Adorama’s Through the Lens is a web docu-series which highlights the evolving aesthetic of photography as seen through this generation’s creator class. In its most recent season, filmmaker Akinyemi Akinola captures the work of Nigerian photographers who shoot everything from product to fashion photography. I had the opportunity to speak with Akinola to discuss what influenced his production of Through the Lens: Nigeria.
What inspired you to make Through the Lens: Nigeria?
I stumbled on Through the Lens (TTL) back in 2016 while searching for photography tutorials on YouTube. Since then, I have followed the release of every episode of TTL. It has been a huge source of inspiration for me. But I could not help but notice that there was very little African representation.
Africa has an abundance of creative photographers and I believe that putting them in the spotlight through a web series like TTL would usher in a ton of international recognition and appreciation to the years of hard work that these photographers have spent perfecting their craft, while simultaneously serving as a source of inspiration to others worldwide.
And since I currently live in Nigeria, I was inspired to start from here and make TTL Nigeria.
How would you describe your creative process?
I did not want the episodes to be monotonous. I shortlisted top photographers that shoot a wide range of genres cutting across fashion, product, wedding, children, and editorial. In addition to that, I shot the episodes across two locations: Lagos and Abuja. Lagos, being the economic capital where there is a large concentration of creatives, and Abuja, being the capital of Nigeria. I also wanted a form of gender balance in the series so I featured two male photographers and three female photographers.
How and when did you fall in love with filmmaking/photography?
My journey into photography started in 2014 when I arrived in Russia. I was fascinated by the sites and people in the country and started documenting them on my mobile phone. In late 2015, I bought my first camera (Canon 700d). By 2016, I kickstarted my photography career shooting landscapes, events, and portraits.
Over time, I realized that a single frame was not enough to tell certain stories. I wanted the viewer to see what transpired before and after that “single frame.” In 2019, I decided to delve into the world of filmmaking as well.
Have you been inspired by any filmmakers or artists, living or dead, and how has their work influenced your own?
Johnny Harris and Tayo Aina have been huge sources of inspiration to me. I love the way they effortlessly tell topical stories with amazing cinematography.
Looking at their work, I have been inspired to not just create but, rather, tell impactful stories that resonate globally.
The intention of Through the Lens: Nigeria is to highlight some amazing photographers in your home country of Nigeria… What do you hope to accomplishment with the series?
Given how much the TTL series inspired my journey, my hope is that TTL Nigeria would be a fresh source of inspiration to as many as might need it. I hope the stories of these amazing Nigerian photographers can reaffirm the abundance of creative talents in Nigeria and bring about more collaborations for all of us.
Through the Lens: Nigeria is currently available to watch on YouTube.
