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What drew you to photography?
I was allured by the incredible documentation of South Africa through its tumultuous history, the powerful imagery captured by South Africa’s most prominent documentary photographer, Alf Khumalo. I was drawn to strong imagery from old Drum magazines that my mother had collected, the very nature of being able to freeze a moment in time and the nostalgia that resonated with the viewers of the photographs left an impressionable mark on me at an early age.
Analogue, digital, or both?
I prefer Analogue photography, the very meticulous nature of being Analogue photography has always intrigued me, the careful and tedious nature of film allows me to really engage with my subject and be less invasive as the digital camera has become known to be.
I am able to slow down, which I believe is important in searching for the truth in my subjects.
You describe your photographic style as “forever evolving”, how do you strike a balance between constantly exploring the ‘new’ without losing what is genuine?
I believe it is important to embrace imbalance and learn from new experiences, whether they are failures or portals into the unknown, being confident enough to make things work in less than ideal situations can make for defining moments on this ever evolving journey.
You have previously mentioned that you focus on portraying the truth in your images. What is your approach to portraying a shared truth with the photographed?
It is my duty to honour the truth and the search for the truth in my work. My engagement with the subject is important to me, to be able to read emotion through the variable languages of communication we all possess, communication is as vital as being mindful of approaching my subjects with a gentle curiosity. The relationship I create between my subject is a truth only we can honour, the perception and the questions that follow after, between the imagery captured and the viewer is an invitation for a conversation that I welcome into the creative process.
I understand that you are also a videographer, designer and digital illustrator, do your choices of medium inform one another?
I believe the vision of the project is what narrates the story or the project in which I am focused on, the medium may be able to complement or elevate the task at hand, but it does not control the message I am trying to convey. Exploring art through a range of variable mediums allows for experimentation and growth, finding my voice is as important as the soapbox I am using to project the energy of my work.
You have mentioned the importance of travelling, what are some of the places you have been to that have greatly impacted you, your view on life and/or your craft?
Travelling to Norway and Thailand taught me the wonders of stepping outside of everything that was once familiar and engaging with people who were alien to me but creating everlasting impressions through the few tools of communication and yet still having the opportunity to build trust, a trust that was strong enough for them to stand in front of the lens to have a moment in time captured forever.