quality of his work. His name has become synonymous with framing, design and photography.
His work can be seen in the Drostdy Hotel, where he was responsible for all the framing of prints, photography, art and mirrors and worked closely with Stephen Falcke in the design and creations of the work.
Senekal will continue doing the work that he knows so well, concentrating more in the creation of picture frames. He believes there will be more of a challenge and a wider scope for his work in Hermanus and this is one of the reasons for re-locating.
His life partner and love of his life Conchita, also well-loved by all in the community, will be with Senekal on this new journey in their lives. He will continue serving his clients via e-mail for his design work and invites all his clients to remember that he is only a call away, ready to help like always.
Senekal`s parents and brother still resides in Graaff-Reinet, which means he will be visiting regularly and seeing all the many friends he has made over all these years.
“Graaff-Reinet has been a part of my life for 28 years. My beautiful daughter Lauren, known and loved by so many, grew up here. I have had great success here and have made so many friends. For this I thank the people of Graaff-Reinet and I will certainly never forget you. See you soon!”. says Senekal.
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