Across the continent, we have hundreds of extraordinary photographers whose work will keep you stunned and mesmerized. If we start displaying their works, it will be so huge that it might take us years to conclude their collections.
There was an era courses like medicine, law, accounting, and engineering were the only fields our parents wanted to study. Today, we have seen creatives take the lead. We have seen doctors or lawyers dump their certificates for creative works. Photography is one of the field we have seen a dramatic increase in engagement and participation.
Contemporary photography seems to be thriving and bolstered by prizes, new arts initiatives, and platforms where the best image-makers can display their works. We have seen great exhibition spaces with some of the finest works on earth.
In Nigeria, we have photographers like Kadara Enyeasi and Lakin Ogunbanwo. Enyeasi started photography in high school. Nothing special, just some intimate moments with a 2-megapixel Nikon camera.
At first, it was to understand his role in the society by taking performative pictures. This translated into works on shapes, shadows across the body, silhouettes and play of light. Ogunbanwo combines portraiture and fashion photography in his work.
His inspiration came from every day, everything, and the innate desire to capture splendor. We move to South Africa, where Phumzile Khanyile does wonder with photography. He is inspired by the boring stuff of life which he aims to bring more excitement to and brings the past to reality.
For Hassan Hajjaj from Morocco, color, life, music, textiles, travel, and interesting people inspire him to take stunning pictures. In Ghana, Prince Gyasi started loving photography at a young age.
He got his aspiration of becoming a great abstract painter tucked inside his pocket when he found the art of taking pictures with his iPhone. Accra drags him with inspiration in every part of the city. From the color of their flag to the everyday people, he found love in taking creative pictures.
The norm of taking pictures is not for every photographer. He is different and prefers people call him a visual artist. Most of his images appear like painting when you look at them from afar.
For Nana Kofi Acquah, another Ghanaian, photography found him when he worked in an advertising firm. He found out that he loved taking photographs when he painted backgrounds. He was good at it and it has become a pivot to his life transformation.
The cameras immortalize what these photographers point them at. We have many photographers we might not mention here, but have created stunning works for us to behold. In truth, even the aspiring photographers are gifted with the way they tell stories with their photography projects.
Even the local photographer in one slum may stun you with the type of creative the person displays. Both men and women have found their happiness in this field. When it comes to making money with photography, the story is inspiring too.
Photography is no longer, for people who struggle to make ends meet with their archaic cameras. Some of the cameras these photographers use run in hundreds of thousands. With the advent of technology and social media platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest, photography has taken a whole new dimension. What do you think of your photographer? Do they have areas they need to improve on? Are you thinking of picking up photography as a profession or a hobby? Africa possesses a lot of inspiration for you to do so and a lot of landmarks and locations waiting to be photographed by upcoming photographers.