Series description
Togetherness looks different to everyone. For some, it is found in the warmth of family, and for others in the shared spaces that hold traces of human presence. Chanel Grobler explores old and new spaces as storytellers of connection, places that once brought people together in work, worship, or everyday life. As walls crumble and paint fades, these spaces continue to hold the energy of those who passed through them.
Togetherness in Family Environments
Sammy Marks was one of the first entrepreneurs in South Africa. Grobler photographed the home where his family once lived, now the Sammy Marks Museum. This image captures their kitchen, a space where the meals they shared were prepared, and which carries traces of family life.
© Chanel Grobler, South Africa, Shortlist, Student Competition, Together, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Togetherness in Loss
Pretoria East Cemetery is a place where people sometimes come together too late. Grobler explains that death and grief have a way of revealing togetherness, where the presence of others becomes a quiet comfort and a reminder that even in the absence of loved ones we are not alone; loss exposes the depth of connection.
© Chanel Grobler, South Africa, Shortlist, Student Competition, Together, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Togetherness in Daily Work
The Zwartkoppies Dairy is more than just a historic site, it is a space where human lives, labour and community once intertwined. Recent academic and design projects explore the dairy’s historic role and the stories of those who worked there. As the farm evolves, the land remains a reminder that togetherness can be found in places shaped by daily work, shared tasks, and collective memory.
© Chanel Grobler, South Africa, Shortlist, Student Competition, Together, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Togetherness in Pure Intimacy
This image was taken in the bathroom of the Sammy Marks Museum. Grobler imagines it as a space of quiet, fleeting moments where Sammy and his wife shared the intimacy of daily life, brushing teeth side by side, exchanging a glance, the private rhythm of routine. These moments reveal how intimacy can exist in the shared stillness of everyday life.
© Chanel Grobler, South Africa, Shortlist, Student Competition, Together, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Togetherness in Spiritually
The church has long been a space of togetherness, where people gather in shared faith and devotion. Within its walls, intimacy emerges in unexpected ways; the quiet exchange of a prayer, the comfort of a hand held during prayer. The photographer explains that ‘through Jesus, these moments are given deeper resonance. His teachings and presence create a sense of closeness that can be felt anywhere, no matter the circumstances.’
© Chanel Grobler, South Africa, Shortlist, Student Competition, Together, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards