Lee-Ann Olwage: An Ode to Celebration and African Identity

Multiple award winner Lee-Ann Olwage from South Africa joins us today to discuss her incredible journey from film set decorator to winning in the Sony World Photography Awards and World Press Photo. Her powerful approach is rooted in collaborative storytelling, giving marginalized voices agency and celebrating their identity on the African continent. We dive into her project "#BlackDragMagic", where she collaborated with amazing drag artists to champion the queer, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans community and confront the daily threat of violence in South African townships. We also discuss her uplifting series, "The Right to Play," which visualizes the dreams of young girls in Kenya avoiding FGM and child marriage by proudly setting their sights on becoming lawyers and pilots, and her newest documentation of the "State Ballet of Georgia".  Don't miss this profound conversation on ethics, purpose, and the language of the image—and stick around to hear the wonderful moment her assistant got a marriage proposal while surrounded by amazing drag queens! Enjoy it. ***** 📸 See more of Lee-Ann’s work: https://www.leeannolwage.com/ ***** 🎧 Your Weekly dose of Photography Inspiration: https://www.thecameracafeshow.com