My Local Leaders | Coenraad Torlage

For this project, I went in search of the most philanthropic leaders in my local community of rural Dundee in Kwazulu-Natal. Through their work, they make an enormous difference without asking for anything in return. My subjects were carefully chosen and hailed from diverse walks of life, ranging from Zulu royalty to a humble ‘gogo’ (the isiZulu word for grandmother) living in an informal settlement. Each has changed me in some way, and all have one thing in common: they are working to help build a better future. They set an example I want to share, proving you can contribute to building a better future no matter what your social standing.

Using a full-frame camera and speedlights, I took these photographs in and around Dundee KwaZulu-Natal during the lockdown when travelling became less regulated.

View a selection from the series below