BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE – “Your gift will make room for you and it will put you in the presence of kings and good men.”
This Bible quote is a testament to local photographer, videographer, and founder of Msholozi Communications, Nkosikhona Msholozi Siziba, who on Saturday was on the frontline capturing South African gospel singer Ayanda Ntanzi’s live recording at the Durban ICC.
Dubbed the ‘According to Grace Album Launch Ayanda Ntanzi One Man Show,’ it was like a scene from Chris Brown performances where he performed literally in the air supported by a swing that floated, which is how Ntanzi made his appearance at the fully packed arena at the ICC.
When reached for comment, Msholozi, as he is affectionately known in the industry, shared with this publication that he got the gig though Hleli Mathabela from Lozitha AEC (Umkhokheli). He said, “The family has a close relationship with the superstar Ayanda Ntanzi. This was my second time working with Ayanda on his one-man show. I started last year at Pietermaritzburg at his One Man show. Worth mentioning though is that this was my fourth time exercising my creative craft by taking pictures of him professionally.”
According to the photographer, he first met Ntanzi last year when he was a guest at Shekinah Motsa’s show ‘My Story,’ where he took photos of him, which he loved. He then invited him to Pietermaritzburg (PMB) for his One Man Show 2023.
“I also took pictures of him for the third time at the AEC Lozitha Annual Conference. The Durban ICC was my fourth time. It was Mathabela and Shekinah who introduced me to Ayanda, and they have also attended all these shows. After securing this Durban ICC gig, I felt all sorts of feelings. It was like God was up there watching over my steps towards my dreamland. This was so dreamy,” said Msholozi.
According to the photographer, trusting God and believing in the uniqueness of his work has kept him going. “However, sometimes I feel intimidated at most gigs, especially the big ones where you find the giants of the industry with exclusive equipment, but that has never stopped me. I believe in the God of talents, hence in each and every gig, I make sure to pray before I start working. I always outshine the rest because I have exclusive grace in photography”, shared Msholozi.
He concluded by saying, “My advice to start-ups and upcoming photographers would be that the sky is the limit. Invest in your craft. It’s not always about money. When you get a lift, remain humble. Moreover, trust the process. Remember, you are on your own; no one is coming to save you. Always represent your brand, right. Always focus on building your brand. Don’t copy someone’s editing skills; build your own identity so that you will be known. Branding your work is very important. Just be you, no matter how entry-level the camera. In every shoot you do, don’t just shoot, but make a statement.”
