21 Apr 2016

The importance of recording one’s moments through rites of passage cannot be overemphasised. Be it from birth to the little amazing achievements towards the quest to a fulfilling life. Good photography is the way to freeze a special moment.

Nothing brings exceptional pleasure to Mr Tlharesakgotla Maipolelo than to freeze a moment through photography. While growing up in Mahotshwane, Mr Maipolelo was always curious as to how pictures got to be in Kutlwano magazine.

“Growing up in Mahotshwane back then we didn’t have access to a lot of things. The only thing that we will see where publications are concerned was Kutlwano magazine,”he says.He relates how her sister who loved traveling outside the village would bring the publication home. 

“I still remember seeing a picture of people performing traditional dance on Kutlwano,” he recalls.After failing his Junior Certificate studies, he started actively following his passion for photography.He practised by taking pictures of his family, nature and social activities in his village with his small Samsung pocket camera.

As fate would have it, the Department of Information Services advertised posts for freelance photographers in 2014. He knew that it was an opportunity that he had been waiting for. Even though the vacancy specified that it needed published candidates, it did not demoralise him.

“When I got the call to come for an interview, I had to research and familiarise myself with the terminology of a camera as I have never taken a photography lesson in my life. All that rang in my mind those few days before the interview was the need to prove to myself that I can do it regardless of coming from a small village, which is not easily accessible. 

Nothing can compare to the moment when I signed the one year contract because that meant that my life was beginning,” he narrates.

Maipolelo explains that freelancing for the Department of Information Services opened more doors than he ever imagined in his life. He was trained by the department on what makes a good picture, invaluable knowledge that he now carries everywhere.

“Meeting a renowned award winning photographer Mr Yobe Shonga was wonderful because all the pictures that captured my heart in Kutlwano were always taken by him. To meet the person you admire is life changing.  It is also motivating to work with people like him because every day you learn something from them for free,” he notes.He says that taking pictures for the Daily News did not only fatten his portfolio but also helped him to buy himself a professional camera and to further his studies with the money he made from the job.

“When my people saw my name and that of their village it was exciting and to be applauded for such was also wonderful as it meant that I was not only representing myself but my village to the rest of the country. That motivated me to work harder. Information Services recognised my hard work and renewed my contract for another year and I continued to give it my all,” he says.

Maipolelo, who currently runs a business called Maipolelo Digital Photo Studios in his home village, says that he specialises in photography services for all occasions from weddings, bridal and baby showers to graduation and anniversary parties. ENDS