The Small Sum of a Life
Affinities between photographers in the Tender Photo archive
Quick, intimate portraits that give a hint of storied lives.
“Stranger Tourist”
The photograph was captured towards the conclusion of my project on a friendship with Momo tested by drug addiction. Momo had been unable to sleep due to extended crystal meth use, spanning around 6 or 7 days—though the exact duration eludes my memory. Eventually, he managed to find rest on the same mattress that had remained unchanged for years. Significantly, the presence of the mattress holds a certain potency for me, as it encapsulates Momo's life more comprehensively than I ever could. It serves as a symbolic description of his journey.
— Farres Zaitoon
“A Former Member of Boko Haram”
I chose this particular photo because of the young man’s story which I found quite poignant. He shared the story of how he was misled and lost his teenage years to become a mid-level commander and one of Boko Haram’s key assassins. At some moment while listening to him calmly share his role and how he assassinated and slaughtered people, I would want to punch and strangle him. Another moment I felt like giving him a hug to tell him I’m sorry he lost his teenage years and was misled to join Boko Haram. As much as he wanted redemption, he was aware of the consequences of his past and saw it as fate.
— Tom Saater
“Once There Was a Tram”
I chose this photograph because I was inside the old tram, and I saw this man with his wife carrying a lot of belongings with them. We were the only passengers in the tram at the time, and his face caught my attention. I took several pictures of him and then struck up a conversation. I asked him about where he was from and showed him the pictures I had taken. I was interested in learning more about his story and the significance of the tram in his life. This encounter was a part of my ongoing interest in capturing the unique and compelling stories of people I come across during my photography journey.
— Fatma Fahmy
“Light Up”
This particular image was made the night Bridget, my mother, just returned from church and was trying to call her older sister after receiving news of her brother's death as a result of a long-term illness. He lived in Warri, Delta State, and his wife had refused his family members from seeing him for a long time. She handled his calls and access to the house. Bridget also lost one of her patients (also a friend) the previous day due to a misunderstanding that forced her to stop treatments.
— Chris Iduma
“Man, Dog, Surfboard”
We walked to the surf club building, put our bags away and I stood on the balcony because the view was breathtaking. The sun was setting and groups of friends had taken to the waves, locals who sold fresh coconut water vouched for their unmatched prices and couples walked down the shore, hands intertwined. Still looking down, I noticed the person in the frame. He looked very deep in thought or maybe he was taking in the environment the same way I was. The dog ran into the frame as I was about to take the photograph and it felt perfect. A few minutes later he was balanced on his surfboard in sync with the waves.
— Daniella Almona
“Kenya, 1996”
I have kept journals of my travels throughout the past nine years. Sometimes I’ve only notated names and addresses of individuals to whom I wish to send or bring back photographs; at other times, views of a particular time and place.
— Robert Lyons
This is the second edition of AFFINITIES. Every Friday in March and April, I’m rereading the statements by the 100 photographers featured between February 9, 2022 and January 10, 2024, and finding affinities between how they describe their themes or process. Read the first edition here.
TENDER PHOTO is a bi-weekly newsletter on African photography. Every Wednesday we feature a photograph and a short caption about it, and include a statement from the photographer. Every Friday, we publish commentaries or photo-essays in response to photographs previously featured on the newsletter. Our goal is to engage with early to mid-career African photographers by creating a platform in which they lead the cataloguing and engagement with their work.