Canon South Africa has officially launched Lens On Me, a creator-led campaign celebrating the new wave of South African visual storytellers who are shaping culture through their interpret of the world. The initiative brings together dynamic creators, each tasked with producing original stills and video content using Canon’s creator-focused camera lineup: the PowerShot V10, EOS R50 and EOS R8.
We recently sat down with the winners to unpack their stories, their process and what Lens On Me means to them. Built on the belief that creativity is human and accessible, Lens On Me empowers anyone to tell meaningful stories with clarity and confidence. Each camera in the campaign unlocks a different way of seeing – from the on-the-go spontaneity of the PowerShot V10 to the intuitive mirrorless creativity of the EOS R50 and the cinematic depth of the full-frame EOS R8.
For more about this groundbreaking competition visit https://lensonme.co.za/
Rofhiwa Kutama
Lens On Me is centred on identity, emotion and personal storytelling. What part of your lived experience shaped the final work you submitted, and why was that story important for you to tell now?
I would say this project allowed me to relay the lived experiences of those around me, as most of my projects do. In many ways, this work wasn’t just about me. It was about all of us. I wanted the final pieces to serve as a visual archive and a representation of how the youth of today express themselves within our shared spaces, and I believe I achieved that.
Canon’s campaign celebrates experimentation — the mistakes, the attempts, the evolution. What was one unexpected creative challenge or breakthrough moment you experienced while shooting your Lens On Me project?
I didn’t encounter any major creative challenges, but we definitely had several breakthrough moments in the studio. There were so many “yes!” moments as each concept unfolded. I vividly remember the moment when Sei started singing and everything came together beautifully. Another was when we achieved the perfect reflection on the plexiglass just before Dirty Native Chief began painting.
How did the camera you used help translate your vision into something visible, emotional and true to your style?
The PowerShot V10 allowed me to verbally and visually express the intention behind the project which is something I rarely do for the audience when sharing my work. It added a new layer of communication to my creative process.
What did being part of this collective unlock for you creatively, personally or culturally?
I don’t usually share my work or studio process visually, and this platform allowed me to dive deeper and open up that side of my creativity. As a result, people resonated more deeply with my narrative by finding it more relatable. It’s something I intend to do more often.
Looking ahead, what story or visual perspective are you most excited to explore as your creative voice evolves?
I’m excited to share more behind-the-scenes stories and give audiences greater insight into my projects and narratives.
Click here to view his work
Khaya Bhengu
Lens On Me is centred on identity, emotion and personal storytelling. What part of your lived experience shaped the final work you submitted, and why was that story important for you to tell now?
It’s important because it defines everything I represent in my content and how I visualise my experiences. The life I live behind the lens is far more beautiful than I ever realised and that’s when it hit me that content truly is culture.
Canon’s campaign celebrates experimentation — the mistakes, the attempts, the evolution. What was one unexpected creative challenge or breakthrough moment you experienced while shooting your Lens On Me project?
Time and discipline. As creatives, we often self-doubt, which wastes time and forces us into last-minute restructuring. The breakthrough came when I remembered the fundamental rules of photography. I stopped viewing the image for myself and started to create it for those who will view it afterwards.
How did the camera you used help translate your vision into something visible, emotional and true to your style?
I love the EOS R8. It’s lightweight, versatile and incredibly easy to work with. It delivered my vision perfectly, helping me move away from relying on DSLRs for photography. Now, I can’t stop shooting stills with the EOS R series. Its full-frame sensor gave me the depth, richness and clean low-light performance I depend on for intimate, people-centred imagery.
What did being part of this collective unlock for you creatively, personally or culturally?
It unlocked my inner child. We often become so busy that we forget why we fell in love with our craft in the first place. The challenge reminded me how competitive I can be, and pushed me to study other people’s styles and refine my own. It highlighted the power of community. It showed me how much stronger our storytelling becomes when we learn from one another.
Looking ahead, what story or visual perspective are you most excited to explore as your creative voice evolves?
I’m excited to explore stories that combine emotional honesty with bold, intentional visuals. My work is moving towards intimate portraits and narratives rooted in identity, resilience, and the quiet strength of everyday African experiences.
Click here to view his work
Sarah-Justine Ward
Lens On Me is centred on identity, emotion and personal storytelling. What part of your lived experience shaped the final work you submitted, and why was that story important for you to tell now?
This project arrived at a time when I was learning to embrace my authenticity and appreciate the creativity in my everyday habits. As creatives, we often feel pressured to produce constantly, but our daily expressions are creativity in motion. That deserved to be seen.
Canon’s campaign celebrates experimentation — the mistakes, the attempts, the evolution. What was one unexpected creative challenge or breakthrough moment you experienced while shooting your Lens On Me project?
I’ve filmed my content on my phone for years, so stepping out of that comfort zone was a challenge. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy the EOS R50 was to use, and how seamless it was to export from camera to phone with the Camera Connect app.
How did the camera you used help translate your vision into something visible, emotional and true to your style?
The camera brought my vision to life with beautiful clarity. It highlighted the richness of my colourful outfits and the softness of my indoor scenes, capturing the warmth and detail that define my style.
What did being part of this collective unlock for you creatively, personally or culturally?
I’d been in a creative rut, still showing up but not fully connected to my voice. Being surrounded by diverse creators reignited my inspiration. It reminded me that my perspective still matters, and that there are endless ways to tell meaningful stories.
Looking ahead, what story or visual perspective are you most excited to explore as your creative voice evolves?
I want to push myself creatively and step further outside my comfort zone. This project reminded me how much I love intentional visuals and encouraged me to reconnect with photography.
Click here to view her work
Martine Viljoen
Lens On Me is centred on identity, emotion and personal storytelling. What part of your lived experience shaped the final work you submitted, and why was that story important for you to tell now?
