Whomever Hideth Your Beauty Hideth The Wind

A Photograph by Alfred Quartey

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The crest of a hand on a head, a lidded eye, a broad smile. He is either conscious of being photographed or has held an unconscious pose so fitting his face seems ready-made. He is surrounded by a splash of silk, whose colors are as lavish in their display as in a riotous design. Is he lying or leaning? Has he placed his head atop the bulge of a body or over a mass of clothes? Which ever is the case, his comfort does not seem misplaced or unearned.

— Emmanuel Iduma

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“The photo was ‘complete,’ straight out of camera.”

It was taken in the Aburi Botanical Gardens, in the Eastern Region of Ghana. We shot it with available light, on a Fuji body. The how it was created is the reason it's so dear to me.

It's one of my personal favourite from Lifeliveth's S/S F/W 2022 collection. Yaw Tony (the artist) gave us 100% creative control on the shoot, and this was like a breath of fresh air. It's usually not the case with fashion brands so his trust in us was dear to me. This photo (moment) was completely by chance; rain clouds began gathering, wind blowing branches all over, and catching this specularity proved difficult. Someone cracked a joke about the circumstances and how Ishaq (the model in frame) had dozed off in Dela (2nd model's) arms while we chased the light, and in that moment, everything stayed still, everything aligned. I immediately knew the photo was "complete," straight out of camera.

I try to keep everything true to the scene. Very early in my career I realized how easy photo manipulation is, and how dangerous it could be. This continues to guide me.

— Alfred Quartey

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About Alfred Quartey

“I'm Alfred Quartey, and I photograph to remember. People, places, and shadows fascinate me, so they tend to feature alot in my images. The interaction of all 3 is always different, and yet, the same. I try to show emotion (of all forms) and character in my pictures.” Find out more about Quartey on his website, and through this feature on Bittersweet Monthly.

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Last Week — Jean-fidèle

The photograph was taken at Ketu, Lagos, Nigeria. I took it on one of my daily walks. I had observed the agbero—as they are popularly known in Lagos—having a disagreement with the bus conductors and one thing led to another and they were at each other's throats. I quickly composed myself and my gear and took this photograph just as the bus conductor got into the bus and the driver was about to drive off. The agbero, clearly not having it, didn't want to let go. 

Read More: Owo Da?

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This is the 55th edition of this publication. The newsletter can also read on web (best for viewing images), and via the Substack iOS/Android apps. Every week I feature one photograph and the photographer who took it: you’d read a short caption from me, and a statement from the photographer. My goal is to support early to mid-career African photographers by engaging with their work, and to create a platform in which photographers lead the cataloguing and criticism of their work. If this newsletter was shared with you, consider subscribing, or forward to a friend. Please whitelist the newsletter to ensure you never miss it.