21/05/2009. Belhar, Cape Flats. Cape Town. South Africa. Zelda Schritten with her young boy Zivan. The van der Westhuizen family lives in a shack in a Veld in Belhar. They are living without access to fresh running water, electricity and access to toilets. I spend some time at the beginning of winter 2009 with a Family that live in a veld in Belhar. The van der Westhuizen's are one of seven families living on a piece of land that became their “Veld-dorp”.The remaining seven families living in the “Veld-Dorp” refuse to relocate to Blikkiesdorp, a housing project that provides temporary shelter for the poor and homeless on the Cape Flats. Many of the previous residents of this veld were removed and received temporary housing in Blikkiesdorp. The crimes in Blikkiesdorp, the violence, robberies and rapes have kept these families from moving. All the families are dependent on donations of food packages and clothing for their survival, as none of them is employed, and they struggle to make a living of the state grants they receive. Photo Lizane Louw
Lizane Louw is a South African multimedia journalist and photographer based in Berlin. Louw combines her love for travel and photography in her work and has worked internationally as a journalist and photographer for 16 years.
Travel, culture, and the environment are the main themes of Lizane's multimedia work. Louw's extensive photographic oeuvre focuses on climate change and the human condition.
11/19/2009. Caledon, South Africa. Mr Arnolds Plaatjies and his wife Alithea van Breda in their humble home on a farm near Caledon in the Western Cape, South Africa. During 2009 the farming communities in the Western Cape were once again under the Human Rights spotlight. Many stories were published about the poor living conditions some of the farmworkers on farms live in, and questions were raised about farmers and their workers' treatment. Mr Plaatjies fell terminally ill on a farm, and his elderly wife, Alithea van Breda had to resign from her job to nurse her partner. When I visited the elderly couple, the farmer had threatened to forcefully remove the couple and leave them to live on the street. Mr Plaatjies has not received any medical treatment and lives without water and electricity. The house is torn, and the elderly couple is left to fend the elements and extreme conditions they live in. Sadly Mr Plaatjies passed away three days later. Photo Lizane Louw
11/19/2009. Caledon, South Africa. MrArnolds Plaatjies and his wife Alithea van Breda in their humble home on a farm near Caledon in the Western Cape, South Africa. During 2009 the farming communities in the Western Cape were once again under the Human Rights spotlight. Many stories were published about the poor living conditions some of the farmworkers on farms live in, and questions were raised about farmers and their workers' treatment. Mr Plaatjies fell terminally ill on a farm, and his elderly wife, Alithea van Breda had to resign from her job to nurse her partner. When I visited the elderly couple, the farmer had threatened to forcefully remove the couple and leave them to live on the street. Mr Plaatjies has not received any medical treatment and lives without water and electricity. The house is torn, and the elderly couple is left to fend the elements and extreme conditions they live in. Sadly Mr Plaatjies passed away three days later. Photo Lizane Louw
News Portrait Portfolio.
I love portraiture, and I still experiment and learn every time I make portrait photographs. The work of master portrait photographers, Annie Leibovitz and Diane Arbus are my biggest inspiration.
Apart from studying the master portrait photographers, I spend years studying the work of the Dutch master painters, amongst others Rembrandt van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer.
I find the paintings of these master painters, their attention to detail combined with the use of intense colours and contrasts and the use of the light in creating portraiture, very inspiring.
My work in photojournalism and documentary photography is inspired by the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson, Sebastião Salgado and Vivian Maier, amongst others.
