NEWF 2024 inspires young storytellers
Some of Botswana’s young story tellers got a glimpse of the greatest success in the world of photography and film at Nature Environment Wildlife Filming (NEWF)2024 Congress held in Durban recently.
Theirs was a demonstration of the power and journey of mentorship. The young storytellers were part of the 20 students who were in the 2023 National Geographic Photo Camp (NGPC), mentored by Storytelling Officer at Wild Bird Trust, Karabo Moilwa and National Geographic Explorer, storytelling Manager at National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project, Thalefang Charles.
“After the NGPC, we identified 10 that we enrolled in the Wildlife Photography Mentorship programme. From the 10, we selected five who were invited to attend the NEWF Congress in Durban, South Africa,” Charles shared. As a National Geographic Explorer and Motswana storyteller through the lens, Charles told BG Style that this platform is simply relevant for the development of filming and he is glad that this time around they have brought young people to also benefit from the opportunity. “This was my second NEWF Congress and it is an inspiring forum where we meet African storytellers who are busy working in nature and environment stories. So bringing young storytellers was to help them see some of the best African storytellers so as to inspire them.
The discussions at NEWF Congress are quite insightful and we are glad that our young people were exposed to this kind,” he shared. They have also recently had one of their mentees, Mokgwathi ‘Zazu’ Motswagole invited to Washington, D.C. to present his work at the 20th anniversary of Photo Camp, something that Charles says impresses him and assures him that Botswana would soon have a crop of experienced photographers or creatives in the field.
Asked what changing the narrative of African storytelling means to him and how the lessons he underwent helped him in general, Charles said: “Changing the narrative of African storytelling means owning our story, and not letting people from outside tell our story and most importantly telling our version of nature and wild stories. This will inspire continued local participation in conservation."
One of the mentees, Bathusi Moatswi better known as Fantah, of Maun Best Photographer, expressed gratitude for this gesture. He told BG Style that he has been a photographer for five years now and being exposed to a platform like NEWF simply grew him as a photographer. “With five years experience within the industry, I have been familiar with a few basics within the industry but the NEWF platform has allowed me to network and I can’t thank NEWF enough for enabling my travel experience as a photographer. I have seen a greater place like Durban for the first time, and it was a lovely experience taking shots of the tall buildings and the ocean, which are not common in my country. I do not take this mentorship for granted because I have really learnt a lot and this places me as a better and unique photographer,” said Moatswi.
Another mentee, Topo Gaesemodimo also shared that this NEWF congress has been an eye opener for her. Excitedly, she has even developed passion for film and told BG Style that she considers doing both photography and filming now. “It was an exciting experience being in the midst of experienced people within the industry. This has also allowed me to network and make contacts with different people from different countries which is something I have always wanted. I have always dreamt of sharing ideas with people of such caliber and also partner in projects with them if possible, so I’m happy that now I know where to start because they expressed interest in knowing more about me,” she said. She further said that she was also going to encourage female photographers from her team to work hard for them to progress in photography.
“This conference meant a lot to me as I look at my career with a different perspective now. I have come to realize that photography is still alive as I saw female photographers and their work. I would therefore like to meet Botswana’s nature and wildlife photographers and filmmakers for me to work with them because I have also fallen in love with filming,” she shared.
Rufusiah Molefe, one of the mentors for the young photographers at NEWF, and a local experienced photographer also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to mentor young people at NEWF. She said that she has also met other photographers from different countries. She noted that photography is not as simple as people view it, and so platforms like NEWF Congress are very important and key as it is all about growth. For her mentoring during this time at NEWF, she said that she focused more on teaching the students about light and angling, some of the aspects that she believes are key to capturing a good picture that tells a story.