DARSHAE BURNS
Darshae Burns' photographs explore the parallels between the outside world and personal journeys.
Although violence is implied, her images are also hopeful, and rich with self-discovery.
—Zoraida Díaz
MORGAN CRUISE
“Pandemic Repercussions” and “Dancing Through the Pandemic” are the two main themes I have approached within this workshop. As an amateur photographer, I strived to achieve a deeper connection to my work while approaching these themes and pushing myself to adapt to the challenges of living as a college student. Throughout this journey, I found inspiration an amazing photographer such as Zanele Muholi, who has led me to approach my photography in an abstract manner. I learned that not all photography has to be “Black and White” or bursting with conceptual composition. Sometimes intentional focus can mean the difference between an everyday photo and a meaningful photo.
RUTH JONES
I’ve always liked being behind the camera. Taking pictures has always been something I liked to do because it is a way of expressing who I am, and what I am capable of. Sometimes my work is sad, sometimes it’s bright, but it is always an expression of how I’m feeling. I was inspired by the work of Nan Goldin. Her work is real, and I admire how raw it is. Her photos have a way of telling a story, a story which I connected with. Some may look at my work and not understand, but I know there is a bigger picture. I was there when the chapel burned down. Flowers are another thing I like to photograph. As for portraits, I’m still learning. It’s always hard to be in front of the camera, but feels so natural to be behind it
MIATTA KANI-GOBA
These photos are a visual representation of my shadow, the parts of my identity that are kept secret. Behind my camera, I am creating a world where it is safe for me to re-define my identity and explore my desire beyond the confines of social acceptability or respectability politics. This is my sanctuary, a place in which I can give free rein to self-reflections that cannot roam freely in the external world. My work is influenced by Nan Goldin, whose unfiltered photographs taught me that I, too, can document the authentic reality of my world and the people in it without having to compromise integrity or sacrifice authenticity.
MEGANE MBAPTE
As a woman myself, I feel unstoppable knowing there were once young women like me with enough fearlessness, ambition, and creativity to go out into the world and engrave their names into history, with the use of a camera. I see art, not as an objective concept but an extremely subjective one. My work is not tailored to a specific audience, it is meant to speak to whoever is willing to listen and no two people may hear the same thing. That’s what makes it magical. The photographer that inspired the work that I am presenting is Cindy Sherman. Seeing her work helped me make sense of my own, in terms of understanding that it’s okay for your work to center around not the diversity of others but diversity within yourself.
