I’ve been having a great time in Accra, but not nearly enough time to spend on the details of every cool product or invention that I see. In the meantime, here are a couple pictures from around Ghana that will whet your appetite for what is coming up in the next week:
A trash collector on a trike
A roadside motorcycle mechanic
Carrying tables and chairs
Hauling “trucks”
there have been a lot of pictures like these that i’ve wanted to take – stuff seen from a cab or trotro or something – but it often seems to bug people to have drive-by photos taken by white (= not black) people. i mean nobody says anything but you can see it. any thoughts on this or how to approach this?
@Paul – There is no reason to feel bad about drive-by shooting done discreetly.
http://gallery.ruwenzori.net/main.php/v/travel/2009-Ghana_western_coast_tandem_Pauline/20090215_152735_7425_Ghana_western_coast_tandem.jpg.html
But if you don’t like it you can opt for the other approach to street photography : talk to the subject. Small talk can go far – just saying hello might break the ice. Or slight flattery like “whoah that is a lot of chair you are carrying” while you take a “do you mind if I take a picture” gesture will relax the atmosphere. Or take a minute to actually have a conversation – then you will have all the time you want to take a few pictures and have a good one, and the conversation is often even more interesting than the pictures !
http://gallery.ruwenzori.net/main.php/v/travel/2009-Ghana_western_coast_tandem_Pauline/20090216_130930_7676_Ghana_western_coast_tandem.jpg.html
http://gallery.ruwenzori.net/main.php/v/travel/2009-Ghana_western_coast_tandem_Pauline/20090226_141347_9136_Ghana_western_coast_tandem.jpg.html
Of course sometimes it does not work… Those guys were working – greeting them from afar and taking a single picture with a smile only earned me rude gestures…
http://gallery.ruwenzori.net/main.php/v/travel/2009-Ghana_western_coast_tandem_Pauline/20090215_153014_7429_Ghana_western_coast_tandem.jpg.html
I’m only beginning to grasp the social skills required for street photography, but I guess that the basic approach of establishing human contact naturally works… I just have to practice much more !
U r right Paul but not all blacks have the freewill to take shots. For instance i tried taken a shot of a very interesting scene at a trotro station and whoa i was almost beaten up. So u c the whites take pics and get the looks but the home ppl take shots and they get what i will call “thats a journalist, get him.” kind of treatment. lol
Paul u can try taking the shots from distances like in the pic above with the guys pushing the truck, that i will say will be the only best way but if u want close and personal, then u may have to let them know ur intentions. Cudos on your taking of shots spree. lol
The hauling trucks often double as a car when going downhill or when one of the two Ghanaians get tired.
These are wonderful pictures depicting everyday life! I have included a link back to your blog from my post today “Around The Blogosphere 13 August 09.”
great peice of work done fanastic pictures i like them very much A+ grade
humm! nice photography art, i will to give A grade
very reality!