Drum Magazine Issue 5 | Page 36

DA505 main 34 26/7/05 7:03 pm Page 34 Drum: PHOTOGENIC It was this love of community that first encouraged me to pick up the camera. You see, my stepfather, he’s like one of those true pragmatists. He’s a builder. He doesn’t acknowledge the aesthetics of things and such; it wasn’t of their way. So me, talking to him about gonna be a photo- grapher, an artist, and take pictures, he’s like, “Where does that belong in the world of making money?” That’s when I thought, I’m gonna educate you here. I went about my thing, did my research, came back to him and said, “Look, I’m gonna give you a chance to give me your blessing. I’m gonna pick up this camera because I’ve discovered it, and it’s changed my world. Through this camera, you can interpret and share your vision. And I’ve just realized how much I’ve been seeing through everybody else’s eyes without even questioning it.” The Caller, Acuben, Ghana