James O.

About

James Oatway (b.1978) is an independent South African photographer. He graduated from Rhodes University with a Bachelor of Journalism degree (B.Journ) in 2000. His work revolves around themes of political and social inequality as well as people affected by conflict. He was the Chief Photographer and Picture Editor of the Sunday Times newspaper. Oatway has received various international awards including multiple Pictures of the Year International (PoYI) awards. In 2015 he was named the South African Journalist of the Year. In 2018 his Red Ants project won the prestigious Visa d’or Feature Award at the Visa Pour l’image Photojournalism Festival in Perpignan, France. On 18 April 2015, during a wave of xenophobic violence, he photographed the murder of a Mozambican migrant by South African men. His name was Emmanuel Sithole. The images of the attack sparked outrage and made international headlines. The army was deployed and mass demonstrations were held across the continent. His work has been published in The Guardian, Stern, Internazionale, Le Monde, TIME, Harper’s Magazine, Paris-Match, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The LA Times and others. Oatway works extensively in Africa. He often works with humanitarian organisations such as UNICEF, UNHCR and Médicins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). Oatway has taught documentary photography at the Market Photo Workshop in Johannesburg. He is affiliated to Panos Pictures. He has two wonderful children who he loves with his whole heart.

Top Services

Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist

Portrait Photographer