Pilachi_Sketch [ BLOG ]

Introduction: Borne Out of Conflict

“As the country strives to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, Ghana’s foremost priority is to sustain its growth and translate national gains into poverty reduction for the most vulnerable. The EU, through the European Commission and the bilateral programmes of the member states, is a dedicated partner to the Government of Ghana in this effort…”

Each of these chapters is available for download by clicking on the image or on the highlighted text. Read more

It is a curious thing to consider, the call to action of a people — to stand up for something, to believe in something — to act with conviction. It is even more curious, just how disparaging we can be in our statements about and towards each other — as fellow Jamaicans — in vein efforts to get ahead.

A very good friend of mine encouraged me to leave Jamaica about eight years ago; he told me that I am “a big fish in a small pond.” A few years later, I mustered the courage and left Jamaica for different pastures. The tonal composition and requisite characteristics of the sought pastures were to be determined on the go. Read more

Soon after arriving in Jamaica, I had the opportunity to travel through the country with the Prime Minister and her entourage, on the campaign trail. It was wonderful; she is a dynamic and charismatic leader, with a penchant for the ever so invigorating public address.

On the first day traveling with the Prime Minister, I found myself in a vehicle three or so cars ahead of her vehicle in the convoy… so I decided to walk… or rather run alongside the vehicles in order to position myself to get better vantage points for unique photographs. Read more

One of the more revealing moments in my life,  occurred while conducting research in Ghana; it was on the day that I met and conducted an on camera interview with Rev. Jesse Jackson. I can’t say much more [owing to the embargo dated on the documentary and book]; but he gave me a definitive outline of the important role that we all play in the Diaspora, in the achievement of the Unified Africa.

He is an inspiring man, with tremendous presence. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.; Malcolm X; Marcus Garvey; again I am not one for hero worship, but you do not look into the eyes and shake the hands of a visionary of this magnitude every day.

Now, I can safely say, that I am comfortable with the D-200 camera. I now use it exclusively and feel so limited when the two 8.0 gb cards are full, and I have to revert to the D70. I loved that camera; but somehow, it feels as though it limits the potential of the subject I meet.
They say a poor tradesman blames his tools. That is not the case at all. I love the D70; it has served me well. It is just that the D200 feels as though it fits the recesses of my palm and gently coaxes my fingertips to release its shutter. Even the gentle shudder is welcoming. A pounding staccato in rapid progression [that was redundant and emphatic]; reminding me that with each shudder, there is an echo… a beckoning for the next release.

The mirror falls and the pressure is once again expressed as the subject comes into focus.

shudder.

I don’t usually take photos of ladies, because in someway that seems improper, given my marital status; however in passing, I took a photograph of a lady in Axim a few weeks ago, who under normal circumstances would not otherwise strike me as an interesting subject; yet when she commanded me to “picture [her]“, with the prelude of a bolstered commanding tone, I obliged; and found when I got home, that it was a very striking image; much softer than its misdirecting emotional forebear.

Something about her face just seemed to be comfortable and her expression of emotion with the camera was effortless. It was wonderful; I began to see “peace” as the beauty in the eyes of a lady. It was a moving experience to see the image on the screen; where in the moment, it was a shot in passing.

Today I met a few ladies who asked me to take their photographs. It seemed to be a similar experience. I was amazed at the texture that began to jump from the images. The intrigue behind the various pairs of glasses. The power in a smile and the grasp of a brow; and for some, the reaching out from the eyes while silently quivering in repose.

It is hard for me to look into the eyes of another person without beginning to see their pain; which is why it is so difficult for me to photograph Ambassador Bridgewater… I see a pain so deeply ingrained, and a fortress so firmly rooted, that I cannot help empathizing with, what I imagine to be the voiceless cry for just that… empathy. It is a vacant sorrow that I cannot quite come to terms with.

With some, I see masks, with an emptiness that knows no bounds. Yet somehow, with others, I am beginning to see more than just pain. I am seeing slowness… like a tributary; slow gliding movement… of a whisp on the brow; taut pearlescent shimmering…as with beads of salt water and sweat on moonlit skin.

I am seeing paintings again. And that makes me feel alive.

Now, here are a few photographs of Children in Ghana. The main concern I have, and the main reason I do not like to take photographs of people… I tend to see deep into the emotions of people (or maybe project my interpretation of their emotions, but in speaking with them or trying to capture a photograph, I only capture a mask… never an honest emotional expression. I dont like that.

With children it is different… they have not all learnt to express nuance and the subtlety of guise.

The Princess of Osu

The Queen of Axim

Pensive Schoolboy, Kumasi

Painful Teeth, Axim

Not one for hero worship, the ode to Herbie Hancock Surprised even me. Even more surprising is the fact that I am spending most of my time taking photographs of people, where under normal circumstances, I do not like to take photos of people. Here are a few shots from the now burgeoning collection of Ghanaian photographs [most of which are embargoed for the project that I am currently working on.] These, are not political in nature, so here they are: male celebrities.

Ozwald Boateng, International Fashion Designer

Samini - Rising Ghanaian Popular Music Star (Multi Ghana Music Award Winner)

King Ayisoba - Intuitive Styling at its best (Multi Ghana Music Award Winner)

Ozwald Boateng, International Fashion Designer

You never really know just how important something is, until it reminds you of when you first thought of it.

Herbie Hancock taught me to dream: to envision realities outside the disparate confines of suburban plight and dashed hopes and aspirations of middle management. Herbie Hancock taught me to imagine worlds that do not exist anywhere else but in the abstract musings of a meandering mind; alliteration not withstanding. Herbie Hancock taught me, at 5 years old, to eff the ineffable… to scru the inscruitable… to dream big and realize bigger.

I never met Herbie Hancock until this afternoon [ almost 25 years later ]. Read more

Having bitten the bullet and finally purchased a Nikon D-200 camera, to accompany my Nikon D70, and the D80 I use for UNICEF… it was an adjustment.

I must admit, I got a bit lazy using all the fancy shmancy features on the almost entirely automated D80 and its forebear, the now legendary D70.

I must say though… the D70 can make even a bad photographer look good. The D200 unfortunately, is not that forgiving.

The only way to learn… and to relearn the basic tenets of good un-lazy photography, is baptism by fire… so here it is… an experiment, with the D200. My subject, Shake Bongo… the phenomenal artist from King Ayisoba’s performance ensemble (the man flying in the air in some other pictures on this blog). He indulged me with a few billowing clouds of smoke.