16/04/2009. Ouma. Blikkiesdorp. Cape Flats, Cape Town. South Africa. Ouma Magdalena ( 90) is the eldest resident of Blikkiesdorp on the Cape Flats. She has been on the housing list for over 17 years. The residents of Blikkiesdorp live in one of the poorest communities on the Cape Flats and are subjected to violent crimes, rapes and robberies. Still, the community of Blikkiesdorp keeps their heads and spirits up. 4000 People call these steel structures and the dunes surrounding them home. They live close to each other, and the family atmosphere that binds all these poor individuals together brought tears to my eyes. The monotone structures and grey palette of the scenery leave you with little to be excited about. It was not until I met Ouma that my mind changed. I saw a different world through my lens, and I was learning how these unfortunate people can have such colourful lives amidst the emptiness and greys. Even though all the heartache and pain that these people are suffering breaks your heart, the sense of positivity and will to survive is contagious. Many community members run their own little shops to provide the necessities for everyday survival. Living from hand to hand, day to day. Caring for and looking after each other. I was moved by the simplicity of the people, their will to survive, and community feeling. I left Blikkiesdorp wondering what it is that binds people together in difficulty like that. Ouma has since passed away; she died of severe TB and starvation, my work in the community continues, and Ouma is a big inspiration for this project. At the moment 16000 people live in the camp.
Sheryl Hendricks and her Husband, Basil Fourie, lives in a structure, K-33, in Blikkiesdorp. Basil is currently in Tygerberg Hospital and undergoing surgery and treatment for cancer. Sheryl would like to visit her husband in the hospital. Due to difficult financial circumstances, this has so far been impossible. She has only visited him once. (Extension story on Blikkiesdorp)
Elna Victor, Proud Afrikaans Nurse, standing outside her "house" in Blikkiesdorp. She has been living there for over a year and has been attacked, kicked and robbed numerous times. Upon a recent move to a safer dwelling in the camp, people stormed in and broke all her crockery. Elna is one of the White residents of Blikkiesdorp. She is unemployed. She is on a disability grant. Five white families are living in the camp. (2010) Blikkiesdorp Social Documentary Project.
Family time. Blikkiesdorp
Blikkiesdorp Social Documentary Project
02/18/2011. Blikkiesdorp, Delft. Cape Town. The Victor Family has been living in Blikkiesdorp for more than a year. The family has been exposed to violent situations, where family members were brutally attacked and robbed. The family consists of Elna, a qualified nurse, Faan, a builder, Gerald, their son, an epileptic and mentally challenged and their daughter Adeen. The family is white South Africans and one of many white families living amongst 25 000 other people from all over Africa. They live in challenging circumstances and are dependent on government grants and donations.
Ma Bekka Rebekka, Ma Bekka, is 76 years old, living a structure, B43, in Blikkiesdorp. Blikkiesdorp Social Documentary Project
As a journalist, I had stories and photographs published in Beeld, Volksblad, Rapport, Die Burger, The Argus, Cape Times, You and Huisgenoot. I also published in Mango Magazine, The Daily Maverick, NRC Nederland’s Handelsblad, La’ Officiel NL, Africa is a Country and Head On Photo Festival, Australia.
One of my favourite photographs from my Blikkiesdorp series was published by the Royal School of Fine Art, Stockholm.
I published in local South African and international publications, print as well as online.
As a freelance multimedia photojournalist, I contribute images to the Gallo Image Library, Getty and Africamediaonline, when in South Africa.
05/11/2011. Cape Town. Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu's opening speech during the Russel Tribunal at the District Six Museum in Cape Town. Photo Lizane Louw
05/11/2011. Cape Town. Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu's opening speech during the Russel Tribunal at the District Six Museum in Cape Town. Photo Lizane Louw
I was one of the official photographers at the book launch of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's book, Tutu, The Authorized Portrait. Not only did I get to photograph the Arch himself, but I got to witness an extraordinary friendship between the Arch and Bono. I also got to photograph Bono, one of the biggest idols in my life. What an incredible experience!
I was one of the official photographers at the book launch of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's book, Tutu, The Authorized Portrait. Not only did I get to photograph the Arch himself, but I got to witness an extraordinary friendship between the Arch and Bono. I also got to photograph Bono, one of the biggest idols in my life. What an incredible experience!
I was one of the official photographers at the book launch of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's book, Tutu, The Authorized Portrait. Not only did I get to photograph the Arch himself, but I got to witness an extraordinary friendship between the Arch and Bono. I also got to photograph Bono, one of the biggest idols in my life. What an incredible experience!
