In a world often drowned out by noise, Tevin Solomon stands as a beacon, amplifying the whispers of those stranded in the shadows. With a camera in one hand and a pen in the other, he captures not just images but the very essence of human experience, stories echoing from the farthest corners of society. At the heart of his mission lies a profound belief: every cry for help deserves to be heard, and every narrative has the potential to spark change.

Born Tevin Solomon T. Chimbwanda, he is a passionate storyteller and photographer from Mutare, Zimbabwe, focused on amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. His work primarily targets young people and vulnerable individuals, highlighting social issues through visual storytelling.

With a background in photography, film, writing, and design, Tevin holds a Bachelor of IT from the Zimbabwe Open University. He is also deeply involved in human rights advocacy, using his skills to support causes like climate change and disability inclusion.

As we sit down for this interview, the atmosphere is charged with anticipation, much like the vibrant scenes he depicts through his photography. Tevin’s journey is not merely a career; it’s a calling—a relentless pursuit to transform the overlooked into the unforgettable. From advocating for climate change and disability inclusion to celebrating the beauty in diversity, his work transcends traditional storytelling, weaving threads of empathy and activism into a compelling tapestry.

What drives a man to delve into the depths of humanity’s struggles? How does he filter the raw emotions of his subjects into thought-provoking visuals? My Afrika Magazine journalist Shingirai Manyengavana (SM) had the privilege of sitting down for a one-on-one interview with Tevin Solomon (TS), exploring his captivating world where every snapshot is a testament to resilience, every story an invitation to reflect, and every interaction a step toward a more just society.

SM: What motivated you to pursue a career in storytelling and photography? Can you share a pivotal moment that influenced this decision?
TS: Personal stories I never had a platform to share were my biggest motivation. It was a message to me that many are like me, with deeply impactful stories that simply have no audience.

SM: How do you define your mission of “amplifying voices”? Can you elaborate on what this looks like in practice?
TS: For me amplifying voices means capturing raw, unfiltered emotions, real life stories and taking them from a camera to an ear that can be touched either for change or for help. The story might motivate someone or might trigger some sort of assistance either way, the silent voices that are crying must be heard.

SM: You mentioned working with vulnerable communities. What specific challenges do you face when telling their stories?
TS: The usual challenge is sensitivity. Their stories are often sensitive and personal to them hence the need to be seriously ethical when telling them. So, perhaps the biggest challenge would be finding the balance between the excitement of releasing a story and the ethical considerations around how airing it would affect them at a personal level.

SM: In your experience, how does storytelling in the media differ from traditional journalism, particularly in terms of emotional impact?
TS: Storytelling for me, differs in that you have to translate someone’s lived experiences without being witty about it. Nomatter your oratory prowess, you cannot edit someone’s lived experience inorder to spice it up to show your skills but rather you have to find ways to make it presentable without losing its potency. Its like taking something from someone’s heart and delivering it to another heart

SM: What techniques do you find most effective in capturing the raw emotions of your subjects?
TS: The first thing for me would be building a relationship with them such that they are not just subjects but collaborators. Listening is critical, people want to be heard, allow them to offload. Also capturing candid shots is an effective technique, get candid shots as we interact because those usually bring out the unfiltered emotions, once you say action people adjust their act. From there we probably move to the visual elements like value, texture, form, space etc we use in capturing stories.

SM: Can you describe the process you follow when approaching a new project, especially when working with sensitive topics?
TS: Usually an understanding of the topic is key. Identify people who could be affected by such a topic, map them out. After that, I try to check for the ones that are within my reach. Once I identify the collaborators, I then go to them so that we build a relationship,  give them insights of the project we intend to undertake and see if they understand and consent. This we usually do without cameras as it will scare them off. Building a relationship with them first is of paramount importance. And from there we organise the storyboards and shooting commences.

SM: How do you ensure that the stories you tell remain authentic and unfiltered, while also being respectful of your subjects?
TS: I do so by maintaining a relationship with my collaborators and walking with them every step of the way. They define how they want their stories to be shared hence they are the first people to review the projects before I approach anyone else with it.

SM: What role does collaboration play in your work? Can you share an example of how partnering with others has enriched a project?
TS: No man is an island, collaboration is key. I can share an example of the story we did on “Climate change and Disability inclusion”. I had the idea but with no resources for implementation and I aporoved the director for Green Governance Zimbabwe Trust who assisted us with the resources to bring that story to life.

SM: In an age of fast-paced media, how do you maintain the integrity and depth of your storytelling?
TS: I strongly believe in reflection and self introspection. The world is so fast paced to a level that it’s easy to get carried away, so being someone who writes almost everything down, I often go back to my diary to check if I’m still on course or have I shifted focus.

SM: What specific skills have you developed through your education and experiences that have been most beneficial in your career?
TS: Communication Skills, the ability to talk to people in a way that they can relate with. Listening skills as well, and perhaps the most important for me. These stand out for me over and above photography , filmmaking and editing skills.

SM: You’ve mentioned the importance of visual content. How do you see the relationship between photography and storytelling evolving in today’s media landscape?
TS: I believe a single photo should be made up of at least a thousand words. Looking at today’s media landscape, I  feel people are beginning to embrace photography as a strong storytelling tool since there are situations where you may not be positioned well enough to document all happenings in writing but a single photo can do all that for you. Different narratives can be derived from one photo that can provoke action, challenge policies etc like in the case of Kevin Carter’s photo featuring a child and vulture lurking behind.

SM: What gaps have you identified in how media represents marginalized communities, and how do you aim to address these in your work?
TS: Perhaps the biggest gap I have noticed is how these communities are presented as vulnerable, their stories are often told from a victim perspective without hailing their strength and resilience. For them to even be in the conversations considering the battles they face means they are very strong hence I aim to show their strength over and above their weakness.

SM: Considering your advocacy for human rights, how do you integrate these themes into your storytelling?
TS: I always aim to tell my stories from a human rights perspective,  how these are violated or how they have been honored since we can never divorce human rights from a human being.

SM: In your opinion, what are the responsibilities of journalists today in amplifying underrepresented voices?
TS: Journalists ought to be authentic and ethical, do not filter someone’s story all in the name of making it aesthetically pleasing. You can never make someone’s lived experience aesthetically pleasing, present it the way it is, keep it real.

SM: How do you handle criticism, especially when your work challenges societal norms or narratives?
TS: Haha that’s a hard one, I always seek for advice from superiors and fellow professionals in the field before I respond to criticism. So, I have adopted a culture that its not all criticism that you should respond to, I respond only if it threatens the credibility of my work or the safety of my collaborators.

SM: What advice would you give to emerging photographers and storytellers who aspire to make a difference through their work?
TS: Find yourself, you are always number 1 when you compete against yourself. Remember the basics, the complexity of everything is in its simplicity, keep everything real and simple, dont overdo it.

SM: How do you see the future of storytelling evolving with the rise of digital media and technology?
TS: I fear that some modern tools might erode the authenticity of some stories but also to stay aware, technology is evolving around us daily so we ought to embrace it rather than resist it. Use the tools for easier access to our stories but let’s not allow it to take away the human face from the stories we tell.

SM: Lastly, what legacy do you hope to leave through your contributions to media and storytelling?
TS: I want to be known as someone who created a platform for untold stories to be heard hence the theme “Amplify our voices”. Its not merely about the stories,  but perspective, how the stories are told. Give the mic to the unlikeliest of people,  just because someone isn’t educated doesn’t mean they are nor intelligent,  they deserve to be heard to.