Lady with Hair
Here’s a face of a person looking to the side, framed against a mirage of colours. Also noteworthy is the degree to which the photograph has been edited to reveal a uniform, brown tone. The look here is a confrontation that first startles—or shocks in its directness—before it settles. Like the touch of a cold hand before it turns warm.
— Emmanuel Iduma
“I want to produce what I have in mind and what excites my eyes.”
This image was taken in Accra. It was for Kuukua Eshun, a very brilliant Ghana film director, who gave me the creative freedom to capture African hair and beauty in a very colourful way. It was for her film Born of the Earth and that's how my mind saw African hair and beauty so I captured it that way. I usually shoot with natural light.
Growing up I saw the heavy influx of “beauty” products that enabled women to bleach and tone their skins, thus making them look light skinned and fair. I wasn't really a fan of that, so when I started taking editorial images it was my intention to highlight the beauty of dark skin and it is something that has always stuck with me.
Honestly when I pick up a camera it's not to be impactful or to follow a particular approach. I want to produce what I have in mind and what excites my eyes. I basically follow what I am led to do and what I like. I don't really care about anything else.
— Nana Kwadwo Agyei Addo
About Nana Kwadwo Agyei Addo
A 25-year-old Ghanainan photographer and artist, Nana Kwadwo Agyei Addo has been taking pictures for over 10 years. See more of his work on his website and on Instagram.
Last Week — Jansen van Staden
During a walk around Cape Town’s CBD, I noticed a crowd of people gathered, all looking up and pointing to a small open window across the road. Through the sirens of fire trucks and an ambulance, I heard someone scream “jump” followed by laughter from the crowd. The window was too small for a person, I thought. Turns out it was just a false fire alarm and an open window.
Read More: Untitled
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This is the 57th edition of this publication. The newsletter can also read on web (best for viewing images), and via the Substack iOS/Android apps. Every Wednesday 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.