Olukunle Opeyemi Ojeniran is a studio photographer who has spent over two decades in photography. His passion for the profession made him dump his Accountancy certificate for the camera. The entrepreneur has a photo studio in Owode Ede, Osun State, but engages in other aspects including cinematography. He helped himself through school with the support of his parents and his earnings from photography as a student. In this interview, he shares his experiences in transiting from analogue to digital photography and why creativity is key to the profession.
Considering the years you’ve spent as a professional photographer, how would you describe the transition from analogue to digital photography?
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The transition from analogue to digital redefined photography. The good thing is that photography keeps evolving. The knowledge
of yesteryears is not enough to carve a niche in the profession nowadays without some training. The technological innovation has enhanced photography but at a great disadvantage to those that cannot afford digital equipment. In the analogue era, it was cheaper to get relevant equipment to start. But with the digital transformation
comes ease and speed.
How did your journey into photography start?
I got the inspiration from my brother, Dr Tunde Adegbite. When I finished secondary school in 1997, I was just roaming the street as admission into tertiary institution was not easy then. I visited him and he introduced me
to one of his friends who was a photographer. I started developing interest in it and what started as a pastime turned bigger, and today, it is my source of livelihood.
How can younger people strive in the profession?
They should be focused and most importantly, they should ensure they derive joy and
satisfaction in it. There are days that they would want to give up but that joy and satisfaction will see them through. It will be difficult to progress and prosper in whatsoever you are doing which you don’t derive joy from.
They should have the vision and they should see it as something that gives them joy. Also, they should not wait until they have the huge capital to start. The equipment is now costly. Aside the cost, the equipment keeps evolving. You can get an equipment today and some months later, more sophisticated ones will come out, but that should not pressure them into unnecessary competition. With persistence, hard work and God, they would be elevated. They should make use of whatever they have presently to keep developing their talents.
Do you think photography is threatened by advanced possibilities of smartphones?
That poses a challenge to us. Almost all phones come with a camera. Most people use their phones for their pictures but these can’t compete with what a professional photographer does. No doubt there are some things people can do with their smartphones but the digital camera in the hand of a professional will still stand out. But the mentality of ‘I don’t need a photographer’ affects us. Notwithstanding, I have to keep developing myself and improve my works so that I can be different and distinct. People believe they can do a lot of things on their phone but as a professional, you have to use your initiative and creativity to do better.
Some photographers now rely on digital camera – usually its automatic capabilities in focusing and zooming – as an excuse not to improve their skills, which is bad. There is more to photography than just taking photographs. I acquire more knowledge always to elevate my works and also motivate people around me.
Talking about the analogue era, what do you miss most about photography then?
I miss many things. It was interesting taking photographs then because it involved a lot of drama. You had just one chance to get it right and getting it wrong meant more money and wasted film. So, you had to be sure the subject was well prepared with a lot of adjustments, then lighting and other things. The drama was fun. And people had to wait for days before getting their photographs because if the film is not exhausted, you won’t want to print. There was no opportunity for preview also. Imagine the subject blinking after all the drama, you won’t notice until after some days when the photographs are printed.
Then the drama in the dark room. Photography then was stressful but I somehow built my fun around it. However, the digital era has modified and made things easier but I miss many things then that made photography interesting.
What drives your desire to succeed?
In whatever you are doing, you must see it as something that gives you joy. What you do not derive joy from won’t take you to the higher level. Photography is my passion and I derive joy from it. Anything I do in relation to photography always gives me joy because of the passion I have for it. Also, photography, regardless of the genre, is lucrative and brings job satisfaction. There is a feeling you get with every click of the shutter.
