Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
Uhlanga Lwempilo

"Uhlanga Lwempilo," meaning "The journey of life," is a self-portrait collage that I created during a difficult time when I was following the kidnapping case of a gay man who met someone on the Grindr dating app in Johannesburg. This piece shows the confusion and fear I felt while trying to find love as a Black trans man in unsafe situations.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 04.2022
Date Uploaded: 10.2024
Photo Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Camera: Canon EOS R6
Copyright: © Collen Mfazwe