'This is Lagos' in the eyes of rookies

BY TAJUDEEN SOWOLE

 BY coming tops in the just held Lagos Amateur Photography Competition with their creative shots, Isi Etomi, Bayo Omoboriowo and Tolu Talabi have sort of announced their arrival in the vocation.

   
Tagged, This is Lagos, the event, which held at Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, saw works, which could comfortably go for that of professionals.

 Organised by African Artists Foundation (AAF), with the support of Etisalat, the competition highlighted the dearth of infrastructure in Lagos State. 

One of Etomi’s two works, Aspiration (Falomo-2, 1004)

   With shots taken at Falomo, overlooking a section of Victoria Island’s central business district in the night, Etomi picked the first prize of N100, 000, a Galaxy Tab mobile phone and an opportunity to have her work published in ZAM, a Pan-Africa magazine.

   
Omoboriowo’s shot of the slum side of Makoko earned him the second prize of N75, 000 and a blackberry phone while Talabi came third with work that depicts a country in chaos. He went home with N50,000 cash and an Etisalat Gaga phone.

   
 One of Etomi’s two works, Aspiration (Falomo-2, 1004) an aerial view, stresses the link between photography, architecture and civil engineering. However, human elements, which often defeat the projection of urban planners, distort creativity in this part of the state, so suggests the chaotic traffic missed by Etomi’s lens. 

  “Why do we sit in traffic everyday?” she asks.

 Etomi, an architect, perhaps, should, on behalf of her other colleagues in urban planning, proffer solutions. She notes, “Lagos is a city constantly on the move, in spite of all its obstacles.”

  
 Aside from the chaotic challenges, the beauty of a city, indeed, she says, comes when concealed emotions are gradually revealed by memory of a place, its architecture and history.

  
 MAKOKO, a coastal slum of the state, is arguably one of the most documented neighbourhoods of Lagos, especially among painters and photographers. In his entry, Omoboriowo draws attention of government to the plights of people living in this slum.

   
What Etomi’s lens seem to miss in the heart of the city which she recorded, Talabi highlighted in the chaotic manner electric cables are arranged on the poles.

   
 Among the works that were not in the first three places were that of Damilare Oguntade, whose shots of live scenes on the highway were among the fantastic entries. His works demonstrated the survival instincts of Lagosians.

    
 SHORTLISTED from over 170 entries are Adeyemi Christopher Adewusi, Akinlabi Akinbulumo, Ariyo Adeyemi, Austin Azoganokhai, Awobokun Olufemi, Yacoub Adeleke, Ife Odedere, Ibeleme Aham, Jibola Lawal, Margherita Trestini, Jide Odukoya, Jumoke Sanwo, Leke Kalejaiye, Omolara Aluko, Oyebola Adedapo, Rolake Job, Tope Akinmade, Tosin Bukola, Wole Ajao, Tunji Nelson and Inumidun Bakare.

 The amateur photography contest started last year, as a sub-event of the Lagos Photo Festival. And, according to the organisers, AAF, entry is limited to amateur photographers, across ages, working and living in Lagos.