Two views of a bare room. Its austere mood has as much to do with a simple furnishing—the half of a bed-frame against a dull yellow wall—as with the nearly-full glass of water held by a sitting, hunched-over figure. Even the fact that there is no forward glance from the sitter says something about the plaintive scene. These observations combine to make the picture less descriptive than evocative, a marker for a grief observed.

— Emmanuel Iduma

This photograph is a self-portrait from my body of work “Tuesday Afternoon,” where I explore emotions I endured after the passing of my mother when I was 9 years old. This image was taken in the bedroom where she lost her life. I was reminded of the sight of my grandmother and revisited these emotions by wearing my grandmother's gown and my mother’s headwrap. A self-timer and  tripod made it possible. My emotions were sincere as I was in a bad place and missing my mother. 

My approach to photography is to observe, listen and have the humanity to tell my story and those of others in a way that is as authentic and truthful as possible. 

Photography is a powerful medium that can stir emotions, capture moments, convey messages, and form perceptions. The power of photography is in its ability to capture and transmit moments, emotions, and narratives. It is a truly influential media in our visual culture since it serves as a potent tool for education, inspiration, social change, and personal expression.

— Xoliswa Ngwenya

Xoliswa Ngwenya is a visual artist, photographer and archivist based Johannesburg, South Africa. “My love for humanity and interest in human behaviour and psychology have prompted me to major in anthropology and records and archives management, which manifests itself in my photography,” he says. See more of his work on Behance and Instagram.