Sleepless marathon for Joburg photographers as they document their city in 24-Hour Project

The 24 Hour Project is a global street photography initiative that was conceived in New York City in 2012, where photographers from around the world spend 24 hours capturing the human condition in their own cities.

How does it work?

In 2025, 13 years after the initiative was first launched, the 24 Hour Project finally made it to Johannesburg.

Jozi My Jozi in partnership with the Joburg Photowalkers curated Johannesburg’s inaugural team, consisting of 20 photographers who captured a holistic overview of the city from Soweto through Fordsburg and Yeoville all the way to Constitution Hill in Braamfontein.

To date, the event has attracted more than 40 000 photographers from over 112 countries across the world.

The initiative requires high levels of alertness because from midnight on Saturday 3 October, every single hour for the entire 24 hours, each photographer is required to capture and share one photo.

The action unfolds on social media with Instagram being the preferred platform, and the thousands of participating masters of the lens globally use unified global hashtags as well as some that are specific to their cities.

Documenting the human side of the City of Gold

This year again, Jozi My Jozi invites professional photographers, students, street storytellers and smartphone explorers to join in the action and give the international community an honest and wholesome photographic depiction of their own city.

This year’s event is in collaboration with Joburg Photowalkers, Film My Soul, the Market Photo Workshop and the Soweto Community Photowalk. In each area, the crew will be led by a local guide who knows the ins and outs of that particular neighbourhood.

“Jozi is too often described by people looking at it from the outside. This project puts the camera in the hands of the people who live here and experience all aspects of our colourful, creative and sometimes crazy city on a daily basis.”

“Every photograph posted on Saturday is an act of advocacy for this city. When thousands of Joburgers show the world the Jozi they know, that picture is far harder to ignore than any headline,” said Jozi My Jozi CEO and creative economy catalyst Dawn Robertson.

From the first taxi out of the rank to a neighbour helping another and the flow of humans at a restaurant as closing time approaches, the photographers will authentically document the lives of their fellow Joburgers.

This year’s handles are @24HourProject and @jozi_my_jozi, and participants should use the hashtag #24HourJozi. All the details can be found on Jozi my Jozi’s website.

They will follow the skaters in the city centre, document the murals and street fashion of Braamfontein and capture the sunset at the top of Ponte Tower, among other fun moments that can only be found in Jozi.

Follow Time Out Johannesburg on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram! While you're at it, sign up for our newsletter to receive even more of the best of your city.