"My balloon please" (Fungaifoto)
Fungai Tichawangana is many things, too many to mention in a blog. He is amongst other titles, the Founder/Managing Editor of Zimbo Jam, Zimbabwe’s Award-winning Arts & Culture website, Web Designer and Writer. He is also the husband of the late Shingie Chimuriwo (Zimbo Jam’s First Lady), who was an inspirational figure in the Zimbabwean Creative Arts industry. I have always admired that they always spoke out against injustices in Zimbabwe and the rest of the world. Furthermore, it is important for us to speak out against the injustice of the handling of Shingie’s case, after she passed away in a car crash in early 2011.
Fungai can often be seen at numerous Arts & Culture events in Zimbabwe, camera in hand. And this is where we see the creative work of ‘Fungaifoto’ (his photography name), the subject of my focus in this blog. I chose to focus on Fungaifoto because of my deep passion for photographic modelling asa way of telling stories and creating expressive art. And how often have we seen interviews/profiles on Zimbabwean photographers? Rarely! So whilst I’m in Zimbabwe, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to highlight one of many, as a prime example of our blossoming Creative Arts industry.
I also had the blessed opportunity to work with Fungaifoto, when he photographed me for the Zimbo Jam. There wasn’t a dull moment! Fungai enjoys capturing uncommon angles and perspectives, thus we shot in a disused industrial factory in Harare, which included, amongst other things, climbing onto thin metal drainage with Lady Gaga inspired heels, scanning for rats before a pose…albeit, all the adventure I love in photo shoots (no, seriously,haha I do love it!).
The creative expression that is ‘Fungaifoto’ started when he was twelve, when a visiting aunt and uncle bought a new camera, which fascinated him and aroused his curiosity of photography. Having been given the camera, he constantly saved pocket money for weeks to buy film for it. Things really took off when he was at university, became part of a student publication called Vision Magazine and started photographing lectures, student demonstrations, shows, etc.
His inspiration is fired by his love of photographing people doing every day things: chatting to the neighbour, sweeping the yard, praying at church, etc and by human interaction, by how one person's actions affect everyone else, which he tries to bring out in his pictures. He is a big fan and has learnt a lot from watching the work of Zimbabwean photographers such as Jekesai Njikizana, Annie Mpalume, Ezekiel Mutasa, Dave Brazier and Laurie & Jon McPherson, who take their work to the level of art.
I asked Fungai what he thinks of the Photography Industry in Zimbabwe and what changes he would like to see within the next five years. “There is an amazing amount of talent in Zimbabwe. I am awed by some of the work I see by young photographers here. The only challenge is that there aren't too many platforms for their work to be seen. As the Publishing Industry takes off and the Internet becomes more omnipresent in the country, the next five years will see photography taking off and being taken more seriously as a profession and an art form. As of now, I'd like to see people take photographers more seriously and pay them their due worth.” Rightly so! Creatives use their brains just as much as a person in other jobs that societies and cultures worldwide, often expect them to take instead.
I have always wondered who/what is Fungaifoto’s dream to photograph? “I would REALLY like to photograph a U2 or Beyonce concert, partly because it would be so challenging to bring out something that has not been brought out before and because I've heard that their live shows are truly awesome. I would also love to photograph a conference of world leaders. Thirdly, I have a list of under-the-radar Zimbabweans who have made major contributions to this country who I would be honoured to interview and photograph. Oh, for more time in a day!”
And for those wanting to follow a career in photography, Fungai’s advice is, “photography is a practical business. Whether it's your hobby or your profession, you have to get a camera, go out there and do it. The more you play around, the more you discover. I would also encourage you to read everything you can about the craft: books, magazines, websites, etc. Understanding of the theory will take you from being a 'cameraman' to being a 'photographer'.”
**Support Fungaifoto by checking out:
www.fungaijames.com
www.zimbojam.com
www.existdigital.com - Website development, Online marketing, Mailing lists
www.defzee.com - Zimbabwe's newest, freshest website for young people
*To learn more about the writer, Teurai, visit www.teurai.com and www.elizabethchanakira.org. Click here to support ‘Teurai Chanakira Model’ on Facebook.
Fungai can often be seen at numerous Arts & Culture events in Zimbabwe, camera in hand. And this is where we see the creative work of ‘Fungaifoto’ (his photography name), the subject of my focus in this blog. I chose to focus on Fungaifoto because of my deep passion for photographic modelling asa way of telling stories and creating expressive art. And how often have we seen interviews/profiles on Zimbabwean photographers? Rarely! So whilst I’m in Zimbabwe, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to highlight one of many, as a prime example of our blossoming Creative Arts industry.
I also had the blessed opportunity to work with Fungaifoto, when he photographed me for the Zimbo Jam. There wasn’t a dull moment! Fungai enjoys capturing uncommon angles and perspectives, thus we shot in a disused industrial factory in Harare, which included, amongst other things, climbing onto thin metal drainage with Lady Gaga inspired heels, scanning for rats before a pose…albeit, all the adventure I love in photo shoots (no, seriously,haha I do love it!).
The creative expression that is ‘Fungaifoto’ started when he was twelve, when a visiting aunt and uncle bought a new camera, which fascinated him and aroused his curiosity of photography. Having been given the camera, he constantly saved pocket money for weeks to buy film for it. Things really took off when he was at university, became part of a student publication called Vision Magazine and started photographing lectures, student demonstrations, shows, etc.
His inspiration is fired by his love of photographing people doing every day things: chatting to the neighbour, sweeping the yard, praying at church, etc and by human interaction, by how one person's actions affect everyone else, which he tries to bring out in his pictures. He is a big fan and has learnt a lot from watching the work of Zimbabwean photographers such as Jekesai Njikizana, Annie Mpalume, Ezekiel Mutasa, Dave Brazier and Laurie & Jon McPherson, who take their work to the level of art.
I asked Fungai what he thinks of the Photography Industry in Zimbabwe and what changes he would like to see within the next five years. “There is an amazing amount of talent in Zimbabwe. I am awed by some of the work I see by young photographers here. The only challenge is that there aren't too many platforms for their work to be seen. As the Publishing Industry takes off and the Internet becomes more omnipresent in the country, the next five years will see photography taking off and being taken more seriously as a profession and an art form. As of now, I'd like to see people take photographers more seriously and pay them their due worth.” Rightly so! Creatives use their brains just as much as a person in other jobs that societies and cultures worldwide, often expect them to take instead.
I have always wondered who/what is Fungaifoto’s dream to photograph? “I would REALLY like to photograph a U2 or Beyonce concert, partly because it would be so challenging to bring out something that has not been brought out before and because I've heard that their live shows are truly awesome. I would also love to photograph a conference of world leaders. Thirdly, I have a list of under-the-radar Zimbabweans who have made major contributions to this country who I would be honoured to interview and photograph. Oh, for more time in a day!”
And for those wanting to follow a career in photography, Fungai’s advice is, “photography is a practical business. Whether it's your hobby or your profession, you have to get a camera, go out there and do it. The more you play around, the more you discover. I would also encourage you to read everything you can about the craft: books, magazines, websites, etc. Understanding of the theory will take you from being a 'cameraman' to being a 'photographer'.”
**Support Fungaifoto by checking out:
www.fungaijames.com
www.zimbojam.com
www.existdigital.com - Website development, Online marketing, Mailing lists
www.defzee.com - Zimbabwe's newest, freshest website for young people
*To learn more about the writer, Teurai, visit www.teurai.com and www.elizabethchanakira.org. Click here to support ‘Teurai Chanakira Model’ on Facebook.
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