Named for the sour, salty waters on the farm that led to its founding, Brakpan on the East Rand is the kind of small town that people drive through on their way to other small towns.
But for Johannesburg photographer Marc Shoul, Brakpan has become as much a destination as a source of inspiration for a series of striking monochromatic images that capture the true grit and soul of a dorp in decline.
Now Shoul’s Brakpan series, a work in progress, has earned him first place in the international Winephoto competition, which attracted entries from more than 400 photographers in 54 countries.
The theme of the 2011 contest was “Renaissance”, a concept not typically associated with sleepy Brakpan, but Shoul was able to gaze beneath the surface of the once-prosperous town to mine a rich seam of character that brings the face of small-town South Africa sharply into focus.
“I take photographs to record things others may miss or overlook,” says Shoul.
“Brakpan is like going back in time. Despite all the changes in nearby Johannesburg, Brakpan still goes about its business in much the same way it did before. It’s all very simple and straight forward — almost transparent, and this transparency can be seen in the people too.
“You won’t find any airs or graces, fancy cappuccino shops, sushi cafes or organic goods in Brakpan.”
What you will find is a town that stirred a sense of reawakening in a photographer, whose winning images can be seen on winephoto.it.