Photography is one of those struggle filled professions in the creative space. From not being taken , accepted serious enough as a profession to everyone who owns a smartphone thinking they are one.
But it requires a grave skill and preciseness. It needs one to be dedicated enough to make it through all the tussles of having to prove yourself ,rising above the discouraging factors that come with it.
It needs one to be creative enough to capture images in a spectacular way(that often seems simple and effortless) and not relying on Photoshop to make an image a masterpiece.
One needs to know more and acknowledge that it goes beyond than just to click the shoot button.
Blunt Moya is a photographer out of Mabopane in Pretoria, who is living his passion through the lenses. He got taken into the space "by chance", took the challenge, tried it out and fell in love.
If you had to explain your work to someone who's never experienced it before, how would you?
That's the one question I never really know how to answer.
I have heard people say it's got social commentary, it's artistic, raw, authentic, honest and brutal.
What do you think is every photographers ultimate dream ?(if you had to guess)
Different photographers have different dreams mainly because of the type photography they do.
Some would be to shoot the most remote parts of Africa, some would be to shoot the most beautiful people in the world,
some dream of fame and some is to own the latest gear.
You started photography "by chance" before then ,was it something you had considered pursuing?
I did not even know photography was a career that people went to school for. Looking back I realized I liked it back in the day as I used to take pictures of clouds and sunsets with a Kodak camera.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would be here because of photography.
Who or Where is your ultimate photoshoot dream?
I don't really have an ultimate place I would love to shoot or that one person I would want to shoot but if I had an opportunity I would do a Photoshoot with my mother in Egypt.
Your photography touches on very social and everyday issues especially of a Black person. When did you realise you could do this?
Just like how I got into photography this was also by chance. A good friend of mine by the name TC Maila once said to me "some visions cannot be explained, you are a vessel and your duty is to spread the message"
What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer about the work, the industry and the self?
Find your subject matter and make it say a thousand words. The industry is cut throat , very competitive so practice as often as possible to up your game.
And regarding self, know why you are doing what you are doing. If you are doing it for likes and fame then you will not go far and those will blur your vision.
Are photographers still not taken as seriously as they should be or are things changing?
It's a bit of 50/50 there are people who understand that photography is bigger than just pressing a button. It requires a lot of hours, patience, practice, sleepless nights and money as the equipment does not come cheap.
So, once people understand what goes into producing incredible work then people will have full understanding. Same as how you have photographers who charge 200 an hour for a photoshoot just because they have the equipment but no love nor passion nor drive and this is what kills the creative industry.
Judging from your last exhibition #BlackBoysDreams, do people still attend exhibitions and most importantly, are they buying?
Yes, people do still attend exhibitions. All depending on where the exhibition is showcasing and do they relate to the subject matter. And yea people do buy even though mostly it is in bigger galleries and would buy work from someone with a rich profile.
Do you know if there is a place/space that has any of your work? (coffee shop, library, office, gallery)?
I know there are a few homes which have my work on their walls and the feeling is insane. One day I will have my work in boardrooms, schools and so on. My one friend has used one of my articles in a lesson in her grade 10 class.
What's next for Blunt Moya?
What's next for Blunt Moya is doing exhibitions out of Gauteng, already working on a few concepts for 2019. I just want to grow as a photographer and a visual artist.
Photography is a big contributor in historical moments in the world, our Country and in our lives.
Behind the camera, they capture the beautiful, the sad, the important and the fun.
Photographers play a huge role in the capturing of history, and general moments in our lifetimes, probably more than we could ever admit or fathom. S/O to the photographers worldwide!
Facebook Page: Blunt Moya Photography
Instagram: @bluntmoya
Twitter: @blunt_moya
But it requires a grave skill and preciseness. It needs one to be dedicated enough to make it through all the tussles of having to prove yourself ,rising above the discouraging factors that come with it.
One needs to know more and acknowledge that it goes beyond than just to click the shoot button.
Blunt Moya is a photographer out of Mabopane in Pretoria, who is living his passion through the lenses. He got taken into the space "by chance", took the challenge, tried it out and fell in love.
That's the one question I never really know how to answer.
I have heard people say it's got social commentary, it's artistic, raw, authentic, honest and brutal.
What do you think is every photographers ultimate dream ?(if you had to guess)
Different photographers have different dreams mainly because of the type photography they do.
Some would be to shoot the most remote parts of Africa, some would be to shoot the most beautiful people in the world,
some dream of fame and some is to own the latest gear.
You started photography "by chance" before then ,was it something you had considered pursuing?
I did not even know photography was a career that people went to school for. Looking back I realized I liked it back in the day as I used to take pictures of clouds and sunsets with a Kodak camera.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would be here because of photography.
Who or Where is your ultimate photoshoot dream?
I don't really have an ultimate place I would love to shoot or that one person I would want to shoot but if I had an opportunity I would do a Photoshoot with my mother in Egypt.
Your photography touches on very social and everyday issues especially of a Black person. When did you realise you could do this?
Just like how I got into photography this was also by chance. A good friend of mine by the name TC Maila once said to me "some visions cannot be explained, you are a vessel and your duty is to spread the message"
What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer about the work, the industry and the self?
Find your subject matter and make it say a thousand words. The industry is cut throat , very competitive so practice as often as possible to up your game.
And regarding self, know why you are doing what you are doing. If you are doing it for likes and fame then you will not go far and those will blur your vision.
Are photographers still not taken as seriously as they should be or are things changing?
It's a bit of 50/50 there are people who understand that photography is bigger than just pressing a button. It requires a lot of hours, patience, practice, sleepless nights and money as the equipment does not come cheap.
So, once people understand what goes into producing incredible work then people will have full understanding. Same as how you have photographers who charge 200 an hour for a photoshoot just because they have the equipment but no love nor passion nor drive and this is what kills the creative industry.
Judging from your last exhibition #BlackBoysDreams, do people still attend exhibitions and most importantly, are they buying?
Yes, people do still attend exhibitions. All depending on where the exhibition is showcasing and do they relate to the subject matter. And yea people do buy even though mostly it is in bigger galleries and would buy work from someone with a rich profile.
Do you know if there is a place/space that has any of your work? (coffee shop, library, office, gallery)?
I know there are a few homes which have my work on their walls and the feeling is insane. One day I will have my work in boardrooms, schools and so on. My one friend has used one of my articles in a lesson in her grade 10 class.
What's next for Blunt Moya?
What's next for Blunt Moya is doing exhibitions out of Gauteng, already working on a few concepts for 2019. I just want to grow as a photographer and a visual artist.
Photography is a big contributor in historical moments in the world, our Country and in our lives.
Behind the camera, they capture the beautiful, the sad, the important and the fun.
Photographers play a huge role in the capturing of history, and general moments in our lifetimes, probably more than we could ever admit or fathom. S/O to the photographers worldwide!
Facebook Page: Blunt Moya Photography
Instagram: @bluntmoya
Twitter: @blunt_moya
Top 5 in 3s:
Name your top 3 Photographers in Mamelodi:
Ayanda Zungu
Calvin Moletsane
Thabang conceptualist Mailula
Name 3 photographers you know from Soshanguve:
Phillip Moteane
Good Mahlangu
Pretty Lebese
Name 3 galleries you would like work with from Pretoria:
Pretoria art museum
Show Room Art gallery
Fried contemporary
Name 3 female photographers from Pretoria:
Ayanda Zungu
Neo Chikane
Janice Terry
Name 3 exhibitions you've been to around Pretoria:
Her skin speaks
Home lounge exhibition
@Tan89Media
@Tan89Media
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