TIG Post

Tag: photography

  • Meet Ghana’s photography pioneer, James Barnor

    Meet Ghana’s photography pioneer, James Barnor

    The legendary Ghanaian photographer, James Barnor, has gained renewed recognition in recent years through a series of prestigious exhibitions.

    These exhibitions have showcased his pioneering photojournalistic style, particularly during Ghana’s journey to independence in the 1950s.

    Mark Edwards reflects on Barnor’s illustrious six-decade career spanning two continents.

    1954-56 Emma Christiana Bruce Annan, Drum Party, Chorkor beach, Accra

    During the early 1950s in Accra, Barnor captured iconic images that vividly portrayed the spirit of the era.

    c. 1955 The Pastor (Oscar Lamptey), Mamprobi, Accra

    c. 1955 The Pastor (Oscar Lamptey), Mamprobi, Accra

    His lens immortalized scenes such as the vibrant “Drum Party” at Chorkor beach and intimate moments with luminaries like Kwame Nkrumah and boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

    Despite his groundbreaking contributions, Barnor’s widespread acclaim came late in life.

    The recognition owes much to Autograph ABP, a UK-based arts agency, which meticulously preserved Barnor’s extensive archive of over 32,000 images.

    Courtesy Autograph

    c. 1951. Self-portrait with Nkrumah, Roy Ankrah and his wife, Rebecca, Accra
    c. 1951. Self-portrait with Nkrumah, Roy Ankrah and his wife, Rebecca, Accra

    This archive formed the basis of his first major retrospective at Autograph’s London gallery in 2010, followed by exhibitions across Europe, the US, and Ghana.

    The ongoing retrospective at London’s Serpentine Gallery, titled “Accra/London,” further celebrates Barnor’s work, highlighting his pivotal role in documenting Ghana’s path to independence. His photographs from the early 1950s capture a nation on the brink of a historic transformation, radiating hope, innocence, and dynamism.

    Barnor’s journey began humbly, learning photography from his cousin before establishing his studio, Ever Young, in Jamestown.

    The studio became a cultural hub where musicians, journalists, and dignitaries gathered, offering Barnor a unique vantage point to document Ghana’s evolving social fabric.

    In London, Barnor continued to push boundaries, photographing the Afro diasporic community during the Swinging Sixties for The Drum magazine.

    His images graced the magazine’s covers, a testament to his ability to capture the essence of a vibrant cultural moment.

    1952. Kwame Nkrumah in his PG (Prison Graduate) cap, kicking a football before the start of an international match at Owusu Memorial Park in Fadama, Accra, 1952

    1952. Kwame Nkrumah in his PG (Prison Graduate) cap, kicking a football before the start of an international match at Owusu Memorial Park in Fadama, Accra, 1952

    Returning to Ghana in 1970, Barnor pioneered color photography in West Africa, managing the country’s first color-processing lab.

    c. 1957 Four Nurses (graduates of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital), Ever Young Studio, Accra

    c. 1957 Four Nurses (graduates of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital), Ever Young Studio, Accra

    his innovation revolutionized local photography, allowing Ghanaians to capture the richness of their culture in vivid color.

    c 1952 Portrait of James Barnor in front of his advertising board, Accra

    c 1952 Portrait of James Barnor in front of his advertising board, Accra

    Throughout his career, Barnor’s photographs have not only chronicled historical moments but also celebrated the beauty and resilience of his subjects.

    His legacy as Ghana’s first photojournalist continues to inspire new generations, ensuring that his work remains an enduring testament to the power of photography.

  • “Man of 1,000 faces”, Samuel Fosso wins top photographic prize

    “Man of 1,000 faces”, Samuel Fosso wins top photographic prize

    At a special ceremony in London, Samuel Fosso, one of Africa’s most accomplished photographers, was awarded the esteemed Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize for 2023.

    Described as “a man of 1,000 faces”, the Cameroonian-born artist has specialised in self-portraiture and performative photography since starting out in the 1970s – and his works now appear in renowned galleries all over the world.

    The Deutsche Börse award recognises photographers whose work have “made the most significant contribution to international contemporary photography over the past 12 months”, according to a press release.

    Fosso, now 60, was raised in Nigeria, but fled during the Biafran war when his mother died and later settled with his uncle in the Central Africa Republic (CAR), where he began an apprenticeship at a local photographic studio.

    At the age of 13 in 1975, he branched out on his own opening his Studio Photo Nationale in the capital, Bangui. He started taking self-portraits using up exposures on his films to send to his grandmother in Nigeria.

    His initial aim was to show he was alive and well, but his interest in exploring the genre grew – and he experimented with new techniques and poses.

    “Winning this prestigious prize, recognised as one of the most important in the field of photography, means that my work is recognised by the artistic community,” Fosso said.

    “This recognition is very important to me. I feel a lot of joy and pride.”

