Neo Ntsoma

Neo Ntsoma
Born Mafikeng, South Africa
Residence Johannesburg, Gauteng Province
Education Technikon Pretoria, Peninsula Technikon
Occupation Portraiture, photojounalism
Years active 1992–present

Neo Ntsoma (27 December 1972) is a South African photographer known for her photojournalism, portraiture, music and popular culture photography.[1][2] born in Vryburg and brought up in the rural areas of Mafikeng in the North West Province, her fascination about films was triggered at an early age.[3] Growing up in the apartheid era and seeing the negative portrayal images of black South Africans and the lack of participation of black women in a media industry dominated by white males, this reinvigorated her to want to make change, however it was not an easy dream to fulfil due to race restrictions at the time.[1] Ntsoma attended St Mary's High School where she would be introduced to music, dance and drama, this is where she knew her career path was different from her peers.[1][3][4]

Early years

Born in Vryburg and brought up in the rural areas of Mafikeng in the North West Province.[1][2] Ntsoma is last of the third children born to Olefile Ntsoma and Nomalanga Maria Ntsoma née Hlabangane. Photography is a profession she fell into by accident, a profession not known for black women at that time. Ntsoma began her studies at Peninsula Technikon in 1992, Her initial interest was in Film and Television.[5] she never picked up a camera prior to her enrolment at the Technikon.[1][3] She later moved to Pretoria Technikon between 1994 and 1995 to further her studies specialising in Fashion and Advertising although she was denied the opportunity to graduate.[6]

Career

Despite challenges and setbacks on her journey, in 1998 Ntsoma became the first black woman photographer to work for one of the biggest newspapers in South Africa, The Star.[5][7] Although Ntsoma never felt discriminated by her colleagues whom were mainly white and male, she felt the need to constantly prove herself to gain the recognition in the industry.[8] As Ntsoma explains in her artistry statement,

I used to take pictures to make people believe in me. Now, I take pictures to make people believe in the subject of my photographs. My aim is to share my point of view about something, and also what I am feeling about it. But what's important for me is to capture the spirit and soul of the subject I am photographing.[3][8][9]

In 2004, Neo Ntsoma became the first woman recipient of the Mohamed Amin Award, the CNN African Journalist of the Year Photography Prize for her photo essay entitled, 'Their World in Flames'.[10] Over the years her career has also spanned to fine arts and celebrity photography.[1]

Awards

Honours

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Neo Ntsoma | Who's Who SA". whoswho.co.za. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Google". google.co.za. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Google Image Result for http://10and5.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Neo-takes-a-photo.jpg". google.co.za. Retrieved 19 April 2014. External link in |title= (help)
  4. ↑ "The New African Photography". 10and5.com. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Neo Ntsoma: Generation of Change – Artscape – Al Jazeera English". aljazeera.com. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  6. ↑ "CULTURE-SOUTH AFRICA: Seeing, Rather Than Seen – Inter Press Service". ipsnews.net. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Women by Women: 50 Years of Women's Photography in South Africa by Robin Comley — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists". goodreads.com. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Redi Tlhabi Re-imagines Africa on Al Jazeera's South 2 North (10.05.2013) | 360Nobs.com". 360nobs.com. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Neo Ntsoma News – mio.co.za". mio.co.za. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Neo Ntsoma, Photojournalist | Lightstalkers". lightstalkers.org. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "Neo Ntsoma – New Internationalist". newint.org. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "Moving in Time: Images of Life in a Democratic South Africa | David Krut Publishing and Arts Resource". davidkrutpublishing.com. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "UP2date |". tut.ac.za. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
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