Portrait of a mounted game warden in Chad

Documentary photo assignments

Welcome to my portfolio! I am Theus Badenhorst, a specialist in capturing compelling stories through the lens of my camera. With a focus on documentary photography and video assignments, I excel in challenging environments where access is limited, and time is critical.

Documentary Photography Expertise

I am skilled in documenting authentic stories that resonate with audiences. My clients trust me to venture into the field and return with powerful images that communicate ground-level realities. From third-world countries to diverse landscapes, I bring a unique perspective to every assignment.

Key Strengths

Adaptability: Thriving in unpredictable conditions, I think on my feet to ensure every shot tells a compelling story.

Intuition: My ability to read situations allows me to capture moments that convey emotion and depth.

Efficiency: Traveling light and nimble, I focus on getting the perfect shot without unnecessary equipment or delays.

Global Experience

My travels have taken me across continents, including Chad, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, Indonesia, Australia, and the UK. Each location has enriched my storytelling, adding layers of authenticity and diversity to my work.

Run-and-Gun Video Production

In addition to photography, I offer on-location video services. Being present in the field allows me to capture real-time moments and create impactful visual narratives for organizations and clients.

Let's Collaborate

I am always excited about new documentary photography and video projects. Let's work together to bring your stories to life in a way that resonates with your audience and communicates the essence of your mission.

Happy children in Chad

A girl uses a manual water pump in rural Chad

An elderly herdsman with his cattle near a township between Bapsfontein and Bronkhorstspruit in South Africa

"Madala" telling a story near Standerton in Mpumelanga South Africa

These children are blissfully unaware of the identity politics which is trying to tell them they should have a problem.

These boys were happily playing on a rural dirt road near the town of Rayton in South Africa. They are unaware that they should be unhappy about anything.

This young man proudly poses with his hunting dog near Bronkhorstspruit South Africa.

"Trash Town"

This photo essay focuses on the impact of solid waste pollution in the town of Bronkhorstspruit on the Highveld of South Africa. It shows how pollution impacts the lives of ordinary people. Some of the images symbolize hope for a better future.

A solitary sunflower grows defiantly out of a heap of trash.

Surrounded by egrets, this young man searches for items of value amid the refuse.

A lone egret basks in the early morning sun at the local dumping site.

A young man ekes out an existence by foraging at the rubbish dump in Bronkhorstspruit.

The opportunistic seagulls are a thousand miles from the nearest coast and like these people have adapted to life in this unusual environment.

A heap of trash lies next to the main road through Zithobeni township in Bronkhorstspruit

Egrets and gulls share the bounty of this unique habitat

This happy flower, growing at the dump site, reminds us that there is beauty and hope everywhere.

People who cannot afford good shoes buy extremely cheap imported shoes which very quickly end up as trash.

Ironically this man's plastic satchel is themed with rhino which has become the symbol of nature conservation.

Goats forage for food scraps on the roadside near the informal settlement of Zithobeni in Bronkhorstspruit.

A young man carries used tyres past a heap of trash under a political poster for the militant Financial Freedom Fighters.

Opposite the municipal dump terrain a couple illegally dump and burn their trash.

This little fire turned into a huge veld fire later that day.

Informal plastic recyclers have literally become part of the landscape at many municipal dumping sites in South Africa.

This man makes a meagre living by collecting trash on the side of the road.

This image, framed in plastic, gives the viewer a window to a typical scene on the Highveld of South Africa as winter approaches.

These men make a living offloading refuse for residents.

The trash under this political poster speaks of a community plagued by undignified living conditions and poor to non-existent service delivery.