    One of his most famous images, from his series from the 1970s, is of him sporting bell bottom trousers inspired by West African fashion and images seen in American magazines:

    Samuel Fosso, Autoportrait, from the series 70s Lifestyle, 1976Image caption: Samuel Fosso, Autoportrait, from the series 70s Lifestyle, 1976
    Samuel Fosso, from the series 70s Lifestyle, 1975-78Image caption: Samuel Fosso, from the series 70s Lifestyle, 1975-78

    In his series African Spirits from 2008, Fosso posed as 14 iconic figures of the US Civil Rights Movement:

    Samuel Fosso, Self-Portrait (Angela Davis) from the series African Spirits, 2008Image caption: Samuel Fosso, Self-Portrait (Angela Davis) from the series African Spirits, 2008

    In his Allonzenfans series from 2013, he reflected on how France conscripted men from its West African colonies to fight in World War One and World War Two:

    “I want to show the black man’s relationship to the power that oppresses him,” Samuel FossoImage caption: “I want to show the black man’s relationship to the power that oppresses him,” Samuel Fosso

  • The world’s most viewed image “Bliss”

    The world’s most viewed image “Bliss”

    The image in question may be taken for granted, particularly by those who have had access to computers or laptops.

    This is because it is an image that has been sighted so many times that its presence may be barely noticed.

    Yes, the subject of this article is that image – a plain green field married against a blue sky and fluffy clouds, featured as a default Windows XP background for many years.

    The image, according to Historical Pictures, is called ‘Bliss,’ and was shot by Charles O’Rear, an American photographer, in 1996.

    In an April 8, 2014, report by mid-day.com, it said that Charles O’Rear told said, “There was absolutely no Photoshop or any editing involved. I live 60 miles north of San Francisco in a wine region of Napa Valley. I took the photograph in an area called Carneros.”

    The report added that O’Rear spent his career with National Geographic magazine as a photographer till 1995.

    From then on, he has devoted his time to capturing wine regions of the world for wine magazines, and for photo archive website Corbis, which is owned by Microsoft owner, Bill Gates.

    Corbis was the reason Microsoft engineers found ‘Bliss’.

  • 9 beautiful things to expect when you date a photographer

    If you are a partner of a photographer, be prepared for these beautiful things during your relationship.

    1. He pays attention to details.

    Be prepared for your man to notice to smallest of changes and details, be it the new shoes you have on or the fact that you did something different to your hair.

    His eyes do not miss a thing. (Sorry girls, the zit you thought you covered up- well he noticed it!). In most cases, this is a boon seeing how he recalls everything you say and like.

    2. He is a very patient man.

    Years of adjusting cameras, focusing lenses and repeatedly trying to capture an object perfectly have made him extremely patient. He knows that good things come to those who wait, so don’t be surprised if before a night out he patiently waits for you to get dressed for an hour without cribbing or asking you to hurry up. He values you.

    3. Be prepared to pose.

    Now that you two are together, he has someone he finds truly beautiful to take pictures of all the time. He will take many pictures of you, some when you are not looking, some while you’re pigging out, and some when you probably feel like you look half asleep. Nevertheless, he finds them beautiful and may heaven save you if try to delete one! These pictures are truly precious to him.

    4. He finds beauty in the simplest things possible.

    Don’t be surprised if he stops walking abruptly and pauses to take a snap of a rusty chair in an alley. This may seem crazy to you but he finds this aesthetic. Similarly, even on your worst hair days, don’t be surprised if he looks at you as if you are the most beautiful girl in the world! Because for him, you are ☺

    5. On a road trip, be prepared to hear a lot about the landscape.

    He will stress the beauty of the snow-capped Alps against the Italian scenery plenty of times. Sometimes he will stop mid conversation and gaze at the landscape. On the same note, his camera probably has more pictures of palm trees and flowers than you and him. Nature truly fascinates him, and if not already, this is something you yourself will learn to eventually admire.

    6. As much as you try to blend in, his camera(s) will shout out “TOURISTS!”

    Don’t be surprised if at every outing during a trip abroad, the fact that you two are tourists is obvious. His camera(s) will draw attention to you two, but he doesn’t mind. It works better than the classic tourist shirt and straw-hat, I tell you!

    7. You will visit beautiful and interesting places.

    Churches, museums, scenic beaches- they are his world- he loves them and will not hesitate to take you along to show you what he enjoys. Sometimes you two may have to take a detour during your way to the city centre because he saw a beautiful alley he hasn’t taken pictures of yet.

    8. Be prepared to learn a lot about photography.

    He will teach you his passion, because you are the girl he loves, and he wishes for you to admire the beauty that he sees in trivial things. Vertical and horizontal symmetry, depth and perspective do not have the same meaning for you any more. Don’t be surprised if you have long talks about why the sunbed, the grass and the swimming pool are symmetrical, I assure you that you will learn a lot!

    9. Lastly, he will love you for trying to learn and adjust to his lifestyle.

    My boyfriend laughs and kisses me lovingly whenever I call his fixed focal length camera lens (yes, I just asked him for the name of this lens!) “too zoomed in”. He will admire the fact that you wish to learn more about his passion, and don’t be afraid to embrace his hobby. You might just end up enjoying it as much too!

    Source: Thought Catalog