Through the Lens of a Noob
Smiles at the market and more than welcome advice
Image Credit: Rading Obyerodhyambo
Contributor’s Corner
Written by Rading Nyamwaya | PICHA Contributor
One of the things I love about African people, and I dare you to challenge me on this, is the fact that they are very homely and welcoming people. I love how you can interact with us and we’ll definitely make the time worthwhile. This happened when I met Rose, who was my first muse for my Kisumu shoots.
I found myself by the side of the road buying groceries and got to learn about Rose Odhiambo. She has been a good acquaintance to my parents over time, and when I thought about capturing a woman at the market, she immediately came to mind.
Upon meeting her, she quickly became one of my models and also a somewhat steady friend too. Rose is the kind of person who coerces you to purchase her products simply because of her warm personality and smile – she is also a beauty, and if you should tell her so (which I did), she will blush away, hiding behind bellowing laughter and tears.
I asked her if she could be my muse and also if she was comfortable letting me record her while I ask a few questions regarding her day-to-day life and the reason behind her joy. What are her story and the cause of her bubbly nature? She said she could do pictures, but videos make her nervous, and so I told her I could write about her instead.
The conversation went like this, or I remember it could have gone like this. My memory is not as it was when I was younger… haha:
“Rose utawacha nikupige picha?” (Will you let me take pictures of you?)
“Ehh!” (Yes)
“Na video ukijibu maswli kadha?” (And a video while you answer some questions?)
“Video hunifanya shy, si niongee tu alafu utakumbuka?” (Videos make me shy, how about I tell you what you need to know, and you try to remember)
“Sawa.” (Yes)
I whipped out my camera and my phone at the same time because I wanted to compare how both would perform. I also wanted to look like I meant business. I’ve been a strong advocate for phone photography, and switching to a hand-held camera means I get to fight the urge to set it to automatic and fumble about learning how to be a real professional.
You can go ahead and judge me but remember, you can also choose to laugh and remember when you started. Fun times, huh?
Given that Rose was very patient, I was able to switch between the two media and, admittedly, modes. I speedily learned that my camera takes better pictures in an outdoor setting with the sun at its peak, and I managed to capture some beautiful images of her while she sold and packaged our produce.
Her comrades, the other market women, were caught smiling sheepishly in the background of some shots, and at times, it’s truly one of the things that I also find entertaining and magical. They slowly came up behind her, and she became even more animated, giving me the right opportunity to take pictures of this organic happiness.
She said, “I love what I do. I love that I can do it well, and this gives me the happiness I need. I am content.”
As you think about Rose’s reasons for happiness, I remind you to always view my experiences and my stories through the lens of a noob. And should you find me shooting somewhere on auto, you’re allowed to look the other way instead of coming to fight me.
About the author
Rading Nyamwaya is an artistic, fun-loving alien in love with fashion, design, and clearing huge morsels of food. She finds beauty in being self and expressing the self, all the while spreading raging happiness like a female toreador.”
PICHA profile link – https://pichastock.com/contributor-login/raddienyamwaya/