Art & Sculpture | Photography
A fascination with pictures in newspapers, magazines and photo albums had inspired a boy to consider starting a career in photography.
Growing up in Nkovani in the Malamulele area, Thembani Mabunda knew all along that he was born to create a world of his own through cinematic and clear-cut photographs.
“My love for photography started at an early age when my late father, Samson Mabunda, bought me a Pentax 2000N 50mm in 1994,” he said. “I used that first camera to take photos of my fellow pupils in high school for a fee. Photography for me is a natural talent influenced by the love for colour and nature, which I love capturing.”
The founder and principal photographer at Purple Leaf Photography, Thembani obtained a national diploma in tourism management. He believes that tourism also supplements and fuels his passion in photography.
“I am also running Purple Leaf House photography studio at Malamulele Section B,” he said. “Photography is a passion which pays a lot. One can make a living out of it if one can take it as a career and acquire some skills at a higher-learning institution. The fact is that we have few professional photographers in South Africa.”
The former president of South Africa, Mr Thabo Mbeki, is his role model. “He had an immerse contribution in the African Renaissance ideologies that opened opportunities for African unity and engagement for further African growth,” he said. “His writings and speeches had encouraged many young men and women across the globe to be intellectuals that further encouraged African cooperation.”
So far, Thembani has extended his photographic services to local functions such as weddings, parties, funerals and high-profile events. People love his work. “I am always humbled by the response I get from my clients,” he said.
