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jess holing

@starting.tosee

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the Light in the ordinary
telling stories, building bridges
storyteller. photographer. filmmaker. writer. journalist
wedding & family: @bythislight

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this wasn’t a well-thought-out story.

the beginnings of this page began with a lanky teenage girl, her first ‘proper’ camera (bought with money from a synchronised swimming ad), a few tangled-up words and a heart burning to share stories that change the way we see the world.

back in 2017, this page became a place to share —
no pressure, no performance.
just passion, people, and purpose.
i loved it that way.

for years, it’s been a space where I’ve told stories — not just of people i meet or photograph, but stories that emerged in the ordinariness of life:
moments that often pass quickly,
but hold something holy.

i called it @jesscreatesthings — i really just hit a creative blank, and couldn’t find a name broad enough for my creative meanderings and inability to “find a niche”.

but the reality is — the point was never that i create.

the point is that we were made to see.
to see each other fully.
to see what (or who) has been overlooked.
to see the Light in the ordinary.
to see how God sees — now in part, one day in full.

“Do you have eyes, but fail to see?”
Jesus knows how often we miss it.

the kind of seeing i’ve been thinking about has much more to do with the heart than the eyes.
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened,” Paul prays, knowing that eyes that are spiritually open cultivate a heart full of hope.

there is a kind of seeing that leads to action.
“Jesus saw, and had compassion.”
“Jesus saw, and healed.”
Jesus saw.
when someone sees you like that — it changes everything. it changed everything for me.

so today, this space becomes @starting.tosee
a place to keep noticing.
keep storytelling.
keep letting Light through the cracks.

if you’re looking for my work that tells your story — weddings, families, love stories — you’ll find that at @bythislight.

both shaped by the same lens: that seeing is sacred.

and there is only one source of Light by which we can (begin) to see.
His name is Jesus.
He is the only reason that I can and want to and must create.
and He has his hands full teaching me to see the way He does.

i hope that something here helps you to notice the Light in the ordinary.

starting to see — by this light. by @starting.tosee

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a year ago

prompted by the question, "what does the gospel mean to you?", this was birthed.

this is just one story.
it's just one page in a book with many chapters i've never read.
but it's the one i've been given.

and i think it's a good old thing to sit back and think about it sometimes.

@shannonsoul no more prompts for a while please or we'll never sleep again! 😂 by @starting.tosee

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2 years ago

"Do you dare to be different?"

What would happen in our country if young people had the space and safety to talk about the things that really matter?

The Dignity Campaign provides mentorship programmes for teenagers, training up community members, mentors and youth facilitators to guide young people in finding their identity, belonging and purpose.

Absolutely loved capturing one of their Dare Days, an interactive life skills program for young boys exploring topics such as identity, relationships, manhood, pornography and sex.

Check out this incredible organisation to spread the word and support them!

@thedignitycampaign by @starting.tosee

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14 days ago

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18 days ago

scenes of the otter trail 🦦

nothing like lying in bed at 8pm and slowly piecing together fragments of the experience that is this iconic 5-day hike.

vast, rolling coastlines.
deep, emerald forests.
up and down, over and through.
in no particular hurry.
where the destination is just as much caught up
in the journey
the lunch stops
the otter-spotting
the bird-listening
the rock-pool-dipping
as it is in the final step of the day.

what a privilege to walk and learn and sit in awe with people that taste like salt of the earth.

can’t wait to share more from this trip 🥾 by @starting.tosee

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a month ago

ticket link in bio🎬 super limited seats! only few seats available! we’re mixing it up a little. new venue, amazing guest, and a night to come learn, mingle & network with other creatives.

come hang out, meet some people, learn something new and be part of the zylen community.

see you there. it’s gonna be a vibeee. ✨

#zylen #filmmaking #filmmakers #creators #filmmakingcommunity by @starting.tosee

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2 months ago

you’ll remember who was waiting for you.

shooting trail races, there’s something exhilarating about climbing mountains, following athletes and capturing the natural beauty and challenge the mountains lay before us.

but there’s something about this part, the moment each person crosses the finish line, that i can’t help falling in love with. my eyes naturally gravitate towards the people waiting on the other side. and so, my lens naturally does too.

whether it’s a mother beaming with pride, a child who’s dreamt of crossing the finish line with dad, a father who has taken a few extra shifts to let mom train, a group of friends supporting someone’s first ever race. there’s a story to every finish.

looking back on this race feeling inspired — not just by everyone who pushed their minds and bodies, but also by everyone waiting on the other side.

