Posts Tagged ‘Poverty’
My Township Tour
Portrait of a Nompumulelo child dreaming of being a star.
I had one goal for our three week trip to South Africa – a township shoot. I’ve realized that township may be a word only recognized in South Africa, so here is my own interpretation of what a township is:
In South Africa, there is a large gap between the rich and the poor (the second largest in the world). Generally, the poor end up working for the rich as cleaners, gardeners and so on. Outside of every major affluent area, there is an area where the “poor” set up a temporary home. Initially, they look like slums (squatter camps), but once permanent residents begin to settle, houses are built (by the government) and the squatter camp gets referred to as a township
Beauty in the Slums
I’ve been quite taken back at how much moving location has influenced what I photograph. I grew up in East London, a South African city between Cape Town and Durban. Whilst living there, my primary focus was capturing the beauty of the coastline. East London has one of the most un-spoilt, beautiful coastlines in South Africa. In the 10 years that I lived there, never once did a venture into the slums, which were literally within 5 kilometers of my home.
When surrounded by poverty, I had the mind frame that it was completely normal, why would anyone want to see it in a photo. Moving to London has completely changed my point of view. I would love to photograph the slum in East London, not to document the poverty to cause sympathy, but rather to capture the beauty and joy found there.
Steve McCurry has recently become my favorite photographer. I’ve always been taken back by his Afghan Girl portrait, but browsing through his work, I see beauty and sense feeling of joy and contentment that inspires me even more.
Most of us are of the opinion that people who live in slums are desperately unhappy and cannot wait to get out, but from what I’ve seen, most are completely content. If contentment and joy can be had in the slums, why not in affluent cities? Most city dwellers I observe always seems to be striving to improve their lives, never content with what they have.
In December we are visiting East London, South Africa for a few weeks and I can’t wait to get into the slums.