A Passion for Photography

In the age of the social media and smart phones, people constantly take pictures and share them on the go. Whether people are looking at photos of friends and family on holiday, taking selfies or using professional photographers to document special occasions, the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words has never been more true.

While many people take a lot of photos, not many people know about the different styles of photography. Understanding the various genres of photography is important to develop knowledge and also to gain insight into the art.

caught up with Mupeti Tichavanashe, a local portrait, street and lifestyle photographer to dissect these various styles of photography.

He studied informatics at Namibia University of Science and Technology and is a mobile app developer and a graphic designer who’s passionate about photography – a medium through which he helps people document their memories with aesthetically appealing photographs.

Tichavanashe describes portrait photography as featuring an object, a person or a group of people which captures the personality of the subject by using effective lighting, backdrop and various poses. Lifestyle photography, he says, is a style which mainly aims to capture people in situations or real-life events as they unfold.

He notes that the primary goal of lifestyle photography is to convey stories about people’s lives and to inspire.

Street photography captures ordinary, everyday life in public spaces as it happens. “Street photography is very similar to candid photography, but the photographer documents the things that happen in public spaces as he or she sees them,” he mentions.

“I enjoy taking pictures of this beautiful city of Windhoek.”

Aspiring street photographers should not just look at the popular tourists spots, says Tichavanashe, but try out some real-life scenes coupled with some behind the scenes images.

“As a street photographer, you must be observant about every little aspect around you. As soon as you see a story unfold, you should not hesitate to capture the moment.”

He places strong emphasis on documenting Windhoek’s architecture and enjoys working with people, capturing not just how people look but how they feel, through honest photography that looks beyond the surface.

“I want to capture people as naturally as possible because I value authenticity. I want my photos to be real,” Tichavanashe says.

When it comes to capturing landscapes, he believes in looking beyond the scene. He always has a vision of what his final photograph will look like after editing.

Many of Tichavanashe’s photographs display the city of Windhoek holistically and often in his street photography, he brings the view down to ground level which he believes portrays the people who make the city what it is.

The photographer is currently compiling a collection of photographs which he hopes to publish as a photo book.

His highlight so far as a photographer was when he was first offered payment for his work. “It was a huge deal for me that someone valued my work, enough to want to pay for it.”

Grateful for the doors his craft has opened for him, Tichavanashe maintains that photography in general has afforded him a platform to engage with different people about various issues.

“Because I work with different people on a regular basis, I get to engage in fruitful conversations and it is always an advantage for me when we talk about Jesus and faith.”

As for the challenges he has faced as a photographer, funding is a big issue especially because most of his funds go towards his education which leaves a limited amount of money to invest in purchasing better equipment. However, he says that this has kept him grounded and has helped to polish his skills through research and constant practice.

“It is important to acknowledge that you do not know everything but also be confident enough to enter unknown territories and learn new things about your craft,” concludes Tichavanashe.