Rwandan fashion photographer, Constantin Ashimwe, also known as ‘Shane Costt’, has been nominated for the category of ‘Fashion Photographer’ at the Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards (ASFA), due to take place on December 13, in Kampala, Uganda.

Eligible participants for the ASFA nominations had to be African, or foreign citizens who have been residing and working in Africa for at least two years, aged 18 and above only, and having been active in the fashion industry. Costt was nominated by his friend, a makeup artist.

Speaking to The New Times, Costt said he feels honored by the nomination.  "I am so happy to have been nominated. It proves that I have been working and I think this is one of the gains.”

Although he does all kinds of photography, the 23-year-old has branded himself as a ‘fashion photographer’.

"The biggest commercial and beauty photography industries are from India and Russia. I want to stand for Africa, and also make money from it.

I would encourage every youth to do what they love, and make money from it. If it is your passion, you always have that unique touch that makes it better that everyone else’s,” he said.

Costt, who won the ‘Made in Rwanda’ Award in July as the ‘Best Photographer’, started photography in 2013, when he just graduated high school. He is currently the Creative Director and Photographer at Afrifame Pictures and has been invited to various photo-workshops and online trainings for professional photographers.

He is set to graduate this December from Mount Kenya University, in Multimedia and Communication.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com