Nigerian photographers spread hope amid pandemic

Nigerian photographers have come together to spread hope and reignite creative minds dampened by the coronavirus pandemic.

On Saturday, nearly 100 photographers visited a low-income neighborhood in Abuja where talents met, learned, networked, and connected with one another.

Speaking at the event titled, ‘Colors of Hope: Surviving Covid-19 Pandemic,’ Bayo Omoboriowo, President Muhammadu Buhari’s personal photographer, said young creative photographers need to step up their game in order to level up with international standards in story-telling.

Omoboriowo, who happens to be the founder of Unabashed Creative Village, spoke after the photo walk and critique session with the participants.

“Photography is a tool for social change, and it’s time for young Nigerian creatives to step up their game, and begin to level up with international standards in story-telling,” he added.

“It’s time to stop bringing photographers from the US and UK to photograph stories in Nigeria, this must stop because Nigeria photographers are rising and that’s what this photo walk and foundation represents.”

The event, which has been in existence for over five years, has continued to grow and provide jobs for creative photographers and artists who are mostly young people of the hub.

At the end of the photo walk, the top 5 photographers were rewarded with the best images.

ABOUT MAY 1ST PHOTO WALK

May 1st photo walk was conceived for the primary purpose of bringing creatives out of their comfort zones due to the global COVID-19 pandemic which has held a lot of people down. We further want to re-ignite the creativity of Nigerian photographers and artists whose sense of creativity has been dampened by the pandemic.

We need these burdened photographers to be challenged to use their photography skills and tools in a different way bearing in mind that photography is a tool for social change and that change is needed now than ever before especially considering how many hopes have been dampened due to the global pandemic which is why the theme is “Colors of Hope: Surviving Covid-19 Pandemic”

It can be a source of inspiration if you feel like you’re in a photography rut. It can also be a time of learning new techniques and sharing your own knowledge and ideas with fellow photographers.

We are giving opportunities for photographers to network with other professionals who they share the same interest with and be inspired to take their craft to a global level.

For this reason, we built in seven days a 100 seater critique room which would be a space we would use for the critique session and would also be a creative hub for sustained momentum even after the photo walk.

In a nutshell, we want to get photographers and artists out there to once again explore their surroundings, exercise their creativity, and give hope to their subjects amid the global pandemic.

This year’s edition was held at the Unabashed village in Abuja.

Below are photos from the walk.