By Adefoyeke Ajao

Since photography was introduced to Nigeria in the 19th century, its history and practice have been dominated by male photographers – J.A. Green, Chief Solomon Osagie Alonge, Peter Obe, J.D. Okhai Ojeikere and Tam Fiofori are just some of the prominent names one discovers when studying this rich history. Until recently, the professional female photographer was a rare species, as women were more likely to be in front of a camera than behind one.

In a bid to narrow this gap in representation, GTBank, the leading financial institution, recently hosted aspiring female photographers at the Days of Dorcas Photography Workshop. The intensive 6-day programme, which was held at the Herbert Macaulay Library in Lagos between 28th May 2018 and 2nd June 2018, included 25 participants who were selected from a keenly contested online competition, where contestants were asked to represent “the elegance of the African people” through their work.

Anchored by experienced artists and photographers Jumoke Sanwo, TY Bello, Bénédicte Kurzen, Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko, and Uche Okpa-Iroha, the conversations and activities at the workshop covered the fundamentals of photography as well as post-production and editing techniques – especially using camera functions and settings to improve the quality of images. Apart from the masterclasses, the workshop also featured mentoring sessions where participants aired their challenges and received feedback and professional advice from the facilitators.

The workshop was a rewarding experience for the participants as the speakers encouraged them to leave their comfort zones and extend the frontiers of their craft. They were urged to reimagine photography as visual storytelling and an outlet for showcasing their creativity and to see pictures not as mere snapshots, but as testaments to the photographer’s ingenuity.

During the workshop, the shutterbugs were each tasked with creating a portfolio of images that was presented before a panel of judges made up of the speakers. This practical challenge was won by Grace Ekpu, who went home with a Canon EOS 80D DSLR camera + a Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM lens. Favour Ogundimu, the runner-up, won a Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM lens worth N250, 000. Other participants received Art635 souvenirs and opportunities to participate in Art635 events.

The Days of Dorcas Photography Workshop, a GTBank CSR initiative, attracted applications from female African photographers aged between 18 and 39. The workshop was a springboard for participants to develop perspectives, styles and personalities that could be seen through their images. It was a welcome intervention that focused on exposing an overlooked demographic to the multiple possibilities available within their profession.