12/06/2010. Prince Albert of Monaco visited the NY49 Sportcentrum in Gugulethu. This centrum a joint project by Monaco, the UN and City Cape Town. Helen Zille, premier of the Western Cape, handed over a gift to the Prince. Photo Lizane Louw
28/02/2009. Dr. Allan Boesak, Interview, Johan Maarman. Photo Lizane Louw
04/08/2010. Brian Habana, Michelle Mclean and Steve Hofmeyer made their hand palm prints for the Madiba Legacy Canvas. Photo Lizane Louw
11/12/2009. Lea Snyders and her son Adriaan Andrew (12) received R16 million from Transnet. This compensation came after the 2007 accident in Kabaskraal. Photo Lizane Louw
15/11/2010. Mr Tafara Karidza of Third Joint Craft Products in Delft South makes 3D art from trash. Photo Lizane Louw
24/04/2008. Ms Maria Rex voting in Villiersdorp. Photo Lizane Louw
23/07/2010. Tracy Lee Paich farted during an interview on Idols. It was a deep, dark “note”. "And now she is famous for her singing from the rear, not the front. " Photo Lizane Louw
10/08/2009 Simonsvlei Wine Farm and its people. From left portraits of Aanna Mamuski, Sean Ben May, Roman Buje, Carolene Prins, Christiano Prins in the front Luwin Amos en Divine September is sitting and playing. Photo Lizane Louw
10/08/2009 Simonsvlei Wine Farm and its people. Photo Lizane Louw
11/12/2009. Piet Absolom celebrated his 110 th birthday. Photo Lizane Louw
05/02/2009 Cape Town. Taliep Petersen murder trial. Cape High Court. Photo Lizane Louw
21/10/2008. Cape Town. Taliep Petersen murder trial. Cape High Court. Photo Lizane Louw
15/09/2010. Sex therapist Marlene Wasserman in her Seapoint office. ( Marlene is also known as dr. Eve. Photo Lizane Louw
10/04/2009. Mr Gavin van Rooyen and his partner me. Elmarie Williams, parents of Charlynn Williams (13) who was murdered brutely in Hawston. Photo Lizane Louw
01/10/2010. Mev. Latiefa Gafeldien (73) feeding pigeons in Bo Kaap, Cape Town. Photo Lizane Louw.
Informal family housing on the Cape Flats. Belhar.
Cape Town. Photo Lizane Louw
09/20/2008. Green Market Square, Cape Town. Eggman, Gregory da Silva, is performing his Eggman show at Green Market Square every day. He also takes his one-person show to festivals across South Africa. Photo Lizane Louw
Township fire. Lwandle. Cape Town, South Africa. Photo Lizane Louw
27/03/2008. KKNK Arts Festival, Oudtshoorn. Tina Kongolo at her stall at the festival. Photo Lizane Louw
Politics Blikkiesdorp Social Documentary Project. The streets of Blikkiesdorp or as some called it, the "human" dumping ground. Politics divides this community and people in Blikkiesdorp are known to be very passionate about their politics.
Baby. Blikkiesdorp Social Documentary Project
My photography student. Photo Lizane Louw
21/05/2009. Belhar, Cape Flats. Cape Town. South Africa. Janica van der Westhuizen lives with her parents in a shack in a Veld in Belhar. They are living without access to fresh running water, electricity and access to toilets. I spend some time at the beginning of winter 2009 with a Family that live in a veld in Belhar. The van der Westhuizen's are one of seven families living on a piece of land that became their “Veld-dorp”. The remaining seven families residing in the “Veld-Dorp” refuse to relocate to Blikkiesdorp, a housing project that provides temporary shelter for the poor and homeless on the Cape Flats. Many of the previous residents of this veld were removed and received temporary housing in Blikkiesdorp. The crimes in Blikkiesdorp, the violence, robberies and rapes have kept these families from moving. All the families are dependent on donations of food packages and clothing for their survival, as none of them is employed, and they struggle to make a living of the state grants they receive. Photo Lizane Louw