The Confessions Of A Serial Photographer

Nigeria Tue 09-02-2010

The Confessions Of A Serial Photographer
Ireyimika Oyegbami/ 234Next.com

Artist-photographer Uche Okpa Iroha was treated to a surprise cocktail and photo show at La' Saison Restaurant, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Saturday, January 30.

His wife, Joy, organised the event to celebrate the Seydou Keita Grand Prize for the Best Photographic Creation won by the artist at the last edition of the African Biennale of Photography, held in Bamako, Mali.

Mrs. Okpa Iroha herself emceed the event attended by artistic director of the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Bisi Silva, members of the IB09 travel photographers and the Black Box Photography Collective.

Late Nite Callers by Uche Okpa-Iroha

Uche Okpa-Iroha | Late Nite Callers | 2007

Some of Okpa Iroha's photographs, including those that had won him awards in the past and selected by his wife, were shown to the guests on a screen.

Artists and change

The discussion centred on Okpa Iroha and his art. "Artists also engage in the political sphere and photographs speak the simple truth," said the artist who sees photographers as change agents.

Silva weighed in with, "Photography has been in existence for a long time. It has been a tool since the colonial era used to document the people, their culture and of course, the resources which the colonialists were out to cart away."

The curator noted that the medium has evolved into an art over time but that Nigeria has a lot to do to carve a niche for itself in photography.

She added that among other genres, narrative photography has not yet been explored by Nigerian photographers. "The potential is there but is yet to be utilised," she explained.

Silva had only praise for Okpa Iroha who also won the Fondation Blachère Prize for Emerging Artist at the Bamako Encounters.

"Having won at the Bamako Encounters, Uche will proceed on a residency programme in France soon. It is good he says he is yet to arrive; he still has a long way to go.

But with his exhibited drive and passion, he is bound to get there," she said.

A new love

A 1997 graduate of Food Science and Technology from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Okpa Iroha became interested in photography in 2004.

Underbridge Life by Uche Okpa-Iroha

Series: Underbridge Life | 2009 | © Photo: Uche Okpa-Iroha

His cousin, Uche James Iroha, Amaize Ojeikere and other photographers visited London where he was then residing. "I saw their work, got inspired by it and the following day, I went out to get a camera," he recalled.

He started by photographing ‘moving waters' including the River Thames. Back in Nigeria, he continued taking pictures of rivers but was no longer satisfied doing only this.

"Much like what I experienced with photographing the Thames, I felt this doesn't make sense to me."
He took up street photography in 2007.

"I feel more fulfilled and my award (The ‘Life in My City' competition organised by the French Cultural Centre, Enugu,) that same year encouraged me to keep up with photographing street people.

However, the Keita award is a challenge for me to work harder."

Miranda, Nikon and Canon

Some of Okpa Iroha's works include ‘Intrusion' - snapped from a cousin's living room. "The people were not aware, it was like using binoculars to spy on people's lives," he explained. "I am still working on the ‘Molue Series' and the ‘Unknown Soldiers' is done in silhouette in order to disguise the men engaged in back breaking work," he said of his current engagement.

He also disclosed how his ‘Me' came into existence. He stated that he had to wash an aluminium kettle thoroughly so it could reflect very well.

"I am the subject here and I had to read the lights well enough to get this shot." As for ‘Ghana Vs Guinea'which shows football fans waving their hands, Okpa Iroha revealed that he captured the image from his television set.

Among his notable shots taken so far, the artist confesses a fondness for ‘Bright', a football image showing a boy holding a ball.

"I went for a three weeks workshop in Ajegunle, Lagos and this young man named Bright followed me around asking that I take his photograph. I obliged him.

" The photograph became the cover image for an edition of Farafina Magazine.

Most of his works, the photographer disclosed, are done in series. ‘Underbridge Life' which won him the Keita Prize is an example.

"The judges felt my work adequately fitted in with the theme of the art festival, ‘Borders'. You find people living under the bridge in Lagos while the exotic fast cars move over them.

There is this invincible line between the super rich and the super poor in Nigeria, yet these people living under the bridge just like the rich, are working hard and dreaming of owning a home. Don't be surprised that there's a school under the bridge too."

Underbridge Life by Uche Okpa-Iroha

"Labour Force 4" | Uche Okpa Iroha

Which is more important, your equipment or inner self? Artist Duke Asidere asked Okpa Iroha. The photographer replied that he uses a small Miranda camera, a Nikon film camera and a Canon.

But ultimately, "it is not about the camera but what I want to do with the work. I can work with any camera." ‘ "The first photographic equipment is actually the human eye," another photographer, Chriss Nwobu, offered.

"Photography is one of the most democratic artistic mediums," Silva told someone who wanted to know if non-photographers with cheap cameras or camera phones could contribute to photography in Nigeria.

And as Uche Okpa Iroha revealed, ‘Bright' was shot with a very small camera.

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