@thecogmans.run by @starting.tosee

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3 months ago

if you’re looking for an event with a heart that beats for community, adventure, grit and natural beauty, you’ve found it in @thecogmans.run

@brundle3 @volksvreemd this is something special. 🌄

in my absolute element capturing all the beautiful faces and stories behind each athlete’s journey, so much more than just a finish line moment. by @starting.tosee

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3 months ago

🏃🏾‍♂️⛰️ Inspiring the next generation of trail runners

We had an incredible day at LIV Durban as the LIV2Run team hosted a trail running clinic with learners from Sinovuyo Ngcobo’s former high school, Mabayana High School.

The purpose of the clinic was to introduce young athletes at grassroots level to the sport of trail running — giving them the opportunity to experience the trails, learn new skills, and discover the joy of running in nature.

The day included fun warm-up games, practical trail sessions, learning uphill and downhill techniques, and conditioning exercises to help the learners build confidence and strength.

The learners also had the opportunity to watch Sinovuyo’s movie created with @salomonrunning , hear about his journey, and take part in a Q&A session where they could ask questions and learn from his experiences.

The day ended with a gear talk, lucky draw prizes, and plenty of encouragement for these young runners.

Thank you to Sinovuyo and the LIV2Run team for sharing their passion and helping create opportunities for the next generation of trail runners. 🌱

#LIV2Run #TrailRunning #YouthDevelopment #SalomonRunning #RunWithPurpose

📹: @starting.tosee taken in LIV Durban by @starting.tosee

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3 months ago

What a day on the trails! 🌿

We had the privilege of hosting 65 local high school community kids for a trail running clinic filled with learning, movement, and inspiration.

The day started with fun warm-up games before heading out onto the trails to explore the beauty of trail running. The kids learned uphill and downhill techniques, built confidence on different terrain, and challenged themselves with conditioning exercises.

After a well-earned lunch break, we moved indoors for a special screening of Coach Sinovuyo’s movie “Gijima” with @salomonrunning, followed by an inspiring Q&A session and a gear talk.

We finished the day with lucky draw prizes, smiles, and a whole lot of gratitude. 🙌🏾

A huge thank you to everyone who made this day possible — coaches, volunteers, our supporters @rmb_cib , @salomon_sa , @32gi and every young runner who showed up with enthusiasm and an open heart.

Here’s to growing the next generation of trail runners! 🌄✨

📷: @starting.tosee taken in LIV Durban by @starting.tosee

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4 months ago

“Round two—

Just as good as round one.”

That was because the first round of coffee had gone flying all over the camping table. One of my knobbly knees had knocked against its feeble legs. My mom and I were camping in Franschhoek over the weekend. We had about 20 minutes before needing to leave our campsite to get to church in time.

We’re both great at making time for coffee and not so great at accurately estimating how much we can actually fit into an allocated amount of time.

Making the first round had gone well, until the moment I tried to slip past the table to take the towel off of my head, and slip on my dress for church.

Whack.
Knee against table leg.
Precarious bialetti on gas stove.
Predictable outcome.

In seconds, perfectly boiled and just-ready-to-drink caffeine covered the entirety of the tabletop, covering the bright orange Shweshwe printed table cloth in a translucent layer of golden brown. The bialetti spluttered and coughed, its mouth wide open and flapping on the table like a suffocating fish.

It was the perfect time to snap. A sharp word, an exasperated eye-roll. Time was already tight.

Instead, I received a knowing look — almost like she knew it could have been her knee too — and I watched her bite her tongue.

Before I knew it, a new pot of coffee was on the boil, and we still had 10 minutes to go before we needed to leave for church.

“Round two—just as good as round one,” she smiles.

A matter of perspective.
Also—a matter of choice.

The last sip of liquid gold trickles down my throat as I brush my wet hair and think about how little we learn by being told how to love,

and how much we learn by being shown. by @starting.tosee

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5 months ago

The LIV2Run “Young Guns” are the young athletes who have come up through the junior teams and are now finished school and contending to be part of the LIV2Run senior team.

We believe that the senior team athletes (who are also coaches) coaching these junior athletes will have a great impact on the next generation of trail runners in South Africa 🙌🏾🇿🇦

Thank you @rmb_cib @salomon_sa and @32gi for giving us wings to fly!

📹: @starting.tosee by @starting.tosee

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5 months ago