A leading youth photography programme, Of Soul and Joy, recently convened a discussion that is reshaping how documentary photography is understood and practised, placing lived experience and community accountability at the centre of storytelling.

Held with emerging photographers, creatives and community voices, the session explored a more grounded approach to image-making – one that challenges the traditional notion of the photographer as a distant observer.

Participants reflected on the importance of working from within their own communities, where stories are shaped by personal experience rather than external interpretation.

The discussion has since informed a new op-ed by photographer Jabulani Dhlamini, titled Living Inside the Frame: Why Documentary Photography Must Be Accountable to the Communities It Represents.

The piece calls for a shift towards collaboration, ongoing consent and ethical responsibility in visual storytelling.
“The work we make does not come from a distance. It comes from within our own lives, our own communities, our own histories. We photograph people we know, places we return to, realities we are part of,” Jabulani said.

Central to both the discussion and the op-ed is the idea that photographers who remain within the communities they document cannot detach themselves from the impact of their work.

Unlike traditional approaches, where photographers may leave after capturing images, this model emphasises long-term relationships and accountability.

The conversation also challenged the language commonly used in photography, particularly terms such as subject and capture, which participants argued carry historical and cultural weight.

The initiative was led by Of Soul and Joy, a social and artistic mentoring programme established in 2012 by Rubis Mécénat.

Based in Thokoza, east of Johannesburg, the programme supports young people aged 13 to 30 through training in photography, alongside professional development, language skills and life skills.

Through its structured support system, the programme aims to open pathways into the creative industries while enabling participants to positively influence their communities.

It also provides access to networks within the local and international cultural sector, and offers scholarships for further study, including opportunities at the Market Photo Workshop.

The programme’s impact is reflected in the success of its alumni.

Lindokhule Sobekwa, who began his journey through Of Soul and Joy, is now a member of the globally recognised Magnum Photos.

Meanwhile, Tshepiso Mazibuko was named a finalist for the 2024 Discovery Award by the Louis Roederer Foundation at the Rencontres d’Arles.

Participants also reflected on the rise of smartphone photography, noting that while increased access has democratised image-making, it has not removed the need for ethical awareness.

The responsibility to represent communities with dignity and accuracy, they argued, remains critical.

Ultimately, the discussion and the op-ed aim to open up a more honest and relatable conversation about storytelling, identity and representation.

By encouraging photographers to see themselves as part of the frame rather than outside it, Of Soul and Joy continues to challenge conventional practices and foster a new generation of socially conscious visual storytellers.