NELSON NDONGALA

I’M THE GUY WHO SPENT HIS ALTAR BOY MONEY ON HIS FIRST PAIR OF SNEAKERS AND I COULDN’T HAVE BEEN PROUDER. THAT MOMENT KICKED OFF A LIFELONG PASSION, NOT JUST FOR SNEAKERS, BUT FOR VISUAL CULTURE AND STORYTELLING.

IT STARTED BACK IN 5TH GRADE, WHEN I TRIED TO CONVINCE MY CLASSMATES THAT MY VICTORYS WERE ACTUALLY JORDANS. BY 2010, THAT OBSESSION LED ME TO START MY OWN SNEAKER BLOG, SNEAKERSKILLS.DE WRITING ABOUT, STYLING, AND PHOTOGRAPHING THE KICKS I LOVED, ALONG WITH THE LIFESTYLE, FASHION, AND CULTURE THAT CAME WITH THEM. WHAT STARTED AS A HOBBY QUICKLY EARNED ME RECOGNITION IN THE SNEAKER SCENE – FOR MY EYE, MY STYLE, AND THE ENERGY I BROUGHT TO EVERY EVENT. THAT’S HOW NICKNAMES LIKE “MR. EXTACSY,” “BATMAN,” “DONKOBO,” AND “WHO?DU!NELSON!” FOUND ME.

FROM PASSION TO PROFESSION

IN 2012, I TURNED THAT PASSION INTO A CAREER AND BEGAN AN APPRENTICESHIP AS A MEDIA DESIGNER AT KERSCHENSTEINERSCHULE IN WIESBADEN. THE MIX OF MODERN MEDIA, CREATIVITY, AND FORWARD-THINKING IDEAS STILL DRIVES ME TODAY. EVEN THOUGH I GREW UP IN A PLACE (SELGERSDORF) WITH LIMITED INTERNET ACCESS, MY CURIOSITY NEVER STOPPED – I HAD A KNACK FOR VISUALS, AND A HUNGER TO BUILD SOMETHING OF MY OWN.

PHOTOGRAPHY FOUND ME DURING A SCHOOL PROJECT – ONE OF MY CLASSMATES HANDED ME A CAMERA, AND I NEVER LOOKED BACK.

THE WORK

SINCE FINISHING MY TRAINING, I’VE WORKED WITH FOR SOME OF THE MOST RESPECTED SNEAKER RETAILERS IN GERMANY, INCLUDING ASPHALTGOLD, BSTN, KICKZ, AND 11TEAMSPORTS GROUP – WHERE I LED BRAND MARKETING CONTENT & CREATIVE UNTIL DECEMBER 2024.

BUT EVEN WITH ALL THAT, I STILL HESITATE TO CALL MYSELF A “PHOTOGRAPHER.” I DIDN’T STUDY IT – I LEARNED BY DOING. WHAT I BRING IS INSTINCT, A KEEN EYE FOR CRUCIAL DETAILS AND A DEEP FEEL FOR RHYTHM, COLOR, HARMONY, AND VISUAL STORYTELLING.

IN FOOTBALL TERMS? I’M THE PLAYMAKER WITH VISION.

THIERRY HENRY ONCE SAID, “AMATEURS CALL IT GENIUS. MASTERS CALL IT PRACTICE.” FOR ME, THIS RESONATES DEEPLY. IT’S NOT ABOUT NATURAL TALENT ALONE IT’S THE WORK BEHIND THE WORK, THE CONSTANT EVOLUTION, THE DRIVE TO IMPROVE. 

THAT’S WHY I CALL MYSELF A CREATIVE STORYTELLER.

WHAT I DO

CREATIVE DIRECTION / PHOTOGRAPHY / CONTENT PRODUCTION & STRATEGY / CONSULTING & STRATEGIC BRAND DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATE IDENTITY: IMAGE, DESIGN, BEHAVIOR, COMMUNICATION, CULTURE, PHILOSOPHY /
CREATIVE CONCEPTS FOR ONLINE & OFFLINE MEDIA

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