My name is Kuda Chakwanda, I’m a 20 year old self taught portrait, street, fashion and landscape photographer based in Harare, Zimbabwe. Not in school at the moment due to complications which I won’t state LOL.
Where did your passion for photography come from?
I’ve always loved taking pictures. My first camera was my iPhone 6+ and I’d take pictures of almost anything I found intriguing. Never took it serious because I was supposed to go to engineering school. Then got reintroduced to it at Zimbabwe Institute of Vigital Arts (ZIVA) and got taught a few basics by photographer Calvin Dondo where I built from. From then it has been work on work that I’ve fallen in love with.
What sets you apart from other photographers?
Well I think the fact that I didn’t go to school for photography I haven’t been taught to think like other photographers and I therefore have my own style of taking pictures.
Which photographers inspire you?
Ralph Chikambi, Steven Chikosi, Calvin Dondo, Xavier Saer, David Benoliel, Moe Ibrik and my fellow photographer friends; Takunda Chipara and Takudzwanashe Jam.
What do you get up to when you not photographing?
Socializing, sketching, trying to learn painting and writing songs.
Favourite places to take pictures from?
The world around me has become my studio and I’d love to work anywhere as long the picture comes out splendid.
What inspires your work?
What inspires me is how would the world be of it were in monochrome and dramatic contrast so that’s why most my photographs are in monochrome.
What can’t you live without?
Lol I can’t live without my camera because I hate it when I see something beautiful and I can’t capture it.
Who is the one person you would like to photograph?
I would want to photograph Robert Gabriel Mugabe and I would then consider that my most powerful portrait and that would be a portrait I would have printed for every room in my home.
Where in the world would you want to go to take pictures?
Thing is I don’t know because I want to take pictures of places I’ve never seen or been. If I knew where, I’d have gone there to take it or someone would have taken a photograph of the place.
My favourite songs
Michael Buble- Feel good
The Temps- Papa was a rolling stone
Edwin Starr- War
Andrea Bocelli- Con te partiro
Bob Marley- No woman, No cry/Zimbabwe (i think that’s the title)
Bryson Tiller- Don’t/Exchange/Sorry Not Sorry
6LACK- That Far/PRBLMS
What are you most proud of about being Zimbabwean?
Our creativity in jokes, our unity, our languages and our intellect.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
“When you learn to look then you will live to see” – Adrian Zhou
Social media
Instagram: @kudachakwanda.jpg
Facebook: Kuda Chakwanda
https://abcartmovement.com/portfolio/kudakwashe-chakwanda/ /
