Meet the Mentors
Liza du Plessis
Liza du Plessis is an educationalist who specialises in teaching Visual Literacy in Photography with an interest in online educational discourses. Liza has a diploma in Fashion Design and a B-tech in Fine Art: Sculpture and is currently completing her Masters in Photography at the Durban University of Technology. Liza is currently the chairperson for the Durban Centre for Photography.
Liza writes: "I am passionate about Documentary and Street photography. The camera offers me a way to see myself in Durban, my home. Through the viewfinder I search to find myself, my identity as I identify with subjects and elements from my walking encounters, from my personal frame, my 'I' in my 'eye' ". When I physically frame and push the shutter button, I am challenged by how to visually and aesthetically situate those unpredictable experiences I have had with people and places, because I am very aware of the way in which my camera can 'other', misinform, miscommunicate, because of my social and political orientations (and the viewer's). However I celebrate that my camera is my tool for creative expression and that Durban offers me raw materials which enliven my senses, and my moments as a result of the messages I have received at the time I was meeting and greeting strangers".
Liza is chair-person of the DCP.
Peter McKenzie
Peter McKenzie is chief photographer, SADC region for the Pan African press agency Panapress.
'Footsak' On the Ball 2010 is his most recent project and entailed a journey across 5 African countries with artists Doung Jahangeer and Guy- Andre Largesse. The journey was reflected in a 7 projection video installation at the Durban Art Gallery. Directed the documentary film ‘What Kind?' about his home township of Wentworth, Durban.
Most recent photographic exhibition ‘Local Racism, Global Apartheid: South Africa as a Paradigm', Barcelona, Spain and ‘Here and There' a traveling exhibition on migration in the SADC region.
Works with several NGOs, international publications, has recently photo edited the photographic book ‘District 6 Revisited'.
Teaches at the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism, curriculum consultant, teacher and mentor at the Market Photo Workshop, where he is a member of the Advisory Council. Works in Lagos, Nigeria with the World Press Foundation. Serves on the board of the Market Theatre Foundation. Alumni of the Poynter Institute in Florida U.S.A.
Presently lives and works between Marseilles, France and Durban, South Africa.
Peter is the DCP's director.
Paulo Menezes
Paulo Menezes (b. 1992) is an artist/photographer based in Durban, South Africa.
His personal work is located in the realm of fine art/documentary, where he attempts to blur the line between the real and the surreal through image-making. On a commercial front, Paulo specialises in the documentation of artworks, product photography and architecture.
2013 saw him complete a National Diploma in Photography from the Durban University of Technology.
Paulo is vice-chairman of the Durban Centre for Photography.
Nonhlanhla Pearl Mngani
I am Pearl Nonhlanhla Mnguni, born in Hammarsdale and Matriculated in Newcastle from St. Lewis Bertrand’s High School. I obtained my National Diploma in Public Relations at UNISA, Community Journalism at UNISA and a full time six month Photography Workshop presented by the Durban Centre for Photography endorsed by KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts. I am currently studying towards finishing my Honours degree in Communication. I am a freelance Journalist and Photographer.
Shirin Motala
Shirin Motala is an Editorial and Documentary photographer based in the culturally diverse city of Durban, South Africa. Her passion for photography has paved her way towards mentoring young talent and lecturing at the Durban Centre for Photography. She graduated in 2013 from the Durban University of Technology having specialized in documentary and editorial photography.
Inspired by the utilisation and evolution of urban spaces, her current area of focus is a personal body of work tracing the history of Indian traders that have held a presence in the Durban CBD for an average of 70 years.
Sam Mukanya
Sam Mukanya is a Congolese photographer based in Durban, South Africa.
After completing my matric in physics and mathematics and 2 years in engineering science in Democratic Republic of Congo, I studied photography at KZNSA where I got a certificate in photography as well as visual art, where I participate in a number of projects.