Home > Photographers > Kim Ludbrook
Kim Ludbrook
Johannesburg, South Africa
Kim Ludbrook is a senior visual correspondent for epa based in Johannesburg, South Africa, covering major news, features and sports events, both in Africa and internationally for epa.
Kim has travelled to 51 countries in his endeavors to photograph the human condition and to tell the stories of those who cannot speak for themselves and to be a mirror to the world around him so as to inform those who cannot travel to the assignments he does.
On the news front, he has done the editorial organization and has covered himself the funeral of Nelson Mandela, the civil wars in Libya and Liberia as well as the fall of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the inauguration of Barak Obama, the Madagascar coup d’etat, the Kenyan post political violence of 2008, the aftermath of the 2005 Asian Tsunami, as well as major news events, both planned and spot news, in South Africa and the rest of Africa.
On the sports front, he covered several FIFA World Cups, Tour de France races, UEFA European Championships, the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics, 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, World Cup Swimming, MotoGP, President’s Cup golf, international rugby matches, All Africa Games etc.
The former Canon Ambassador has held various solo photo exhibitions and has won numerous awards, telling the stories of ordinary people through his lens.

Sally Webster holds her newly born 'corona baby' Emily in her tiny house in Nieu Bethesda, South Africa, 11 June 2020. Sally has five other children of her own and relies on handouts to get her through this period of coronavirus lockdown. The NGO Gift of the Givers visited the town to give the local mothers who gave birth during the lockdown children's food, nappies, and blankets.
In the barren expanses of the Karoo (Great dry land) in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, a perfect storm of circumstances has had a major and devastating effect on the local people. Three months of Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown, a harsh seven-year drought, and the ongoing impact of the general economic slowdown over the past years along with an ill-prepared local and provincial government have left the vast majority of the local people under financial, physical and spiritual pressure. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

The pack of riders in action during the 1st stage of the 101st edition of the Tour de France 2014 cycling race between Leeds and Harrogate, in United Kingdom, 05 July 2014. EPA/KIM LUDBROOK

The coffin of a victim of the Covid-19 Corona virus being taken to her grave by relatives at a burial ground in Johannesburg, South Africa, 24 July 2020 (reissued on 14 September 2020). The National Funeral Practitioners Association of SA (Nafupa) have threatened a 3-day strike starting on 14 September after the government tightened legislation regarding undertakers working conditions. The strike would mean bodies of deceased would not be collected from old age homes, hospitals and morgues for three days, that might lead to possible heath issues. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

A women gets tested by a health care professional during a local government mass testing deployment in the high density Alexandra township on day 32 of the national lockdown as a result of Covid-19 Coronavirus, Johannesburg, South Africa, 27 April 2020. Stage 5 lockdown is due to end 30 April 2020 when stage 4 will be implemented. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

Aphiwe Dyantyi of South Africa celebrates after scoring a try during the rugby test match at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, 09 June 2018. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

A file picture dated on 07 March 2011 shows an elderly rebel wearing Second World War medals given to him by his father shoots his pistol into the air while anti-aircraft batteries fire at another Libyan Airforce jet flying over their position in Ras Lanuf, Libya. On 17 February 2011 a rebellion against the42-year-long rule of Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi took place. The protests against began peacefully but soon escalated into violent confrontation, giving the Libyan revolt a more bloody character than those in Tunisia and Egypt. One of the hardest battles was the one of the town of Ras Lanuf on the Eastern seaboard of Libya where days of fierce fighting by the Libyan Army and rebels took place. EPA/KIM LUDBROOK

Members of the United Apostolic Church hold Sibongile Motweni (C) as she cleanse herself of evil spirits as she immerses herself in the freezing water of a waterfall at the divine Fertility Caves deep in the Maloti Mountains near Clarens, South Africa, 16 December 2011. The ritual is also to connect with their ancestors and form part of a belief that sees them retain their traditional pre-Christian belief system of ancestor worship in parallel with their Christianity. The late great Nelson Mandela and the ANC (African National Congress) brought an end to the minority rule of the white people of South Africa over the majority black people 25 years ago this year and thus brought to an end to one of the most unjust systems of repression in history: apartheid. This retrospective photo essay, depicting the chronology of South Africa's history from the arrival of the first white men in 1652, looks at South Africa's very soul and mirrors the journey of this infant democracy through its at times painful path to find balance over the past 15 years. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

A defiant Orange Democratic Movement supporter faces a police truck spraying tear gas during running battles in the streets of Nairobi, Kenya, 03 January 2008. Post election violence in the East African country has left hundreds of people dead with growing fears of further inter-tribal violence a possibility. EPA/KIM LUDBROOK

Bodybuilders get prior to their weight group during the Weider Nutrition South Africa body building and fitness Champsionships held at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, 06 September 2015. The annual event sees South Africa's best body builders and female fitness athletes competing to be the country's best. EPA/KIM LUDBROOK

Homeless man Lwando Tyida (31) prays to God for help in his situation at a homeless shelter on day 10 of the 21 day national lockdown following President Cyril Ramaphosa declaration of a National Disaster as a result of Covid-19 Coronavirus, Pretoria, South Africa, 06 April 2020. There are an estimated 10 000 homeless in Pretoria area. Various shelters have been set up ranging from sports grounds to a municipal hall. The national lockdown declared by President Ramaphosa on 23 March 2020 will start Thursday 26 March 2020 at midnight and continue for 21 days. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

Bora Hansgrohe team rider Rafal Majka (down) of Poland and AG2R La Mondiale team rider Olivier Naesen (R) of Belgium crash during the 9th stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France cycling race over 156,5km between Arras and Roubaix, France, 15 July 2018. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

