Man, Dog, Surfboard
A Photograph by Daniella Almona
The wooden signpost, seen from behind, indicates the height from which the photograph was taken. From that perspective the half-naked young man and the straying dog are observed in their lonesome activities. To say the dog has strayed is less exact than to note the symmetry of its strides, a neat parallel to the edges of the wooden seat. The young man, sitting with his back hunched, with his hands folded across his laps, and a surfboard within reach, is as contemplative as a seafarer far from shore.
— Emmanuel Iduma
“We are diverse, limitless beings with rich cultures and beautiful stories.”
This photograph was taken in Tarkwa Bay, located on the shoreline of Lagos, Nigeria. I was born in Lagos and lived there for about 19 years but had never been outside the city. I moved back to Lagos earlier this year and made it my mission to explore and put myself out there now that I was older and could move around with a bit more freedom. Someone reached out to me to film a short documentary on the beach and we would camp out there for two nights. It was an adventure I couldn’t turn down. An easy yes. A 30-minute drive and boat ride later, we were outside the city and on this island where time lost meaning and the air felt fresher and lighter.
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.
I love the tones and composition of the photograph. It was one of those moments when you see something and think “I need to take a picture.”
He was also the first person I photographed at Tarkwa Bay and something about the stillness of this image makes me feel at peace. When I look at it I can hear the ocean and I see life. I am expanding the way I photograph people outside the studio portrait setup. I think the environment a person is in, their interests, and how they exist in their natural state, sometimes undisturbed, makes a portrait more intriguing than a simple headshot. Contextualizing their surroundings adds depth and uniqueness to each photograph. The story begins to expand as all these other elements in the frame make you ask questions or dream up a scenario in your head.
I use photography as a way to take back agency over how people who look like me are portrayed in the media. My body of work is focused on photographing people of color and feeling confident in our bodies and existence. I had a professor once tell me that taking pictures of only Black people is too limiting but I have to disagree. We are diverse, limitless beings with rich cultures and beautiful stories. We deserve to take up space and do so loudly in bold colors. I love documenting my days and the people I interact with and I use my photography to create a visual archive of these experiences and connections. Photography is impactful because it acts as a visual language that transcends borders. No matter where you are from in the world you can still feel connected to someone or their experiences through a photograph and that is powerful. It is also my way of connecting my inner thoughts to whatever space I find myself in.
With every photograph I take, I am aware of the unspoken trust between me and the ‘subject’ to photograph the best and truest parts of them.
— Daniella Almona
About Daniella Almona
Daniella Almona is a photographer and visual storyteller from Nigeria. Her work in digital and film photography uses portraiture as a form of connection. She graduated with a BFA in Photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design and is a member of Black Women Photographers, The Luupe, and Diversify Photo. See more of her work on her website, Instagram, and these features in The Luna Collective and Capture One.
LAST WEEK: “Holyday,” by DMT
The photo was taken in Heroldsbay, in December 2021. My grandmother had a white facemask on her face and hands, and my youngest brother, Gustav, was sitting on the couch. As my grandmother entered the living room, I was fascinated by her hands. I asked her to place them on Gustav's face, and gave him an eyeline to look at. I took the photo.
This is the 96th edition of this publication, which also read on web (best for viewing images), and via the Substack iOS/Android apps.
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. The most recent series is INDEX. 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.
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