I had the greatest privilege of working with Zanele.
+ She has a huge huge heart. i could name you a few reasons right now.
- she decided to work with me, a year1-going-on-year2 undergraduate, instead of a professional photographer and videographer. she told me that she rather work with me than a pro cause i am someone who she can teach. it was about her passion for photography. she wanted to give other amatuer photographers a chance to learn, and there she was; giving me that opportunity. she kept telling me that i was no smaller than the big cameras on opening night. slowly but surely, one day i will believe her.
- she photographs for a cause. a cause that i believe in so so much. freedom to love and the freedom to be who we want to be. i grew up in a traditional chinese family in singapore, and i am still living with my family. i know what it is like to be constrained and to be "moulded" into something that we are not. i know how it feels like to not be myself, and it sucks. i have friends who keep their sexuality and their relationships from their family for ten over years for fear of rejection by their families. (mind you people: my friends are in long term relationships despite the stereotype) it just is not right! one of the ten commandments says "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself". if i am not wrong, these ten commandments are like the constitution. they are the fundamental beliefs that we should all return to when in doubt. let us learn to love our family, friends, and neighbours regardless of sexual identity. zanele strongly fights for her cause despite the impending death threats back in south africa (many lesbians have been killed in south africa simply because they were lesbians).
+ I finally got to witness first hand how an art event is being organised and held.
+ I finally got to work with a real legit artist. it was terribly scary the first two days but then josiah ng told me that these professionals might make you seem incompetent but do not worry, just remember that you are doing this because of your passion and you will persevere. (k something along those lines. i am not as eloquent as he is.)
