Photography: Vanessa Mwingira / @punkandblvck
Vanessa Mwingira ‘I see things I wish people saw’ Photography “let me be who I want to be,” says Vanessa Mwingira. With her images, the 24-year-old freelance photographer has been able to document the beauty, energy and creativity of her hometown of Dar es Salaam in a way that reveals the hidden heart of the city. “I have all these ideas in my head, I see things that I wish people saw. Photography gives me the power to visualise those ideas exactly in the way that I want. It’s my comfort inn,” she says. She works under the name ‘punkandblvck’, a pseudonym that captures her drive to pursue her own path. “Being punk to me means liking what you like [and] not being afraid to stand out from the crowd. It’s basically being the coolest and best version of yourself.” Vanessa describes her work as “striking, emotive, engaging, and absolutely beautiful” and after taking a look as this selection of her recent photographs – all taken in Dar es Salaam – we’re sure you’ll agree. To enjoy more of her work, visit her Instagram and Twitter pages @punkandblvck
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