Two photos

This is a very common sight when you pass through the streets of old Lagos. Public transport comes from "tokumbo" vehicles - those that have served their lifeltime in Europe and find their usefulness after retirement (see the yellow bus) and even death (see the white bus at the right) in Nigeria.

If you have to haul materials there is the option to call the "truck men" - not the lorries (at the right) but those with muscles. No wonder Nigeria has so much potential for sports.

Gardenia

One of the more common flowers at Iroto Conference Centre is gardenia. I made this shot of a bunch of them aware of the green leaves background. The contract of the white petals with the deep green background is attractive.

Uchenna Uzo

It has always been a challenge for me to be able to take good photos of black people. It was only lately that I discovered a technique that always work: have a green background, preferably leaves of a tree. Usually it is better to use a tele-lens, in the case aboe I used a zoom 135-300mm. Keep a distance of at least 10 meters from the subject, then shoot.

Uchenna is a senior boys in our school. He has two other brothers, one has graduated and the other younger one who is now entering the senior school.

Graduation 2006

I always like this photo. When shown to my friends from abroad they ask, "Where in Spain is this school? Wait a minute.... why are all students black? Of course, this is not Spain, this is Whitesands!"

The background of the brick building, the green leaves of the Ficus tree, the foreground of the grass lawn make the picture somehow attractive.

Fine Arts Awards

For a couple of years now Whitesands School has been winning awards in fine arts competitions. Students in our senior school have competed with thousands of other students from all over Nigeria. The photo above shows Mrs, Angela Arize, the proud mother of Chinedu who got the third place in the 2006 Texaco National Arts Competition. The second and the first place were also won by our students namely Stonji Hotonu and Dinisu Onyenokwe respectively.
Interestingly enough we did not even get to know that our students have won until officials of Texaco came to our school to give the prizes to our students. Furthermore, it was the work of the third place winner, Chinedu Arize, that got published in the Texaco 2007 calendar.

Where are you?

My nephews and niece are the apple of my eyes. Some eight months ago my niece, Mikou, celebrated her 18th birthday. The family arranged a debut party for her. Silent Sanctuary, the band of her eldest brother Chino, played in that party. I have the photo of that event sent by my brother Garrie with the three siblings: Peepo, Mikou, and Chino doing a performance.

Welcome

I have just opened a blogsite. I will use this medium to transmit my thoughts as they come - of course, if and when I got a chance to write them.

I have this photo taken when we had an excursion to the Conservation Area of Lekki. In the midst of the chaos of the thick forest swamp the footpath gives the direction. I love this photo. It gives the impression of calmness.