“ Free Yourself” shows youngsters in the township Vrygrond in Cape Town, South Africa, born after apartheid. They grew up with hopeful anticipation for a better life than their parents. In reality, they are faced with a difficult situation in the township where unemployment, crime, and drug abuse is high.
According to the principles of Mandela: “Free yourself - Free others - Serve Every Day” they are lifting themselves out of poverty. Through developing their talents they have become role models for the youngsters in their community and make a positive contribution to society.
“I am fascinated by people and especially by their strength to cope with difficult situations. In my work, I like to highlight the power that humans can show in order to survive, and their creativity when options are limited. Due to this vision, my approach is often a positive one, even in the most extreme situations.”
Isabel Corthier is a documentary photographer who works internationally for humanitarian organisations like MSF, Caritas,... Her work is published in National Geographic NL, BBC, El Pais, De Volkskrant,...
Her work won several awards. Isabel is a Fujifilm X ambassador.
Awards 2019
Honorable mention category Editorial/Press: Other
IPA
2019
Gold Award category Press/Other
PX3
2018
Honorable mention category: Editorial - Conflict
TIFA
2018
Gold Award category Press/Other – “Balancing on the rope of peace”
PX3
2018
Honorable mention category: People
Nominated in category: Photojournalism
12th International Color Awards, California
2018
Honorable mention category: People
Honorable mention in category: Photojournalism
12th Black & White Spider Awards, California
2017
Nominated category: Photojournalism
Honorable mention in category: People
11th Black & White Spider Awards, California
2017
Remarkable Artwork
Category: Fragile Ice: Glaciers and polar regions on a changing planet
SIPA – Siena International Photography Awards, Italy
2017
2 x Honorable mention category: People - Children of the World
10th Black & White Spider Awards, California
2016
3 x Honorable mention categories: Portrait, People and Aerial.
9th International Color Awards, California
2014
1st place and Gold Star Award People: Travel
ND AWARDS London, UK
2014
Award Best body of work - Series Encounters in South Sudan
International Photography Museum and Gallery Alliance (IPMGA) at the
ICCR, Calcutta, India
2013
Silver award category colour
Silver award category black & white
CIDPAE, Lishui, China
2010
Golden award Category black and white
CIDPAE, Lishui, China
