Steet with no name. Ouma Johanna Stanley, walking down one of the alleys in Blikkiesdorp. Ouma Johanna passed away during the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. She died of starvation and TB. 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.
12/03/2008. Mitchells Plain. Jacob Zuma in Mitchells Plain. Mr Jacob Zuma, at an ANC rally in Mitchells Plain in early December 2008. Mr Zuma campaigned for votes in the Western Cape and visited various little villages and townships around Cape Town as part of his election campaign. Photo Lizane Louw
My first love has always been photography. My dad bought me my first camera when I was 14. I am a self-taught photographer who accidentally landed in the world of photojournalism when I met the late Garth Stead, picture editor of Foto24/Die Burger, in Stellenbosch South Africa in 2007.
Garth had a significant influence on my career as a young photojournalist. With his guidance in shooting for daily publications and also the advice and support of Sharief Jaffer, the now-retired picture editor of Foto24/Media24, I continued pursuing a career in journalism.
Sharief is still a rock in my career. The experience I gained in the field under his guidance as a picture editor for almost four years, shaped my voice as a visual journalist.
20/03/2009. Umshini Wam. Mr Jacob Zuma entertaining crowds of supporters in Langa with his song, Umshimi Wam, at the Langa Massacre Commemoration on Human Rights Day. Photo Lizane Louw
In March 2009, the Hollywood film, Invictus, was filmed in Cape Town. I photographed the American actors, Matt Damon and Kyle Eastwood during filming. These famous actors played the parts of Francois Pienaar and Joel Stransky in the movie.
Invictus is a 2009 biographical sports drama. It was directed by Clint Eastwood and starred Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. The story is based on the book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation by John Carlin.
27/03/2009. Invictus. Cape Town. The American Actors Matt Damon and Kyle Eastwood playing the parts of Francois Pienaar and Joel Stransky in the movie Invictus. This is one of the movie scenes where the captain and his team walk from the hotel to the bus, taking them to the rugby stadium. Photo Lizane Louw
In September 2011, I was an official photographer of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s book launch, Tutu, The Authorized Portrait. I had the opportunity to photograph Bono, the lead singer of U2, at the Bishops’ birthday celebrations. I also photographed the Archbishop at the Russel Tribunal in Cape Town, September 2011.
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. This photo is of the first page in Arch's book. What an honour. Photo Lizane Louw
I was one of the official photographers at the book launch of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's book, Tutu, The Authorised Portrait. Not only did I get to photograph the Arch himself, but I got to witness an extraordinary friendship between the Arch and Bono. What an honour. Photo Lizane Louw
I was one of the official photographers at the book launch of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's book, Tutu, The Authorised Portrait. Not only did I get to photograph the Arch himself, but I got to witness an extraordinary friendship between the Arch and Bono. What an honour. Photo Lizane Louw
Raid Rashaad Staggie's daughter was shot in a police raid in Bonteheuwel. The police allegedly fired the mystery shots that landed Ingrid Jacobs in the hospital with two stomach wounds. The incident happened when the police raided a well-known tik-den in Safraan Street in Bonteheuwel. An official attempted murder docket was opened after it came to light that one of the bystanders filmed the shooting. Ingrid was watching the raid through metal plates serving as a wall when the shots were fired. The police arrested ten alleged drug dealers and confiscated illegal substances and money. Six grams of tik (crystal meth) with a street value of R2 000 and R1 800 cash was found. The investigation continues.
04/02/2009. Najwa Petersen. Cape Town. The court case of Taliep Petersen, Thursday 5 Februarie 2009. Najwa Petersen enters the court. Photo Lizane Louw
06/17/2011. Nommers. Blikkiesdorp, Cape Town. South Africa. Children playing in the streets, wearing homemade raincoats from garbage bags. It is obvious who their role models are. Die "nommer " or prison number system is also present in this informal settlement. In an interview with Africa is a Country in a story written by Sean Jacobs. "The People From Blikies", Sean asked me about this. "The children are wearing makeshift raincoats and throwing up gang signs–Sean." I answered: This saddened me from the very beginning. Gangs, 28’s and 27’s, are the role models in this society. You would rarely find children that would not pose without giving you a “nommer” (gang sign; literally “number”). This is the reality, and if you ask them about it, they will share their stories and their understanding. They don’t know anything better. However, what I find inspirational about Blikkiesdorp is that people always use creative ideas to overcome obstacles; the “raincoat” is a good example. These “raincoats” are made out of plastic bags they pick up in the garbage bins. These garbage bins are an endless source of entertainment for the children. They also make kites out of these garbage bags. This is what they do. It is normal for them. Some of them even make their own “raincoats” when they go to school. Photo Lizane Louw
27/03/2009. I am still alive. Atlantis. Lee-Shaan (4) Van der Byl from Atlantis on the Cape Flats, lost both her legs due to Meningitis. With her is her mom, Felicity Van der Byl.
