Once in a while, we bring you interesting and inspiring interviews with young people; from creatives to craftsmen. Today’s special is Kayode Adegbola, budding photographer and Law Student.  At WRT, we know what it takes to put out a good picture/photo. While anybody can walk into a camera shop, purchase the most expensive camera(s), call themselves bogus titles and purchase the latest version of image editing softwares; it still takes natural instinct and a keen eye for details for you to turn out a good photo.

So, here we are…with a little Question and Answer session, we try to get the quick details out of an enthusiastic photographer, who has set his sights on professional photography; this is for all our readers that have been curious about photography, getting started and how to stay loving the art. Enjoy…

WRT: For those unfamiliar with you and your works, can you tell us a bit about yourself ? Who is Kayode Adegbola ?
KayodeA: I’m an 18-year old, studying Law at Queen Mary, University of London, and an enthusiastic photographer. Otherwise, I’m interested in music, fashion, politics and current affairs.

WRT: How long have you been a photographer?
KayodeA: If counting from when I began to take photographs more seriously, and when I made my first effort at publishing my work, then it will be a bit over two years now. Between June and September 2007, I worked with Bookcraft publishers on a photobook titled “Desiderata – it’s still a beautiful world”. The book is a showcase of beautiful photograhs and Max Ehrmann’s beautiful poem “Desiderata”.

At the time I hadn’t built a big enough portfolio to choose photos from, so I was assisted by a handful of photographers and family/friends (Kathy Howe and Jide Alakija; Dolapo Taiwo and Dolapo Omokanwaiye). Proceeds from the sale of the books went to one of the Children’s wards at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

WRT: What or who got you started in photography?
KayodeA: I realised my passion for photography towards the end of my Secondary School education in 2007. However, looking back now I have come to realise that from even when I was much younger I have always appreciated the art of photograhy. I always had tear-outs from magazines on my bedroom wall, kept a scrapbook, and was drawn to books with photos in them, etc. So I guess it has been a life-long love affair.

I was primarily influenced by the photography of Jide Alakija. I also admire the work of Seun O and many other gifted photographers. I have also recently discovered some vintage Nigerian photojournalism by Sunmi Smart-Cole on his personal website.

WRT: How would you describe your style?
KayodeA: I would describe my style of photography as creative photography and photojournalism. I also go through phases, like many artists do.

WRT: Are you involved in any other art/creative form/enterprise?
KayodeA: Besides photography, I am a music enthusiast (particularly Nigerian music). I have worked with a few musicians, and have covered a bunch of interesting concerts, including Femi Kuti at the London Jazz Festival in October 2008, and the Thisday Music Festival featuring R. Kelly in Lagos, July 2009.

WRT: What type of cameras do you shoot with?
KayodeA: I primarily shoot with a Nikon D40x, alongside my point-and-shoot Sony DSC-w150, and of course my mobile phone for the most exciting spontaneous shots!

WRT: If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
KayodeA: So far, the most impressive lens that I know is the Nikon 50mm 1.8. It is apparently the cheapest/one of the cheapest Nikon lenses made, and it is fantastically sharp. It was introduced to me by a photographer-friend Baba Akeredolu, and I don’t regret making the decision to purchase it.

[View with PicLens]

WRT: Do you use assistants on your photo-shoots or do you just work solo?
KayodeA: Ha ha, I work solo at this level. I believe that my kind of photography is my third eye thus anybody else’s point of view will obviously be different from mine. I reckon that perhaps I’ll need assistance on more commercial projects such as events, etc.

WRT: Digital versus film. We know the digital photography revolution bullied the film out of business. If you had to choose, which would it be?
KayodeA: Unfortunately, I have had very little contact with processing film photos; but I’m certainly looking forward to doing so. From the little I know though, I reckon that digital photography is more versatile; these days I regard film photographers as “niche” photographers.

WRT: Professional photography has caught on very well in Nigeria, what do you think this portends for the art form?
KayodeA: To me, the appreciation of contemporary photography in Nigeria is paving the way for wider acceptance of photography as a talent and an art form, and not just the clicking of a camera like most people think. It will also provide for the existence of a “photography market” which I am especially looking forward to.

WRT: What is your opinion on post-processing, especially enhancing pictures?
KayodeA: I usually do the most minimal post-processing on my photos. I’m not a big fan of “photoshop overdrive” as another photographer-friend Tosin Pedro calls it. I am not against this, but it is slightly different from my own art form.

WRT: Where is the most spectacular place you’ve ever been?
KayodeA: The most spectacular place I have been to is Dakar, Senegal. I was much younger at the time, so I’m definitely looking forward to going again and taking beautiful photos there.

WRT: Have you ever exhibited your works in a gallery/ photography exhibition?
KayodeA: I have not had an exhibition so far, but I’m planning my first one at the moment and werunthings.com will definitely be kept posted.

WRT: If you could live anywhere on this awesome planet where would you build your dream home?
KayodeA: That’s a tough question, I dream of a house in Morocco! But I definitely want my main home to be in Nigeria.

WRT: What would you say to other enthusiast photographers out there who aspire to achieve what you’ve achieved?
KayodeA: To other enthusiast photographers like myself, my advice is to keep pressing on. Don’t wait for inspiration, just go out and shoot and it’ll come. People will give conflicting ideas, you might even get confused! Just play by your own rules )

WRT: Thank you for your time Kayode
KayodeA: Thank you Shola!

Links:
http://kayodeadegbola.shutterchance.com

http://flickr.com/photos/kayodeadegbola