Portfolio 08

Through their eyes, we witness the desperation of township life as looting occurs after a bread truck loses some of its load; the brutal reality of homelessness; the trappings of hostel life through lockers and a pristine kitchen; the markings of territory; the fear for their property, possessions, lives or an unavoidable path; an apartheid-like socio-economic existence in the copper mines of Zambia and what was thought to become history: Zimbabwe and its political realm.

Portfolio 08 was on show at The Photo Workshop Gallery until 13 March 2009.

Showcasing work produced by 10 Photojournalism and Documentary Photography students, the exhibition engages in the complexity of issues such as HIV, human rights, race, xenophobia, drug abuse, marginalisation, borders, playgrounds and train surfing.

Portfolio 08 is an honest, curious and sometimes personal look at life below the equatorial line. Unwittingly, common themes that run throughout the exhibition are: fear, home and foreigner.

Photographers:

Tracy Edser
Tsietsi Kgamanyane
Puxley Makgatho
Doris Nzimande
Nigel Sibanda
Davina Jogi
Taurai Maduna
Mpho Seleka
Sifiso Mashaba
Delwyn Verasamy

About the Photojournalism and Documentary Programme

The PDP Programme of the Market Photo Workshop was launched as a year-long course to develop aspiring photojournalists and documentary photographers. Formulated with the support of Getty Images and the Open Society Foundation for South Africa, the programme aims at developing a new breed of informed, curious and technically excellent African photojournalists and documentary photographers from South Africa and the region.

The course focuses on developing visual and technical skills through practical training (assignments on news, sport and action, portraits, features, etc.) In addition, the students work on a series of themes, personal projects, as well as collaborative projects with other organisations like the Workers Library/Khanya College, the International Organisation for Migration and PlanAct. As part of their course and training, students also participate in three-month internships with various media institutions in South Africa.

The global image company Getty Images initiated the pilot course of the PDP in 2005/6 by converting its annual student fellowship grant into the new programme. Today, sponsorship of the PDP comes mainly from Getty Images, and the Open Society Foundation for South Africa. Canon South Africa has also kindly subsidised a large portion of the camera costs for the course.