Russell Thokozani Kana

Freeriddim hooked up with Russell Thokozani Kana, a remarkable young photographer from Port Elizabeth, who in the recent years has made head lines and has featured on TV programs after bagging the HSRC award.

"a voice said to me gently 'capture' the innocence of life for there lies truth and the image of ‘creation’ in it and that’s when I picked up the camera and started taking pictures that to me reflect the innocence of life"

Nwabisa Ngumbela (NN)- as a photographer, what skills do you need to have?
Russell Thokozani Kana (RTK)- passion. You can’t be passionate without skill, and a good knowledge of the camera is where it all starts.

NN- how different is photography from your normal 9-5 job?
RTK-I kind of live two lives I have a 9-6 job which is corporate photography
And then fine art and documentary photography

NN-what challenges as a photographer do you face in everyday life?
RTK- it is not having enough time to pursue my own vision, while working on a full time job satisfying the inner child with in.

NN- tell me more about your vision.
RTK-the vision came to me a couple of years ago through the Holy Spirit I was sleeping and heard this voice speaking to me.

NN- how did you know that you were not perhaps dreaming?
RTK- I knew I was not dreamin