A community-building photography event, geared towards fostering transformation in the lives of participants, was recently held in Stellenbosch.
This is according to Quaniet Richards, founder of #humansofcapetown and co-founder of #shoot4purpose, both established in 2021. The Stellies Photo Walk, led by Richards on 13 July, was the second of its kind. SMF News was in attendance.
The first Stellies Photo Walk took place in September 2024 and had 10 participants, according to Richards. However, this year saw 45 participants attending the walk, he said.
The photography walks started as an attempt to offer #shoot4purpose alumni the platform to continue developing their newly acquired photography skills, said Richards.
“[#shoot4purpose] is a street photography programme for females who experienced trauma, abuse, and adversity,” he said. “It’s a transformative street photography programme to help them on their new journeys of rediscovery.”
Nazeem Dollie, a freelance photographer, showing other participants how his film camera works during the Stellies Photo Walk route on 13 July. “You get time to experience and exercise your new hobby as a photographer without being concerned about security and safety when you are out alone,” said Dollie of the Photo Walk. PHOTO: Buhle Bam
A monthly affair
The Stellies Photo Walk was free of charge to the public and followed a route around Stellenbosch Central. De Warenmarkt, a local restaurant, was the starting and finishing point of the walk.
The Photo Walks are held monthly in different towns surrounding Cape Town, said Richards.
“As the #humansofcapetown community grew, I thought let’s go back to Stellies and explore Stellies with a new group of [photography] enthusiasts,” said Richards.
Richards said that #humansofcapetown was a platform he created to share his photographs.
However, the growth in the Photo Walk participation is a testament to how the platform evolved into something bigger than he had initially anticipated, he said.
Feisa Firmansyah, a photography enthusiast, recording an Instagram live session along the Stellies Photo Walk route. “I do photography as a hobby,” said Firmansyah. PHOTO: Buhle Bam
“It’s a really nice group,” said Feisa Firmansyah, a photography enthusiast who moved to South Africa from Indonesia two years ago. “It’s always nice for me to meet new people and [do] the things that we love.”
Richards said that the location of the next Photo Walk will be determined by the suggestions of Photo Walk regulars.
More than pictures
The experience of choosing to overcome adversity through photography encouraged Nuraan Jacobs, a former #shoot4purpose participant, to push herself out of her comfort zone by taking photography as a new hobby, she said.
One of the lessons that Jacobs learned was the importance of not judging people based on their appearance, she said.
Jacobs also said that she was deeply touched by the interactions she had with women from different backgrounds during her time in the programme.
“It was the most amazing souls that you got to see,” said Jacobs.
Stellies Photo Walk participants walking on Dorp Street, during the event held on 13 July. The walk was led by Quaniet Richards, the founder of #humansofcapetown and the co-founder of #shoot4purpose. “I just wanted everyone to experience this beautiful skill called photography,” said Richards. PHOTO: Buhle Bam