My conservation career has centred on wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, especially African penguins, who hold a special place in my heart. They are found nowhere else in the world and now stand on the brink of extinction. I wanted to use this project to show the reality of their rescue: the vulnerable chicks, weak adults, dedicated caregivers and the emotional releases back into the ocean. With extinction predicted by 2035, visibility is critical, and this story urgently needs to be shared.
Canon’s campaign celebrates experimentation – the mistakes, the attempts, the evolution. What was one unexpected creative challenge or breakthrough moment you experienced while shooting your Lens On Me project?
Working with wildlife means unpredictability. There are no second takes, constant movement, limited lighting and no flash. I embraced voice-overs, longer-form videos and more intentional storytelling, which pushed me creatively. Instant download from the EOS R50 to my phone allowed me to capture, edit and share in the field, which is a workflow I’ll continue using.
How did the camera you used help translate your vision into something visible, emotional and true to your style?
The EOS R50 was lightweight, fast and reliable. Those attributes are essential for capturing fleeting wildlife behaviour. Instant smartphone transfer kept my workflow mobile, and the tripod and remote control features supported more intentional shooting.
What did being part of this collective unlock for you creatively, personally or culturally?
It exposed me to a creative world beyond conservation. Seeing each creator’s approach inspired me to push my boundaries and reminded me that environmental storytelling is a powerful artistic discipline.
Looking ahead, what story or visual perspective are you most excited to explore as your creative voice evolves?
I want to continue raising awareness about African penguins in particular – the rescues, the medical care, the fragile chicks and the moments of hope. What feels “normal” in my daily work is extraordinary for many, and I’m excited to keep sharing these stories.
Click here to view her work
Lethabo Machele
Lens On Me is centred on identity, emotion and personal storytelling. What part of your lived experience shaped the final work you submitted, and why was that story important for you to tell now?
My submission centred on photographing my grandfather as well asexploring light in both its absence and excess. The project, titled Lebone (“light”), became a deeply personal reflection on visibility, fragility and vulnerability. As his eyesight fades, the symbolism of light, and potentially losing it, felt urgent and necessary to explore.
Canon’s campaign celebrates experimentation — the mistakes, the attempts, the evolution. What was one unexpected creative challenge or breakthrough moment you experienced while shooting your Lens On Me project?
Shooting the entire project on the PowerShot V10 was a significant shift from my usual professional gear. It challenged my assumptions about equipment and pushed me to focus more on vision than tools. The constraints ultimately unlocked new creative solutions.
How did the camera you used help translate your vision into something visible, emotional and true to your style?
The V10’s simplicity allowed me to remain present and connected with my subject. Its ease of use helped me prioritise emotion over technicalities, resulting in honest, intimate storytelling.
What did being part of this collective unlock for you creatively, personally or culturally?
It reminded me of the beauty of meaningful storytelling and reignited my love for documenting life.
Looking ahead, what story or visual perspective are you most excited to explore as your creative voice evolves?
I’m excited to express more of myself through my work by bringing deeper intention, honesty and emotion into every story I tell.
Click here to view his work
Danel Mermaid Danii
Lens On Me is centred on identity, emotion and personal storytelling. What part of your lived experience shaped the final work you submitted, and why was that story important for you to tell now?
My identity is split. I am a marine biologist who sees the data, and a storyteller who feels the emotion. My lived experience is the constant struggle to reconcile the immense, staggering beauty of the kelp forest with the immediate, “unseen” threats of pollution, acidification, and overfishing. It’s important to tell this story now because we need to move past simply showcasing beauty. We must use that high-res emotional hook (what we love) to highlight the vulnerable reality (what is truly at risk).
Canon’s campaign celebrates experimentation — the mistakes, the attempts, the evolution. What was one unexpected creative challenge or breakthrough moment you experienced while shooting your Lens On Me project?
The biggest challenge was the physicality of the conditions and filming in an outdoor environment itself. I used the coast as my studio, where every shot was a battle against the elements. The breakthrough came when I stopped trying to control the conditions and began to shoot with them. The canon v10 was perfectly compact enough to take with me around, adding a layer of authenticity to the conservation message.
You had access to Canon’s creator-focused tools, from the PowerShot V10 to the EOS R50 and EOS R8. How did the specific camera you used help you translate your vision into something visible, emotional and true to your style?
The two cameras served as two distinct voices in the narrative. The EOS R5 was essential for capturing the emotional resonance of the Kelp Forest. This was the “Why we fight” tool. Conversely, the PowerShot V10 became my documentary eye. It was the tool for documenting the immediate human side and it acted as the visual evidence of the “unseen threat.” They worked in tandem, creating a visible and emotional contrast that is true to the duality of my work.
What did being part of this collective unlock for you creatively, personally or culturally?
As a cold-water diver operating in a highly niche environment, my work often feels isolated. Being part of this collective unlocked a sense of universal creative license. I saw how other creators, whether working in fashion or landscapes, used the same emotional tools – identity, vulnerability, and technical mastery – to tell their story. It validated the idea that conservation storytelling, when rooted deeply in personal experience and honesty, transcends the niche and speaks to a wider cultural audience hungry for authentic narratives.
Looking ahead, what story or visual perspective are you most excited to explore next as your creative voice continues to evolve?
I’m most excited to focus on applied conservation storytelling. Now that the world has seen the threat and the beauty of the Cape, the next step is showcasing the solution. This involves taking audiences inside the science (like my upcoming BCSS expeditions in Mozambique) to show the hard work of monitoring, the dedication of the researchers, and the clear, positive impact of Marine Protected Areas. My visual perspective will evolve from focusing on emotional contrast to showcasing practical, impactful documentary work that drives direct action and support.
Click here to view her work