Photography in South Africa has always been more than documentation; it’s a tool for witnessing, remembering, and defining. From the resistance photography of the apartheid era to the nuanced, expressive work being created today, South African photographers continue to shape visual culture in deeply impactful ways.
A Legacy of Resistance and Visibility
Historically, South African photography played a vital role in exposing injustice. Figures like Ernest Cole, Peter Magubane, and Alf Kumalo used their cameras to document the brutal realities of apartheid, risking their lives to show the world what was happening here. Their work laid the foundation for photography as both a political and cultural force in the country.
Today, while the context has shifted, the intention to represent truthfully remains strong.
Where We Are Now
Contemporary South African photographers have widened the scope of what’s considered important to document. Artists like Neo Baepi, Andile Buka, and Kgomotso Neto focus on intimacy, identity, and everyday life. Their work moves away from spectacle and instead centers on moments of stillness, fashion, softness, and presence, especially among young Black South Africans.
- Neo Baepi is known for portraits that are stripped of performance. His subjects appear as they are, making his work feel deeply personal and familiar.
- Andile Buka, working with both analogue and digital formats, combines fashion photography with urban landscapes, creating a visual language that feels current but rooted.
- Kgomotso Neto captures street culture and domestic life with a poetic lens, challenging how masculinity and vulnerability are often portrayed.
Others, like Trevor Stuurman, Sanaa Mothabisa, Aart Verrips, and Jack Markowitz, have expanded into editorial and commercial photography, using stylized visuals to tell culturally specific stories. Stuurman, for instance, has worked with global brands while still celebrating African heritage in every frame.
In Global Conversation
While South African photography is locally grounded, it’s in conversation with global movements. Other photographers around the world, like Renell Medrano, Jack Davison, Frank Lebon, and Gabriel Moses, influence aesthetics and storytelling techniques. Their work often blurs the lines between fashion, portraiture, and visual art.
But South African photographers are not mimicking these voices. They’re responding, interpreting, and building on them while maintaining their visual dialect.
Photography as Cultural Memory
Photography in this context becomes a kind of visual record of youth, fashion, resistance, ritual, joy, work, and rest. It pushes against the idea that African stories must be framed through hardship. Instead, it offers images that are emotionally complex and rooted in lived experience.
This matters because South African photographers are building a body of work that future generations will look back on. An archive of Black life, told by those who lived it.
A Note from Behind the Camera
I entered photography through instinct, shooting friends, fashion, house parties, kids in the city, and small details that made me pause, and God, I was really good at it. One of those images was featured in Vogue Italia’s PhotoVogue. But as life picked up, work and responsibility pulled me away. Still, the way I see the world is shaped by those early days with my film camera and iPhone.
Cape Town continues to influence my eye. It’s a city of contrast, harsh and beautiful, quiet and chaotic. The kind of place where you always feel like something worth capturing is just around the corner.
Why It Matters Now
In a digital world, where images are everywhere, intentional photography remains important. South African photographers are not just creating content; they’re shaping culture, challenging norms, and preserving stories that might otherwise be forgotten.
The work being done here is urgent, thoughtful, and evolving. And it reminds us that how we see ourselves and who gets to do the seeing matter more than ever.
Born and raised in the charming town of Empangeni, KwaZulu Natal, Sabelo Khanyile has carved out a unique niche in the creative world. Now based in Cape Town, Sabelo is a multifaceted artist known for his dynamic work as a DJ and photographer. His creative journey has led him to collaborate with notable figures such as Micael Matthews and showcase his work at prestigious events like SA Men's Fashion Week. His striking photography has also graced the pages of Vogue Italia, marking him as a significant force in the global art scene. In addition to his work as a DJ and photographer, Sabelo serves as the Creative Director of Adult Content Dreams, an innovative online platform dedicated to celebrating art, fashion, and music. Despite the provocative name, the platform is far from a site for adult content. Instead, it offers a vibrant space for the youth in South Africa to explore and engage with contemporary art and fashion, providing a creative outlet that fosters expression and connection through various artistic mediums. Sabelo’s diverse talents and creative vision continue to influence and inspire, making him a prominent figure in South Africa’s evolving cultural landscape.
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