Over the last 12 years, an extraordinary grassroots movement has been working alongside global sporting events such as the football, cricket and rugby union World Cups, the English Premier League and the Olympic Games.
Young ethnically diverse people from developing and developed countries have transformed themselves into professional photographers to record these festivals of sport within the context of their own lives and communities.
These young people are often from backgrounds of abject poverty, bypassed by formal education, employment opportunities, shelter and basic nourishment.
The catalyst has been an initiative called the Wembley to Soweto Foundation which offers photography training and on-the-job learning and has fostered life skills that enable these young people to move forward with their lives and make a positive contribution to society. The global charity has sought to change the narrative of art accessibility, encouraging big dreams for creators of the future.
The foundation forms collaborative partnerships with artistic, sporting, and public institutions to allow for a broad range of vocational experiences as well as educational benefits for the wider community. It aims to create a global network of training opportunities for young people in order to nurture self-belief, ambition and confidence through a passion for photography – regardless of means and background.
Angela Xiquin
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High-ride – the Santa Monica rollercoaster at the top of its trajectory (top); Designer Hood in da Hood – beautiful artwork bedecks a low-rider in Hope Park, Los Angeles (above); Someone to Watch Over Me – a security guard in front of a mural in Olvera Street, Little Mexico; Tattooed Trader – a T-shirt trader sets out her stall in San Pedro
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Mistress of Disguise – a mask stall in the Los Angeles plaza (above); The Spread – this improvised meal is typically put together by men while incarcerated. They use ramen noodles as a base and add other foods that have been saved by each inmate. It is prepared in a large plastic bag before being shared (below)
Santos Gomez
Heaven Enriquez
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Food seller – a Mexican street chef keeps an eye on his produce in the late afternoon sun; Warm Welcome – a stall owner displays her wares near MacArthur Park, Los Angeles; Me and My Shadow – a man stays cool as he walks the streets of Filipino Town
Heidi Sandoval
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Queen of the Street – the ultimate hand accessories; Body Shot – National Champion, Chris, works out at TG Boxing Gym, Los Angeles; Silver Rider – biker in the heart of El Pueblo de Los Angeles
Angel Torres
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Rising above the rollercoaster – a helicopter soars into the sunset at Santa Monica pier; Glorious B***ard – two-time Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz gives students an insight into the world of the paparazzi and picks up some great portraits for himself; Dropping In – a new arrival at Muscle Beach; Hanging with Friends – working the chains at Venice Beach
Ava Yanez
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Spread out – three friends chilling under the 6th Street Bridge; No pain, no gain – a man trains in TG Boxing Gym, South Central LA, as his son looks on
Erick Valasquez
George Rodriguez
Leica Camera donated camera equipment to the Wembley to Soweto Foundation which the cohort of eight students from South Central and East LA (pictured below) used during the project. Under the tutelage of the internationally renowned photographer Jillian Edelstein, and former students who passed on their knowledge, the cohort learned photography techniques in a variety of locations from the Getty Centre to LA Galaxy stadium, to the electric atmosphere of a downtown boxing gym, enabling them to capture images and depict stories from the LA landscape. At the end of the project the students had the opportunity to exhibit their work in Leica’s flagship store and gallery in Los Angeles where they were able discuss the program and inspirations behind their portfolios.
