Unabashed Lagos (A Photo Story on the Streets of Lagos)
It has been a week since I went on this photo-walk and I had been planning to write this since then. I am really happy I can write it now and I am sure you will enjoy it. Bayo Omoboriowo and a few prominent Nigerian Photographers came up with an idea to give back to the community of photographers, particularly the upcoming photographers. They came up with UNABASHED LAGOS. Unabashed Lagos was a multiple in 1 event; we had a Photo-Walk on the streets of Lagos, from Onikan to Lagos Island. We were divided into 8 groups of photographers, each group was led by a top photographer and each group focused on a topic. When we had completed the photo-walk we all returned to Rele Gallery where we converged earlier. After we returned from the photo-walk, each group submitted 10 pictures. The pictures were discussed and properly critiqued by Bayo Omoboriowo and he talked a lot about how to improve your craft. He also talked about real life situations and his different experiences documenting the President of Nigeria.
Bayo said so many things and I will be sharing some of them that stuck with me.
When going on a documentation work in a community, ensure you do an appreciative enquiry. This is when you go to the community to meet with its leaders to inform them about your adventure before hand to avoid unnecessary embarrassments. These enquiries should be done days before your actual documentation.
He said something about appeasing the lords of the land, the leaders of the community. You can appease them with a bottle of wine or something valuable and tangible that shows you are serious and appreciative.
Two important things you need are: God and your hard work. You can’t take the God-factor away at all.
I have met Bayo in different places; one thing I admire about him is his spirituality and love for God.
As a photographer, there must be a story in every frame. He said 95% of the work should be done when capturing the picture; the composition, the exposure and depth of field.
If you want to meet people that will pay you for value, dress for value.
There should be limited human elements in your pictures, except it is very important.
I learnt so much from the event, this was highly emphasized on and it stuck with me:
There is always a picture, wait for it!
Now to the photos:
Mr. Moses is a typist that has his workstation just in front of Tafawa Balewa Square. He helps people to type affidavit and other important documents, he is a good man. The important thing to me was how much does he make from this daily? Is he able to feed and provide for his family adequately?
One mistake I made was not to ask this wonderful old woman for her name. She was very warm to us when we walked up to her to get permission to take her picture. We made sure we bought water and drinks from her in order to support her and so that we won’t be wasting her time.
This is Mrs Kemi; she is a businesswoman involved in all sorts of drinks. She is a passionate and lively person. She spoke about her unhappiness with the present day government over the hardship the citizens have been faced with for some time now. She wants items to be cheaper, good health and education affordable as well.
This is Oloba, he is a butcher and a meat seller. He wasn’t perturbed by my paparazzi; he was cutting goat meat here.
“Eba wa be won, gbogbo nkan ti won” this can be translated to “help us beg them, everything is now expensive” She was referring to the government, she was just laying her complaints about how things are now very expensive and the hardship is becoming quite unbearable. This is a view practically all Nigerians share.
“Ebi npa wa o; Baba wa Buhari o ni ku o” meaning “We are hungry, our Father, Buhari won’t die” One of the women who granted an interview to our videographer. She prayed for the President and hopes he returns to ensure the economy improves.
Emma is not also happy with the current situation in the country. Two of his statements: “things are going very bad in this country. President Buhari, if you know you aren’t dead, come out and say something.”
He called himself, Face of Imo State. Of his plenty statements, the most prominent was: “is Buhari dead?"
These very amazing and joyful boys saw Timmy’s monopod for holding the camera and they were surprised. One even said, “What’s this again o?” I then asked them to pose for pictures and they were ecstatic. Our very own Bad Baddo Baddest.
This man was a very funny man to me, he said he doesn’t have anything to say. He said he was okay with the situation of the country and that the corrupt people in government can no longer steal our money. Most people around him didn’t agree with him but he didn’t care.
Sikiru is a vulcanizer from Oke-Arin in Lagos and he complained bitterly unlike his friend above this picture. He said materials are now expensive, especially for materials he needs for his work and I really pitied. He had to dust his slippers before talking to us just to show his pains. We all really hope things get better.
This was my first photo-walk ever and I enjoyed every bit of it. I am happy you have read and viewed these pictures here. I look forward to sharing more photo stories on this platform.
If there are some pictures you would like to have as frames in your house, kindly send me a mail or reach out to me on social media; I am @rotimiokungbaye on all social media platforms.
