Like most photographers, Richard Ashia from Accra Ghana experimented with various forms of photography. He started by first observing photographers from his community that he respected, and soon began experimenting with his I phone, where he eventually purchased a DSLR camera and got started in commercial photography from 2016-2018.
However, in 2018 the desire to express himself came on strongly after his time spent being a commercial photographer. This is the moment he decided to enter into conceptual photography.
The transition from commercial photography to conceptual photography
Conceptual photography is more artistic and more thoughtful than commercial photography, so the first place that Richard went to look for ideas was his childhood.
But something happened along the way that linked his childhood to an even deeper moment...
He explains how the first image he ever captured was the Christening of a new born baby. He told us the steps of the ceremony, how the child is made to lay on the ground and then a priest comes to sprinkle water on their forehead. As he captured this moment with his camera his thoughts flashed back to a moment where he almost drowned as a child after falling a well. Ironically, instead of fearing water he actually became fascinated with it - seeing the Christening of the baby gave him the idea to use water in his images.
From that moment his creativity took off and in 2019 he bought an Iphone and began creating images that were soon recognized by the German Embassy, where he was invited to present his work.
Top 5 Tips for Creating Conceptual Photography (Artwork)
1. Observe your surroundings.
There was a particular moment where Richard was standing across the street and noticed a group of children playing in the water from the recent rainfall. Feeling especially nostalgic after observing these children, he crossed the street and began to capture this raw and authentic moment.
2. Be your own ally
"It can be lonely as a photographer. You often expect to go on social media after posting a photo and see a ton of likes and see your images trending... the way to stay inspired is to reach out to other creatives in your field, connect and get inspiration from them" which brings us to the next point...
3. Collaborate with other creatives in your field
Build upon each others ideas, support and encourage one another and great art will happen.
4. Focus on topics that need coverage
"There is always someone out there that needs their story told" Richard gives the example of covering education, or poverty, or sanitation - important subjects that need more awareness. At one point he is hoping to travel around Africa and capture these specific topics.
5. Add more of your experiences and stories to your photos
Your experiences and your culture can be used to add emphasis and depth to your images. Never discount how important it is to use your experiences as a way to create art that moves.
Continue learning about conceptual photography and Richard Ashias story here:
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