3 FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHERS TELL US WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE IT

Image by Nokuthula Mbatha 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. We talk to three women about their love for photography and working in a field where women are still in the minority.


Photography was, until quite recently, firmly dominated by men, although women were experimenting with creating images as far back as the early 1800s. These women have claimed their rightful places in the world of photography.



NOKUTHULA MBATHA, PHOTOJOURNALIST
Nokuthula has had an appreciation for the arts for as long as she can remember, and she was particularly drawn to photography. ‘It spoke to my heart,’ she says. She attended workshops in Kliptown that introduced her to various disciplines in the arts. These played a pivotal role in exposing her to photography and gave

her a deep appreciation for all aspects of storytelling through photography. She says she fell in love with it, and that’s when her journey as a photographer began. Seven years later, she is still documenting people’s stories in action shots.

What does being creative mean to you?
Expressing myself wholeheartedly without any pretence or judgement, and allowing my natural process to stem from my authentic self.

Your biggest challenge as a female photographer?
It is a male-dominated industry, so there’s a lot of pressure. You have to work twice as hard to be recognised in the field.

How did you overcome this?
Hard work and literally working my way up. My accomplishments and accolades attest to this.

What advice do you have for aspiring female photographers?
Never let go of your passion. It is the driver of your dreams. Working hard and being dedicated to your craft makes it all worthwhile. If storytelling is what you love, hone it, build on it and appreciate its value in your life. By doing so, the fruits of your labour in photography will be your shining light.



SHARON SERETLO, PHOTOGRAPHER
Sharon was bitten by the photography bug decades ago, and it is her chosen form of expression. While working on a project at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Gauteng, she watched videographers at work and was hooked. She decided to turn her obsession into a career and enrolled in a photojournalism and documentary photography course. ‘This type of photography tells the truth, the reality of what’s going on in the world,’ she says. ‘I love that I get to capture history as and when it unfolds.’ Besides the opportunity to work with different people from all walks of life, it is the ability to freeze a moment that is otherwise gone that keeps her on her toes.

What is the most challenging project you have undertaken in your career thus far?
It has to be documenting the first few days of Lockdown Level 5. I had to remind myself that this is my calling; this is why I studied this course – to tell the truth even during a pandemic.

How do you navigate your career in a male-dominated industry?
I have to work extra hard to prove that I am capable of doing the same job. But I let my work speak for itself. You are your own magician.

Your advice to aspiring female photographers?
Your work says a lot about the way you see the world, so capture what is most truthful to you.



FRENNIE SHIVAMBU, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PHOTOGRAPHER
It’s been a decade since Frennie and her photographer husband took pictures of each other with his camera. Then a student, Frennie would sometimes tag along with him on assignments. ‘I told myself this is the job I want to do,’ she says. ‘I found telling a story through pictures fascinating. ’

Now a sports and entertainment photographer, she says what excites her the most is capturing the action in sports and in the performing arts. In 2018, the industry took notice and she was honoured with the Momentum gsport Award for photography. The awards celebrate women in sport in South Africa. Frennie was established as a professional, and her place in the world of photography cemented.

What do you wish you’d known about your industry before you got into it?
You need patience! You’ll sometimes get to an event and wait much longer than the scheduled time before it starts.

What is the biggest challenge you face as a female photographer?
You are often not given a chance as a woman, so you have to double your standard of work. But when I’m on assignment, I don’t fear my colleagues but respect them, and just see myself as their equal. I don’t see any gender when working; I just concentrate on what I am there for.

Your advice to aspiring female photographers?
Go for it! It is very important to develop good communication and people skills, and to be flexible and patient. Fear nobody and believe in your craft.

Related article: I see a different you


3 FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHERS TELL US WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE IT 3 FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHERS TELL US WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE IT Reviewed by Michelle Pienaar on August 19, 2021 Rating: 5
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