Why and How
On Location: Manguzi, KwaZulu-Natal 2012
What inspired you to start your business:
When I started studying fine arts I realised that there is an assumption that the arts doesn't pay. That the idea of ‘the struggling artist’ - to some people - is almost worn like a badge of honour. This premise was my internal disruptor - I felt instinctively that this didn’t have to be my reality. I believed then as I do now, that commercial success in the creative field was not only a function of ‘being discovered’ or ‘being lucky’. I believe that any form of artistic expression is a culmination of teachable skills. I believe success in any field is a result of "rocking up" every day. in the words of Gary Player: “The more I practiced the luckier I got”
Bottom line: I strongly believe that artistic or creative skills has great economic value. The thing that tips people up, is the relevance and application of their skills.
A brief description of your product and service:
I document medium to long term projects in order to tell better quality stories. I do this through the application of both industrial and humanitarian photography, coupled with the skills to accurately interpret and capture the stories of the people who exist in the core of the project. I document the impact that projects have in the communities they affect. How are the lives of people affected. Not the photo-opp moments, but the signs of struggle, the aspirations of the individuals involved, and ultimately the moments shared in vulnerability and authenticity. Somewhere in there lies my distinction. I am able to anticipate these moments, interpret and package these moments. The moments not often invested in. These moments, over time, form their own narrative, different strands start to show themselves, and the stories that emerge carry with them their key ingredients: vulnerability and authenticity.
Triple bottom line reporting - the idea that investors world wide who want to invest in projects that positively and responsibly impact the lives of communities, really crave seeing the effect of their support. The documenting of long term projects invariably lead to better quality reporting, the sharing of better quality stories, and widening the local - be it remote - insight and generating pride in the support offered.