Soweto informal portraits
Soweto Informal portraits
Modern Soweto, in post-democratic elections South Africa, is now a confident and lively metropolis of nearly two million people.
It boasts a burgeoning middle-class driving Mini Coopers, Mercedes and BMW’s. Large shopping malls and fashion conscious women offer further evidence of increasing prosperity.
Yes, there are still shanty-towns or “informal settlements” as they are officially known (these are slowly being eradicated), but there are also new social housing developments and evidence everywhere of home refurbishment.
This series of photographs is the result of living and working in the township over several visits, over several years. Many have featured in my photo-book: “Soweto: Informal Portraits”
My aim is simply to offer an “on the ground” view of every day Soweto; one that gives the viewer a balanced viewpoint of Soweto as it is today, not just the old stereotypes.
The one overriding impressing of Soweto is of a people always on the go, 24/7. Driving, walking, waiting for taxis, catching trains, shopping, partying, getting married, funeral cavalcades, forming lines at at banks. Few places are as vibrant and as active as Soweto.
Modern Soweto, in post-democratic elections South Africa, is now a confident and lively metropolis of nearly two million people.
It boasts a burgeoning middle-class driving Mini Coopers, Mercedes and BMW’s. Large shopping malls and fashion conscious women offer further evidence of increasing prosperity.
Yes, there are still shanty-towns or “informal settlements” as they are officially known (these are slowly being eradicated), but there are also new social housing developments and evidence everywhere of home refurbishment.
This series of photographs is the result of living and working in the township over several visits, over several years. Many have featured in my photo-book: “Soweto: Informal Portraits”
My aim is simply to offer an “on the ground” view of every day Soweto; one that gives the viewer a balanced viewpoint of Soweto as it is today, not just the old stereotypes.
The one overriding impressing of Soweto is of a people always on the go, 24/7. Driving, walking, waiting for taxis, catching trains, shopping, partying, getting married, funeral cavalcades, forming lines at at banks. Few places are as vibrant and as active as Soweto.