Ep.40 Zanele Lebaka-Tshabalala (Market Photo Workshop)
My name is Zanele Lebaka, and I am a photographer from Aliwal North, Eastern Cape, currently based in Johannesburg. My work focuses on storytelling through portraiture and documentary photography, capturing raw moments, multiple perspectives, and the often-overlooked beauty of my community. I use photography as a tool to evoke emotion, spark conversation, and highlight social issues.
In 2023, I completed the Legacy Project at the Market Photo Workshop, where I was mentored as one of 18 emerging photographers from across South Africa. I was also a runner-up on the TV competition The Lucky Star Collab, an experience that pushed me to refine my artistic vision. In 2024, I was selected for the 9th edition of the Photography Incubator Programme at the Market Photo Workshop, further deepening my practice.
My work has been exhibited four times, including as part of the group exhibition Photography and Democracy alongside renowned photographers Cedric Nunn and Pieter Boersma. This exhibition, opened by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, was a defining moment in my career.
Currently, I continue to explore new ways of using photography to tell authentic stories, with my latest project shedding light on the ongoing water crisis in Aliwal North.
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Images supplied by Market Photo Workshop.
