A photographer who initially found his
passion in fashion which turned into a love affair with taking photos, Simphiwe
is one of the first two photographers who will be turning out images for the
first stage of Project Scouted held at one of Durban's prime new locations,
Hashtag Restaurant on Windermere Road. Lee Folkard Photography had a quick
Q&A segment with this passionate and fashion-indulgent photographer about
his beginnings in photography and his participation in Project Scouted.
Lee
Folkard Photography: What was your inspiration to
begin photography and how did you start in the business?
Simphiwe: Well, it actually all started with my love for fashion. My mother
is a fashion designer, specializing in Bridal, so I fell in love with fashion
that way. I'd began to download cool fashion pics for no particular reason. I
just always loved it! When I got to varsity, my friends and I would take pics
of each other with our phones when we thought we were dressed well. And then
the more I followed fashion blogs and read magazines, the more eager I was to
have pictures of that quality taken. So I saved up for a camera and then
continued taking pictures of my friends and me. I guess that's how it all
started. From then on, I just kept taking pictures of people which I still do
today.
LFP: How did you find out about Lee Folkard Photography?
Simphiwe: I found about Lee through a friend, Jerome Stoffels (LFP: Who will also be a part of the project)
at the Durban Fashion Fair. I looked up Lee's work and I loved it, so I started
following his work on Facebook.
LFP: How did you become involved in Project Scouted and what motivated
you to be a part of it?
Simphiwe: Lee and I met, as a recommendation from Jerome. I'm always eager to
take photos of people, so the chances of me saying "no" to being a
part of the project were very slim. I saw this project as an opportunity to
meet new people. So here I am!
LFP: What do you think makes a good photo?
Simphiwe: I think when it comes to photography, there are no rules. It’s all
based on how you see the photo. If you love what you see, then that's a great
photo to you. A great photo for me is one that I look at and say "I'd
print this photo and hang it on my wall".
LFP: What does photography mean to you?
Simphiwe: Photography for me is about more than just taking photos; it’s my
passion, my love, and my joy. I sometimes find myself editing or just staring
at one image for hours and I wouldn't have wanted to do anything else with that
time. My mind is always buzzing with these cool images and my imagination can
get very wild sometimes. I have found photography as a platform to express what
my heart feels.
Be sure to keep an eye out for
Simphiwe's pics of the pretty young ladies who were chosen to be a part of the
first stage of Project Scouted shot on location at Hashtag Restaurant.
