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What is it about photography that strikes me? The way light can transform an image, give it an edge, a different aesthetic. How the slightest movement, or change in the photographer’s angle, can catch a glance that streams emotion directly from the core (epi-center, soul) of his or her subject.
I have always been passionate about images, good images, striking images. But had never, until recently, been able to take the time out to develop what I thought was only a foundling interest.
Why did I create alakija.com?Alakija.com is my photographic inspiration. This website is my test bed. It is my personal (public and private) platform, which allows me to give effect to my thoughts, to my ideas, and to the images I make (the good, the mediocre and the bad) along the learning curve.
Where do I hope to go with this?I hope to inspire. I would love to be able to challenge and affect just one person’s outlook, their perspective, how they view the world. I find that society’s structures and codes limit creativity. I believe there is an artist in every person. We just have to be willing to take the time that’s needed to bring him or her to life.
What else is there to know about me?I am Nigerian, I live in London, and am working on a PhD in Biomechanics. Photography however has challenged a lot of things, and has effected many a change in my otherwise very normal life. Finding myself (who I am, and want to be as a photographer) in this art has been both incredible (
overwhelming even) and difficult. And my photoblog is simply a visual representation of the ups, downs and upside-downs (?) I experience along the way.
I have put my work on display in a few cities around the world, and have worked on commission for firms like
Afren and Unilever UK. I have also been featured in magazines (online and print) like
The Africa Report Magazine,
Farafina Magazine and
Lagos Live.
But I feel the need to stress that whilst I
do get paid by organizations, individuals and wedding couples etc for my work, and whilst I
do do other forms of commercial work, my focus is
photojournalism and not commercial photography. I run a small photography practice (
Alakija & Co Photography) and if you would like me to do something for you, yes, definitely, please get in touch (
info@alakija.com). But you must (please) bear in mind the fact that I do not have the backbone for everything commercial, neither is it where my strength (or passion) truly lies.”
Jide Alakija
The use of the images on this site without my consent is strictly prohibited. Commercial interest in my work is welcome.
Please contact me to discuss licensing and fees.
All text and images, unless otherwise noted, are subject to US and international copyright laws and are the property of Jide Alakija © 2005-7. No photograph may be reproduced, copied, stored, manipulated, or used whole or in part of a derivative work, without my written permission. All rights reserved.
please be encouraging, talk more about the subject
looking for critically constructive comments, can go technical
happy to hear any and all comments (i.e. bring it on!!)