Tanja Bause--photographer on the rise: bringing dire socio-economic conditions to the front pages.

About me

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

I have been a newspaper photographer for nearly 8 years. I try to take photos from interesting angles and they must be interesting to the newspaper's readers. A photo should be able to stand on its own and be exciting. I am well known in the Informal settlements and there is usually no problem in me taking photos, but I always explain why I want to take it and ask permission.

I enjoy my work because through my photos I give someting back to the community. Often people phone after a photo was published and offer help. For example, a little orphan girl was adopted, and soup kitchens received support. That is what makes it worthwhile, knowing that through my photo someone's life may have improved a little bit.

I use an Olympus C-750 Digital Camera.

(Tanja works at The Namibian. All photos used here and on the back page, courtesy of The Namibian.)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sister Namibia Photo Exhibition

Sister Namibia is celebrating her 15th anniversary this year. As part of our celebrations we are preparing a photo exhibition. We call on all women photographers, professional and amateur, to send us up to three photos for consideration. We will include at least one photo from each photographer in the exhibition.

The themes for the exhibition are:

Women's Activism, Work, Sport, Friendship and Intimacy, and Abstract or Still Life.

The closing date for your entries is 31 August 2004.

Please send us paper prints only, we can then discuss which images you can e-mail or provide the negatives for. We will enlarge and frame your photos. Sister Namibia will sell the photos at the end of the exhibition to cover our costs.