23/05/2008.Xenophobia. Cape Town. Xenophobic attacks around the townships in Cape Town had many families displaced and most of the people that were victims of the brutal attacks lost all their belongings. Killarney-race course was a place of safety, where most of the foreign residents found refuge. I found this young boy in Killarney, he was looked after by caregivers and members of the Killarney community.
16/12/2007. Lifesaver, Desal Woodington at Bikini Beach in Gordonsbaai. Environmental Portrait of a Lifesaver. Photo Lizane Louw
12/20/2007. Armed Robbers. Ceres, South Africa. A Gang of 10 armed robbers, robbed the Pick and Pay and surrounding shops in Ceres. Here one of the 10 men accused of armed robbery is seen climbing into the truck to transport them back to Pollsmoor Prison. Photo Lizane Louw
Reflections Ingrid de Haast, Miss South Africa 1953, reflecting on her years as a beauty queen and Hollywood actress in the 1950's. Photo Lizane Louw
Klopjag Rashaad Staggies daughter was shot in a police raid, in Bonteheuwel. The mystery shots that landed Ingrid Jacobs in the hospital with two wounds in the stomach was allegedly fired by the police. The incident happened when the police raided a well-known tik-den in Safraan Street in Bonteheuwel. An official attempted murder docket was opened after it came to light that one of the bystanders filmed the shooting. Ingrid was watching the raid through metal plates serving as a wall when the shots were fired. The police arrested 10 alleged drug dealers and confiscated illegal substances and money. Six grams of tik with a street value of R2 000 and R1 800 cash was found. Photo Lizane Louw
09/12/2010. A protest at the Mosque in Muir Straat, Keisercracht, Cape Town. The protest was held as part of 16 days of activism against gender violence. This is an International Activism campaign. This campaign and the work that was done during this time, focus on creating awareness on the impact of violence and abuse on women and children, and in the end, society. Photo Lizane Louw
I relocated to Asia in 2012. I completed a diploma in Multimedia Journalism at the Konrad Adenauer Asian Centre for Journalism, ACFJ, in 2014. I continued my educational journey with Ateneo and graduated with a Masters Degree in Journalism from Ateneo de Manila University, ACFJ, in June 2019.
During my time at Ateneo I developed a love for feature writing and environmental stories. This has since been the focus of the work I do.
25/02/2017. Marine Debris. San Po Beach, Northern Taiwan. A shoe, cigarette buts and a glass bottle are some of the thousands of marine debris pieces that can be found on San Po Beach. TEIA, and Environmental NGO in Taiwan, do regular beach cleanups and beach actions to educate people on marine debris and environmental issues facing the ocean. Photo Lizane Louw
Tenganan Village, Bali. Vioo Bagler watching the ancient processions and rituals of his village. These Balinese ceremonies, the month-long Ngusaba Sambah held every year in July, are performed on and around the three long Bale Patemu or pavilions located in the centre of the main village street in the north, centre, and south of the community. This village is the most secluded on the whole island Bali. Photo Lizane Louw
Busan Station, Busan. South Korea. 26 July 2014.The Jewel that was swallowed by the Ocean. More than 100 days after the Sewol ferry incident, the victims' families are still pleading for the truth of what happened to their loved ones on 16 April 2014. 10 Families are still left with unanswered questions. Around numerous towns, ports, and villages in South Korea, memorials dedicated to the Sewol ferry incident victims can be found. These public memorials cannot be maintained due to lack of funds, and the government is encouraging the public not to set up memorials, and those set up are to be removed. This is the last yellow bow ties that can be seen at Busan Station in Busan. The rest of the big public memorial at the station was removed. Photo Lizane Louw
Foreign Baby Box in Guro-gu, Seoul. South Korea. 22 November 2014. Sophia, a migrant worker from Cambodia, was deserted by her partner from Sri Lanka. She was left to take of their three-month-old baby, Rose, by herself. Sophia was ready to give up and came to Pastor Kim at Global Sarang in Seoul for help. She wanted to give up her child. This This photo is part of a documentary project I did on adoption and abandonment in South Korea. Photo Lizane Louw
A family portrait. Seoul, South Korea. A family portrait held by Do Dam, the older of three orphans adopted by Pastor Kim. Do Dam at the back, Syong Yeon, Yong Yeon in the front. I did a multimedia story and documentary on these three incredible kids called "Dust of the Streets". Photo Lizane Louw
A Story about outcasts in a racially homogenous society with strong roots in Confucianism. Abandonment of unwanted children and the adoption of these children from South Korea has been around for decades. These unwanted Korean children and “dust of the streets", as the mixed-race children where referred to, have been taken care of by NGO’s, churches and private organisations. Most were sent away to foreign countries to find their forever homes with adoptive families. This is a family portrait of a Korean family, the mother from Ghana died of a cerebral haemorrhage and the father committed suicide shortly after. I did a multimedia story on adoption and abandonment in South Korea and worked with these incredible kids to put together "Dust of the Streets. Photo Lizane Louw