Twenty-six-year-old photographer, Bayo
Omoboriowo, in this interview, explains his fascination with the lens
and why he believes photography should be a tool for social change
Did you set out to be a photographer?
I am a graduate of Pure and Applied
Chemistry from the University of Lagos. I am not from a silver spoon
family but I am determined to make golden spoons for my children.
Whatever I am doing now is a product of the fact that I was able to go
to school and learn. I studied chemistry not because I wanted to. I
actually wanted to study food science and technology but my parents said
it was a course for lazy people. So, I looked for the closest course to
food science and technology and I chose to study chemistry.
How did photography come about?
When I went for NYSC in Rivers State in
2010, I thought I would work in an oil and gas company. When I got
there, corpers were posted to teach in schools. The classroom gave me
more time for myself and ultimately, more time for photography. It was
then I discovered I am really crazy about photography even though I
finished top in my class. I graduated with a GPA of 4.26.
What’s the correlation between pure and applied chemistry and photography?
I can’t say there is a direct correlation
but going to the university helped me. Why I am doing so well in
photography can be attributed to what I studied at the university. I
have people who tell me I am doing so well in photography and they wish I
had studied photography. The reality is that when you go to school, you
pick different ingredients for life. I may not have picked photography
but I picked attitude, character, human relationship skills and so much
more.
When you started practising as a photographer in 2010, what gave you the conviction it was the way to go?
I started during the National Youth
Service Corp and it was a new ground for me. Before then, I had been
taking pictures. I started when I was in the university but I never knew
I was going to take it as a profession. In my third year, people,
fellowships and associations started to invite me to take their
pictures. I was doing it for the fun of it and the money I made, I used
as pocket money. When I got to NYSC camp, I started taking pictures of
other corp members. They were so excited and I knew there was something
about the pictures. I became the official photographer for the NYSC in
Rivers State and then I met this guy who was the manager of a photo
laboratory. He took interest in me and he was more experienced in
photography. He used to look through my pictures and offered advice on
how I could have taken this or that shot better. Indirectly, he was
mentoring me and I was learning. Towards the end of my service year, he
organised an exhibition that featured top international photographers
and six of my works were exhibited. I sold one and that was very
encouraging.
Did you get any formal training?
When I got back from NYSC, I went to
enrol for a photography course and I attended for four weekends. It was
brief but the knowledge I acquired there was very instrumental to my
success.
What’s the most exciting thing about being a photographer?
For me, it is the depth that I
communicate. Photography for me is a tool for social change and it is an
instrument of communication. I believe that I can use a camera to make a
difference. I want to be able to take a picture and the President of
this nation will be inspired to effect a change. I specialise in
documentary and social photography. I simply call it reality
photography.
How did your parents receive your career switch?
My parents have always known me to be an
independent child. My mother taught us to stand on our own and as far
back as when I was in JSS3; I had started going to supervise our house
construction at Igando. My father is the official photographer of the
University Of Lagos and it was not difficult for him to accept the
change. I am sure he understood the fact that I knew what I was doing. I
did not tell him I was doing photography but by the time he started to
see the success I was recording, I did not have to tell him I was deep
into it. I think what parents want to see is the security in whatever it
is their children are involved in. The terrain of photography has been
elevated and that is why parents can bring their children and ask you to
train them on how to use a camera.
Are there people you look up to?
People that have influenced me in Nigeria include Andrew Isiebor, Jide Alakija, Emeka Okereke and Adolphus Okpara.
What’s happening to your science degree?
I have not even gone to collect my
certificate, I think that can wait for now. I think it’s about knowing
what you really want to do. There are people who studied engineering and
are make-up artistes today. It is about finding your blue ocean,
looking for that unique characteristic that defines you. Education
moulds you but it should not determine who you become.
Tell us about your latest project, 100 Unsung Heroines
Photography, for me, is a tool for social
change and that is what I have been doing. Last year, I organised
Photograph a Child that brought together 60 photographers, 60 volunteers
and 300 children. We all went to Makoko to celebrate Children’s Day. We
look for people that need help and use the camera to communicate this
need. This year, we are working on 100 unsung heroines. There was a
particular exhibition I was invited for and I was thinking of the kind
of image I was going to take. I decided to document Nigerian women in
trade and I went to Ojuwoye market. In the process of documenting
Nigerian women, I discovered they are extraordinary but nobody listens
to the ordinary Nigerian woman. People like Okonjo-Iweala make headlines
everyday but who would put that woman roasting corn by the roadside on
the front cover except she has stolen something? We have not paid
attention to how we can empower the everyday woman whereas top female
managers, bankers and the likes travel abroad to attend seminars. This
project seeks to search, identify, highlight by photography and
documentary, celebrate and empower the everyday Nigerian woman behind
the scenes, who is doing exceptional things and contributing to national
development. It is a big project and it is ongoing. We are working in
partnership with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, United States of
America consulate, Wimbiz, LEAP Africa etc.
You have won a number of awards…
I won Future Awards in
2012 as the Creative Artist of the Year. I led a team to win MTN
AfriNolly short documentary video last year where we won $25000.I won
the Etisalat Photography Competition in 2012; I also came first in the
Nigeria Climate Change competition.
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