Together, yet apart
A Photograph by Abdullahi Ali
This is the 198th edition of Tender Photo, a newsletter on African photography supported by MPB.com.
Two boys occupy the foreground of a monochrome frame. One stands facing the camera, his arms at his sides, his lengthy T-shirt falling almost to his knees. The other sits barefoot on a low wall with his ankles crossed. His gaze is turned away. Their differing postures establish two ways of inhabiting the same afternoon: one child offers his attention to the lens, while the other lends his to the unseen world beyond the frame.
—Olaniyi Omiwale
“I just love to take photos of people and things I find interesting.”
I shot this in Yaba market in Lagos. I went to the market with my camera for once and decided to capture things and people I found interesting on the way, and these boys and I had a brief conversation and I ended up getting that shot at the end of it.
The boys being together but looking in different directions represents how two people who love each other, either romantically or platonically can still coexist while also sharing different views of the world and life as a whole. Disagreement creates a natural dissonance, but sometimes the love still keeps the bridge safe from burning.
My approach is simple, I just love to take photos of people and things I find interesting. Sometimes I attach meanings to these things, places and conversations I have. The impact of these conversations and pictures for me is a deep feeling of fulfillment that I’ve created a capsule of a moment that can be relived forever, and that’s very special to me.
— Abdullahi Ali
About Abdullahi Ali
Abdullahi Ali is a self-taught photographer raised in Abuja, Nigeria. He draws inspiration from nature and nostalgia, aiming to craft images that resemble memories. Although he once relied on his phone, a DSLR introduced him to deeper learning, higher-quality work, and broader editing choices. Photography for Abdullahi involves looking at the world constantly and finding ways to make others see it the way he does. That in itself involves a lot of work, research and practice to be able to bring a tangible vision that can be shared for the world to see. See more of Abdullahi Ali’s work on his Instagram.
One More Thing
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Apply to: LensCulture Photobook Prize 2026
The inaugural LensCulture Photobook Prize offers one photographer the opportunity to transform an unpublished project into a beautifully designed, professionally printed, and internationally distributed photobook—fully funded. In partnership with Nazraeli Press, the winning project will be designed, produced, and distributed worldwide. Additional prizes go to 5 Shortlisted and 10 Finalist photographers.
Deadline: August 12, 2026. Get the full details and submit here.
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A very beautiful image