In quest of the {photograph} that lasts

Phone know-how and social media platforms have democratised images, paradoxically making us worth the intrinsic ability of a gifted photographer much less and fewer. We produce billions of pictures yearly, documenting breakfasts, seashores, pets, landscapes and ourselves with ever-increasing enthusiasm. It looks as if there’s no nook or cranny left that hasn’t been snapped with a click on of the cellphone. But the really memorable photographs — those that change how we see the world as an alternative of simply recording it — are nonetheless uncommon.

South African lensman Santu Mofokeng had a knack for taking this sort of {photograph}.

He wasn’t focused on photographing South Africa as a postcard or political commentary. His digicam was drawn to the nation’s contradictions: religion and hardship, magnificence and brutality, reminiscence and panorama, which he managed to mix in a single picture. His pictures rewarded a re-evaluation as a result of they by no means surrendered all their that means within the first. They captured what it felt prefer to dwell in South Africa, not simply how the surroundings and other people regarded.

Six years after his demise, his legacy is being was one thing sensible that may help different younger photographers impressed by his photographs. The newly launched Santu Mofokeng Foundation Photography Prize has been established to spend money on rising photographers as an alternative of celebrating solely established ones — a refreshing strategy in an arts sector that always excels at honouring yesterday’s expertise whereas neglecting tomorrow’s.

The prize, administered by the Santu Mofokeng Foundation with Latitudes Art Fair as its promotional accomplice, presents way over a shiny trophy for the mantelpiece. The winner will obtain R100,000, editorial assist, an expert artist profile and exhibition alternatives by Latitudes — the kind of tangible help that may genuinely alter the trajectory of a younger artist’s profession.

South Africa has many gifted photographers, however most of them lack visibility, mentorship and entry to the networks that would rework their work into sustainable careers. This prize acknowledges that creating significant artwork is half the battle; getting folks to see it’s the tough half.

The award comes at an attention-grabbing second for images itself. Most photographs as we speak survive for seconds earlier than disappearing beneath the following wave of digital ephemera — each minute, hundreds extra footage are uploaded, shared and forgotten. We all appear to be superb at taking pictures and really dangerous at them.

Mofokeng belonged to a technology of photographers who believed that pictures wanted time. His photographs resisted straightforward conclusions. They challenged viewers to note particulars — a church gathering on a hillside, a scarred panorama, an extraordinary road reworked by extraordinary gentle. To him, images was much less about urgent a shutter and extra about deciding what consideration ought to fall on.

That philosophy is on the coronary heart of the brand new prize, which is able to hopefully entice photographers whose work demonstrates depth, sensitivity and significant engagement with the medium. At its coronary heart, it’s a seek for individuals who can shock us with the acquainted. Santu Mofokeng’s legacy is the usual his Foundation now hopes a brand new technology will aspire to.

Applications open this month to rising photographers residing and dealing in South Africa, with entries accepted till October. The launch at Joburg’s Latitudes Centre for the Arts on Saturday included an exhibition of Mofokeng’s work.

For additional details about the prize and software particulars, go to the Latitudes Online and the Santu Mofokeng Foundation web sites.

Sunday Times Lifestyle