Ballerinas perform during the final dress rehearsal for 'Giselle' by Joburg Ballet at the Joburg Theather, Johannesburg, South Africa, 03 October 2019. Joburg Ballet's sublime Giselle is a richly romantic story of a love and a tale of passion, betrayal and forgiveness showcasing South Africa's finest dancers. Sharing the title role with Joburg Ballet's own stars will be French prima ballerina Anais Chalendard who will dance in three of the ten performances during the season. Giselle' will be staged by artistic director Iain MacDonald and ballet mistress Lauren Slade. Australian-based SA ballet luminary Dawn Weller will coach the dancers in the leading roles. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

Divers practice their dives between rounds at the FINA World Swimming Championships

Some of the 16 children, who live at the tiny house that is Christina's House of Hope, huddle together in the winter cold after receiving blankets from the NGO Gift of the Givers in Willowmore, South Africa, 12 June 2020. The children's home gets no local government help at all and relies on NGOs or personal donations from individuals. Many of the children suffer from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, leaving the children impaired and often underdeveloped. This condition is common in the district that has high alcohol abuse levels.
In the barren expanses of the Karoo (Great dry land) in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, a perfect storm of circumstances has had a major and devastating effect on the local people. Three months of Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown, a harsh seven-year drought, and the ongoing impact of the general economic slowdown over the past years along with an ill-prepared local and provincial government have left the vast majority of the local people under financial, physical and spiritual pressure. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

People react as they see a military helicopter flying overhead while they are stopped by Zimbabwe Defense Force soldiers as they try to make their way to State House during mass action protests against President Robert Mugabe, Harare, Zimbabwe, 18 November 2017. The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has taken over the control of the running of the country with Robert Mugabe, being under house arrest for days, but making his first public appearance at a University graduation ceremony on 17 November 2017. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

Members of the public stand with candles during a memorial for victims of the Covid-19 Coronavirus on New Year's eve who have died in the city during 2020, Johannesburg, South Africa, 31 December 2020. The vigil was organized by the city of Johannesburg. Level 3 lockdown was implemented last week due to second wave of infections sweeping across the country many of which are cases of a new variant of the Corivd-19 Corona virus 501.v2, a mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant which holds a higher transmission rate. South Africa is the first African nation to pass one million infections. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

Star trampoline artist, Phaphama Nxumalo is vertical as she falls to the trampoline on one of the three public trampolines in the Alexandra township in Johannesburg, South Africa, 27 August 2019. The children jump after school each day as one of the rare extra activities in one of Johannesburg oldest and most impoverished townships. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

A women gets tested by a health care professional during a local government mass testing deployment in the high density Alexandra township on day 32 of the national lockdown as a result of Covid-19 Coronavirus, Johannesburg, South Africa, 27 April 2020. Stage 5 lockdown is due to end 30 April 2020 when stage 4 will be implemented. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

Policemen try to put out the flames engulfing Mozambique national,Ernesto Alfabeto Nhamuave, as he is burned to death during ongoing xenophobia attacks in central Johannesburg, South Africa, 18 May 2008. Many of the attacks are targeted against Zimbabwe immigrants who fled the regime of President Robert Mugabe. The late great Nelson Mandela and the ANC (African National Congress) brought an end to the minority rule of the white people of South Africa over the majority black people 25 years ago this year and thus brought to an end to one of the most unjust systems of repression in history: apartheid. This retrospective photo essay, depicting the chronology of South Africa's history from the arrival of the first white men in 1652, looks at South Africa's very soul and mirrors the journey of this infant democracy through its at times painful path to find balance over the past 15 years. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

Jonathan Rea on his Honda CBR1000RR leads the pack during race 2 of the FIM Superbike World Championship at the Kyalami Race Track in Johannesburg, South Africa, 16 May 2010. EPA/KIM LUDBROOK

Family members put on their white protective gloves as they approach the coffin of their relative before taking it from the AVBOB hearse to the grave during the funeral of an un-named Covid-19 Coronavirus victim at a graveyard near Katlehong township on the 118 day of lockdown due to the Covid-19 Coronavirus, Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 July 2020. Harsh government lockdown rules only allow less than 50 people at any funeral with social distancing being critical. South Africa has just reached the 450 000 infection mark from the pandemic accounting for almost two-thirds of all cases registered to date in Africa and the fifth country with the highest number of infections worldwide. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

The professional peloton crosses a dam wall as the sun rises during the 111km stage 4 of the 2018 ABSA Cape Epic mountain bike stage race near Cape Town, South Africa, 22 March 2018. The ABSA Cape Epic race, often called the 'Tour de France' of mountain biking, sees 1,200 professional and amateur riders race in a distance over 658 km and climbing over 13,530 meters in height during 8 stages. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

Participants during the Jeep Warrior Race near Pretoria, South Africa, 19 November 2016. Four thousand participants took part in the obstacle and mud race. The racers have to complete all the obstacles like Mud Monster, Big Balls and Submerge, in over a 15 km race, that involves jumping over burning fires, crawling through mud under a wire fence, battling up slippery slopes and running or swimming across water obstacles. The Warrior Race has become very popular among families, work colleagues and other teams. EPA/KIM LUDBROOK

Police and security guards stand over arrested looters in Johannesburg, South Africa, 13 July 2021. Former South Africa President Zuma was arrested on 07 July, and sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court. Protests by his supporters included shops being looted, burned cars and the blocking of city streets in the country. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK