Reinventing and Adapting During Coronavirus
A Photograph by Gordwin Odhiambo
Notice the hands in this photograph. And notice how the men, dressed in garments of varying colour, bear distinct eccentricities. Only the man in bright yellow seems in the middle of sentence, and the others indicate what degree of interest they’ve committed to the conversation—whether it is the man with his eyes wide, or the other with a thumb hovering over a phone, or the third with his head held down. The terrain is heavy with greenery. And so the man behind, at a remove from the ongoing parley, walks as though along an unmarked path. As no patch of earth is nameless, consider what lies on the horizon: hints of human habitation, life in the distance.
Gordwin Odhiambo: “Being able to see the past through visuals enables us to prepare for what's to come.”
The photos were taken in Nairobi, Kenya in the midst of the coronavirus in 2020. They form part of the winning series from the East African photography awards by Uganda Press Photo in 2020.
I took these photos during my regular photo walks in the community where I was born and bred. Being able to photograph at any time gives me more insight into everyday life.
This photography project showed the efforts made by the Kibera community amidst the pandemic. Despite the imminent threats of coronavirus faced due to its population size, local organizations and individual acts of kindness made sure that we were not going to face the worst of the situation. Faced with a pandemic, lockdowns, and the thoughts of where to get the next meal, individuals came together, organizations restructured and adopted new ways of serving its community. And when individual efforts were needed, fashion designers, philanthropists, artists, and midwives stepped up.
My earlier introduction into photography was mainly through community photography. Being able to tell everyday stories from my own community and shine a light on the beautiful things happening here is another opportunity to interact. Having more awareness of the subjects and people I'm photographing is essential for the photos to drive the story forward; I like to have conversations, initiate a rapport — this way, I believe, the photos will have more meaning.
Photography as a visual medium explores more than just societal issues; being able to see the past through visuals enables us to prepare for what's to come. As a photographer, telling the stories of my community has an influence on how it's viewed. Hence, I have a responsibility to narrate my stories to the necessary audiences for collaborative purposes, [to open] doors for individuals and communities in terms of development.
Two more photographs by Gordwin Odhiambo
These photographs are included in Gordwin’s series on adaptation and reinvention during the Covid-19 pandemic. What do you think about any of them? You can respond as a comment below.
Last week — Maheder Haileselassie
Photographs provide information and information is knowledge, which we always say is power. It's not just about the audience but also the photographer itself. It has this influence on you, so that if you have good intentions, it makes you become a better person. It makes you see people better and helps you understand and question your surroundings.
Read more: Awramba: A Self-Sufficient Community.
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That 3rd image!! ♥️