Icon Photography

Icon shoots for a brighter future

A local developmental photography school has been appointed as the official photographers for the Homeless World Cup, taking place at the Grand Parade in Cape Town from 24 to 30 September 2006.

Icon Image was started five years ago at an orphanage in Mfuleni Cape Town with a group of 15 students. The present team consists of five professional photographers in a mentor capacity and eight students.  The school has already held seven successful exhibitions, started three photography projects and had pictures published in various magazines and newspapers. It aims to create work for its trainees by giving them a foundation in order to launch a photographic career.

“This is an incredible opportunity for the students. Not only will they be working in a pressurized game environment but they will also be able to add sport to their growing and already impressive portfolios.

“They also have the chance to win an award sponsored by Touchline Media (for most improved student and best sports single image). The prize is an opportunity to photograph the Coca-Cola Soccer Finals with a top sports photographer,” says Garth Stead, spokesperson for Icon Image School of Photography.

The students will also have potential opportunities to earn an income for their Homeless World Cup coverage, as their photographs will be syndicated through Touchline, locally, and Getty Images, internationally on a pay per use basis. One of the photographs by Masixole Feni, an Icon Image student, features on the cover of the official tournament programme, which will be sold at the event for R20.

The enthusiastic students come from a variety of backgrounds, but have all been brought together by their love of photography and their challenging circumstances. The four trainees for this particular project are Masixole Feni (19), Mxolisi Whitey Madela (20), Themba Grootboom (16) and Lulekwa Mbadamane  (32).

Masixole is currently a freelancer, and takes picture of people around the neighborhood of Woodstock.  He and Mxolisi have started a fledgling studio, M&M Photography and have been involved in the revitalization of the Old Kalker studio in Woodstock. Mxolisi started embracing life through his photography. He did an assignment on a girl who needed a liver transplant, in order to raise a donor. Themba has been part four exhibitions at the Artscape, and has even sold a picture of Jazzart for a poster of their show “Guardian of the Flame.” The three boys share a bed in Themba’s granny’s house in Nyanga, but are saving, with Icon’s help, to buy a Wendy-house of their own where they look forward to being able to put in electricity. The oldest student Lulekwa has helped produce the Big Issue Trolley Project Issue. She has also been involved in the 50th Anniversary of the Red Cross Children’s photography project, as were the other students.

The other accomplished professional photographers who make up the Icon Image collective and who work with the students are Eric Miller, Karin Retief, Rodger Bosch and Mark Wessels.

“I am excited and very confident that all the magic of the tournament will be captured for the world to experience by these up and coming photographers.  It is amazing to see how the human spirit can overcome the odds.  Players and photographers have challenging backgrounds, yet both groups are changing their futures.  It is inspiring to watch people take charge and change their lives,” says Mel Young, co-founder and President of the Homeless World Cup.

The Icon Image team will have 3 teams operating during the event. The first team has the task of photographing the soccer action on the pitch, giving them insight on the world of sports photography. The second team will do the behind the scenes action that includes team and player profiles and will concentrate on human interest stories off the field. The third team has the job of processing all the footage taken by team one and two, downloading it on to the Homeless World Cup online press centre and circulating it to the global media.