Evoking Emotions Through Visual Creation

Today we speak to Themba Mokase, who has expressed his voice through photography and has worked 10 + years shooting commercial, fashion and documentary style.

I believe images are more than what meets the eye, a great photograph speaks to the soul. I look at photography as the art of evoking emotion that connects people through visual creation.

Thank you for joining us today, please tell us about yourself Themba.

I was born in Pretoria in a township called Mamelodi and I grew up with a lot of insecurities which resulted from “ being different”. I developed a stutter which made it very dificult to speak and express myself verbally so I had to find another way. These impediments have become assets as they have led to my developing a keen visual sense as a child.

Tell us about your greatest inspiration or influences ? 

Myself. Not to sound self-absorbed, however, I inspire myself everyday through my daily experiences. If you think you are an inspiration to yourself then you are. Yes! You do have the power to do great things. You can create the life of your dreams, a life that only a few people live. So, entirely no one can really help mold the image I want because it's never been seen before. 

Tell us a bit about your creative process? 

Recycle,Reuse, Reduce.

Modern life is fast and everything feels disposable. Society generates an enormous amount of waste. As a result, recycling has become an essential action to protect the environment. Myself and my team, began to produce content using objects and material we find within our area to produce high end quality images. From used scrap metal , dirty construction barriers , card boxes , Chinese lanterns, and so on. Being able to use what you have around you really helps navigate the creative process because you try your best to make the items you have on hand workout into something beautiful. In return, we play our part through recycling and make sure our environment is clean and well maintained. 

How has the pandemic affected your creativity and how do you see the world changing ? 

The pandemic hasn’t affected my creative process; in fact, it has enhanced my creativity. Every photograph shot during this pandemic will serve and act as a souvenir for society; it will be photography that explains how the rest of the world views COVID-19 today, tomorrow, and in historical records. Decades from now. We live in an image driven world , where it is obvious that photography is far too strong to ignore in the face of adversity. 

What does wellbeing mean to you, and what do you practice? 

I listen to music. Music helps me balance my mind.

follow here.