Meet the four fellowship womxn chosen to join the first-ever #LampostLuminaries for the year of 2020
In November 2019, Lampost launched Lampost Luminaries, a 10-month fellowship programme starting in 2020 for 4 womxn photographers/videographers via social media. The campaign is a proclamation to all emerging female creatives on the cusp of greatness to take a journey with them. The response was incredible, ranging from self-taught applicants to graduates entrusting them with their profound stories and curated portfolios. The Lampost Luminaries panel carefully and rigorously went through each submission first independently, then as a group. After much discussion and debate, they were left with 12 finalists. The second phase was a face-to-face with each shortlisted candidate…which didn’t make their jobs any easier. They encountered so many talented, inspiring hopefuls but thankfully after final deliberation, the panel came to a unanimous decision and on 21 December 2019 they had their four inaugural recipients!
Starting in February, Thalente Khomo, Lili Ming, Basetsana Maluleka and Lebogang Tlhako embarked on an intensive 10-month upskill programme that will equip them with tools to jump-start their professional careers as photographers and videographers.
“As a group of women with over 3 decades of experience in the photographic, fashion and advertising industry, we want to uplift other creative womxn, share our knowledge, mentor and award well-deserving #womxn an opportunity to influence culture and change the visual storytelling world.” – Jodie Ennik, co-founder
SunshineCo is proud to support the Lampost Luminaries fellowship through gear, studio and training. We left some lighting kits with the girls for the first 5 weeks of the national lockdown so that they could familiarise themselves with the gear and use it to work on their projects.
The Luminaries also recently spent some time in our studio, working on one of their projects and learning how to bring their concepts to life with the use of studio lighting and other lighting accessories.
So here they are, the four #LampostLuminaries for 2020!
Passionate about stories centered on the female experience and exhibiting a keen desire to collaborate with other inspiring womxn. Thalente’s photography takes lead from her upbringing in rural KwaZulu-Natal where she first fell in love with expressionism.
Her work unflinchingly explores the objectification and exploitation of womxns’ and girls’ bodies in our society, and consequently the lasting effects of this on one’s psyche.
As a photographer, cinematographer and graphic designer Lili relishes any opportunity to express herself. Working in unwelcoming male-dominated professional spaces has further emboldened her fortitude and resolve.
Lili’s desire to deeply connect with her subjects, in conjunction with the exploration and celebration of her feminine gaze, results in striking and relevant imagery.
With the objective to create a body of work that provokes reaction whilst providing a voice for the marginalised. Pretoria-born and raised Basetsana is moved to action by the lack of representation for young girls and is committed to forging a bright, new path.
Her photographic eye is not confined to any one area of focus however her exuberance and passion are a through-line in all of her images.
Honing her skills as a multidisciplinary entrepreneur and photographer in Katlehong. Lebogang’s photography demonstrates a deft hand representing the township’s heritage in tandem within her contemporary concepts.
Her work explores the affirmations of a generation coming to grips with “adulting”, whilst creating compelling images that draw the viewer into every considered, stylised image.
