Photographer helped others realise their dreams
Bra Hamilton was a father, teacher to many arriving in Jozi
The late veteran photographer Mitlatso Hamilton Maepane was a selfless person who would go out of his way to help others.
One of the people who benefited from Maepane’s generosity is Theophilus Rhulani Maluleke, now a manager of a big company and an MBA student with Wits University.
Maluleke, the son of the late music icon Elias Maluleke, says after he met the veteran lensman through his father, Maepane later assisted him and treated him like his own child.
“I met him back in 2002 when I was doing my studies and he helped me a great deal. Ntate Maepane later took me under his wing and taught me photography.
“He also made me get involved in administrative duties and I was soon to record the work he was getting from record companies who brought their artists to take cover photos,” Maluleke said.
“Being from Vhembe meant we did not speak the same language but as two people from Limpopo we got along fine when I went to live with him in Johannesburg where he was already based.”
Maluleke added he never lost touch with Maepane and visited him when he heard he was unwell.
Bra Hamilton, as he was affectionately known, owned a photo studio called HM Studio between King George and Noord streets in Johannesburg. He later moved office to a bigger space on 308 Bree Street where his business occupied the entire floor.
Maepane also ran a photography school where he trained aspirant photographers in camera handling and dark room processing techniques. Well-known names in showbiz also relied on his services for cover photos of their albums.
Maepane was buried in Senwabarwana in Limpopo recently. He had returned to Limpopo in 2012 when he started having health problems.
He was born in GaMatopeng village outside Polokwane on January 13 1937 as the fourth child of Maria Moditsa and Marifi Kision Maepane.
Maepane started formal education at the local primary school and left for bright lights of Jozi after passing Standard 5 (now grade 7). In 1954, he got a job as a page boy at Skyline Hotel. Two years later he worked for printing business and in 1960, he joined Amalgamated Photo Furniture as a photographer.
That is the place musicians came in large numbers to be photographed. He was relied upon to take album cover pictures for artists including household names such as the late Peter Teanet, Thomas Chauke, George Maluleke, Penny Penny, Esther M, Winnie Mashaba and Solly Moholo.
He was also commissioned by newspapers and magazines to take pictures for them. One publication that regularly used his services was Bona, a lifestyle magazine.
Maepane also furthered his education in photography by studying with the Johannesburg Photo College where he obtained a diploma.
Another of Maepane’s friends is former Giyani mayor Hudson Zitha, whom he met during his own music career before politics.
“When we heard of his death, we were planning to visit him after talking to him over the phone. He cared about people, a very selfless person. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Zitha said.