#RapShootr | Photographing Ghana’s Yo-Yo Tinz
Words By Tseliso Monaheng
#Rapshootr’s a series of interviews with photographers who engage different elements of hip hop culture throughout the African continent with their practice. Some already have their own platforms while others are igniting their own fire beneath the radar of an international gaze. We spoke to founder Selorm Attikpo, who is a filmmaker, photographer and cultural promoter based in Accra, about documenting the Ghanaian hip hop scene.
HOW DID PHOTOGRAPHY FIND YOU?
I think I found photography. My initial interest was and still is film. I was introduced to a Canon 7d, if i remember correctly in 2011. I discovered I could have both photos and videos with just one camera and also the relief of not having to capture tapes. So just trying all the possibilities with a DSLR camera, I gradually developed an interest for photography.
WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST EXPERIMENTS WITH THE CAMERA?
My first experiments was to try how everything work in a manual setting. The shutter speed, aperture, the picture styles, iso -- everything just to understand exactly how they work. But the challenge was that I did not own a camera when I started so between when I get to practice and when I see a camera again, I would have forgotten some things already. But with time I just got it but sometimes a little rusty. Good thing is I managed to get a camera now and i have cameras around me most of the time.
WHAT INSPIRED THE CHOICE OF THE SET OF IMAGES YOU’VE SHARED WITH US?
The thing I like to capture the most is moments. I enjoy my subjects with attitudes or a lot of mannerisms. I want to show you your picture for you to question exactly when you did that move or to say, you got that?! Sometimes the subject is just dull and you would not exactly get some great moments and sometimes you will just love it !!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SUBJECT TO SHOOT? HOW DID YOU STUMBLE UPON IT, AND WHY THE SUBJECT SPECIFICALLY?
I love shooting concert I think, mainly because I get to capture lots moments, so anyone on stage with the right moves is my guy. [It is awesome if] the lighting is great since i almost don't shoot with flash. Apart from getting all those moments, I love to shoot people with style.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PEOPLE WHO’VE INFLUENCED YOUR STYLE OF PHOTOGRAPHY?
No I don't have people that influence me but I really do appreciate a lot of photographers online. I wish I could get my pictures to look as good as theirs. I guess that's where I need to get back to practicing. I have recently been looking to find out what makes some photographers the big deal by looking at their photos. Who knows I might just stumble on one that will eventually influence my photo. otherwise I look for an interesting background, mostly outdoors ask the subjects to be the self then I click to shoot. I don't stress myself too much apart from getting my settings right. But then again I'm sure all these photos online influence me somehow, but I'm not aware of exactly how. Imagery is a big deal in terms of structuring one's ideals or perceptions
HAVE ON-LINE SOCIAL PORTALS HELPED IN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY? HOW SO?
Yes it has. I get to see a lot of photos online that make me question my photos. It pushes me to find ways to make my photos look better . It also any easy way to show a potential client my works online which I have been bad at promoting especially in the filed of photography.