Times Of Swaziland: THE CAPTIVATING SMASH THE CAPTIVATING SMASH ================================================================================ BY DUDU DUBE on 12/07/2019 23:56:00 If the photographer is interested in the people in front of his lens, and if he is compassionate, it’s already a lot. The instrument is not the camera but the photographer. One of Eswatini’s lensman Mlamuli Smash Mkhonta famously known as Mysterious Photography has been labelled one of the interesting paparazzo whose work speaks for its self and also landing other deal from neighbouring countries. This week GCWALA gets up-close and personal with the man behind the camera, who takes us into his world of capturing moments. Who is Mlamuli? I am a young man raised in the streets of Corporation, an ample bosomed, colourful dude afflicted by amazing sarcasm and striking sense of humour. What inspired you to do photography? The idea of capturing moments that last forever inspired me to capture people’s memories. To sum it up, life inspires me as I believe in details. What feeds your creativity? Emotions suck my appetite dry; I want the third person to relate to my work and to fit themselves in. When did you start taking pictures? Late 2017 but it’s in 2018 where I expanded everything and fell in love with my craft. How did you start? Cellphone photography, I remember my first pictures I took with an HTC phone I used to own in 2017. What was your most embarrassing moment with a client? Having to run out of battery in the middle of a shoot and I ran out of ideas as to how to solve the issue. What are your achievements? I am the personal photographer of one of the most prominent figures in the country, her royal highness Princess Sikhanyiso, I’m also the photographer for Megasound Events. to me these are just the most important ones I’ve got. There are a lot of photographers now, how are you different from the rest? I am particular to detail, and the quality of the photographs I take is outstanding. You also get gigs in South Africa, how did that happen? The most current ones are through Master P, I went with him to Johannesburg and they liked my work, now with the help of Zipho Mthandeni from Megasound I am getting more. Would you encourage one to be a photographer? I would definitely advise one to be a photographer if they are passionate about the career, personally I love it even though I still want to continue pursuing my degree in Computer Science, but photography is very exciting. What makes a good picture? It is the ability to tell a complete story by evoking emotion to the viewer. What are you most proud of? Growing to be who I am today, and acknowledging the idea that I just started growing, this is only the beginning. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? I see myself fully grown in the industry and influencing more youngsters to be what they want.