Meeting Aderemi Davies at the 2019 Business of Photography Conference was a personal growth moment for me, the level of dedication he puts into his work is astonishing and inspiring. Sitting with BOP, He tells his story from humble beginning to being an internationally exhibited photography and multiple AMVCA nominee.
- Kindly Introduce Yourself
My name is Aderemi Davies popularly known as AyaworanHO3D. I am a creative and documentary photographer, film maker and visual content developer. I enjoy using my art to extensively celebrate African indigenous values, cultures, people, places, arts and identity in general by creating documentaries and projects that stimulate a Pro-African consciousness in my audience. I am also a travel photographer who enjoys using his photography to showcase beautiful sight, landscapes and terrains. I also do portraits and events professionally.
I am a two-time Best Documentary nominee at the prestigious Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Award (AMVCA) in 2018 and 2020 with my documentaries OMIDAN; Styles Defunct and AGAINT ALL ODDS respectively.
In 2019 Images from my documentary, ‘We Watch Our Gold Go Rust’ made the official selection for the 2019 Business of Photography Exhibition curated by A Whitespace Creative Agency (AWCA). One of my photos, “Sister’s Keeper”, made finalist at the Envision Kindness International photo contest in the same year.
I’m adventurous and always eager to explore new grounds. I hope to travel the world shooting and creatively sharing stories, experiences and sights from various cultures and people. I also look forward to creating well produced feature movies, telling African stories, using state-of-the-art filming techniques and equipment.
- How was growing up like?
I was born into a family of three boys in Ibadan, Oyo State, of which I am the last born. My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Yomi and Dolapo Davies, are veteran broadcasters and media moguls who did a lot in the media and television terrain, so growing up under a close-knit family like mine gave me so much exposure into the field. My interest in the photography and media generally can be traced to my family background having learnt a whole lot from my parents. I had the opportunity of discovering my interest and abilities quite early. We have always been film enthusiasts in my family so growing up I consumed a lot of film and television content, especially Nigerian movies. So when I finally found myself in media and production alongside my brother and partner Adefemi Davies, it didn’t take us time to know we wanted to tell our own stories through visual contents- photography, films, documentaries and commercials. Though I never started out as a photographer as I see myself as evolving in my abilities over time till the point I am now, my journey hinged on developing interest and skills in various forms of visual representations. I grew from computer graphics design to non-linear audiovisual editing to photography, cinematography and filmmaking. I ventured into photography in 2013 when I got my first entry level DSLR camera with my brother. Ever since then I knew I wanted to capture the world and tell stories as much as I can through it. It has been jolly ride all through.
- What’s your educational background?
I started out my early education at Rotimi Comprehensive institute as one of the earliest pupils of the school, when it took off in Iyaganku G.R.A. Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeia. I however completed my primary school education at ECWA Model School in Challenge, Ibadan. I proceeded to the prestigious Government College Ibadan (GCI), in Apata, for my secondary school education, where I finished as an Arts student. I had my first degree as a Bachelor of Arts from the premier university in Nigeria, University of Ibadan, in the field of Religion in 2011. I proceeded for a Masters Degree at the same university in the field of African Traditional Religion, which I completed in 2015 with a Ph.D grade.
- How did you start Photography?
I started photography officially in 2013 when I got my first camera with my brother. We both always knew we wanted to tell our own stories through visual images so we agreed getting the camera was the starting point. We saved up for it and got a Canon EOS 600D. As I said earlier, I evolved through the media and when I finally found my voice with photography I felt it was perhaps the most powerful medium of expression for me. I just wanted to shoot everything. I would travel to different destinations just to shoot or look for events, people and places to capture and share their stories through my photography.
- Was it just a hobby or did you from the onset want to take it as a career?
I would say both. As earlier stated, I had been in the media since I left high school. I started a graphics design and print business in partnership with my brother and I did that very well all through my university days. When I ventured into photography it was both as a hobby and of course to expand my business by venturing into photography and film works. As much as I wanted to shoot and tell stories I also knew I had to make money from it. I saw it as a viable field and wanted to explore the business part of it.
- What type of Photography do you do?
Basically, I will say I am a documentary and travel photographer and filmmaker. However, I have never believed in being limited to one thing, versatility is the key to prowess for me so I explored every part I could, portraits, arts, street, travel, fashion, child, events, and whatever photography I could. I am happy I can say I have works touching on different parts. The best part for me is having the opportunity to both be a photographer and filmmaker. To me they are both interwoven and they complement each other. I find completeness in being able to use both genre to tell my stories and it gives more meaning to them.
- Where/Who do you draw your inspiration from?
I find inspiration in everything around me. People, places, events, situations and everything worth capturing. I have also learned to see beauty in everything. I believe so much in having an aesthetic mind as a creative, for me it all starts there. The ability to see things differently, beyond the regular. When you have that kind of mind you will see light in everything and you will be surprised at how much the most seemingly irrelevant things can inspire you. That to me is what makes a photographer, what people appreciate in his works and why they want to engage him to tell their stories.
- So far what has been your highest point as a photographer and how is the Business of Photography like?
Wow! Quite a number of high points, photography has been gracefully rewarding. My highest point as a photographer was when my photo was recently exhibited at the United Nations Headquarters during the 5th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly in February 2020. My portrait of the young Adenike Adebayo who suffered amputation of both limbs at age 5 but yet exhibits high resilience and optimism at life, was exhibited along with other works from across the globe; sharing powerful stories of women and girls. Coincidentally, the visual documentary on the same subject got me my second AMVCA nomination recently.
Another rewarding moment was when I led my team to document the dedication of the Deeper Life Church’s 40,000-seater auditorium in Gbagada, Lagos. My photography company, HO3D Studios, being the official photographers contracted for the job, documenting such a milestone event and capturing thousands of people and great icons present was a memorable experience.
Being exhibited on the Business of Photography platform in 2019 along with other great works was a very memorable experience for me. When I saw the open call for the exhibition and the theme, I knew I had to enter for it because I had a body of work that spoke exactly to the theme. I was glad my images were selected and attending both the conference and exhibition had great impact on my career. It was my first group exhibition and that was good for my portfolio. I also saw works by other photographers that inspired me and met new friends. The conference was an eye opener and I have held on to some of the things I learnt ever since. I am looking forward to the 2020 edition and I am certain it is going to be bigger.
- What challenges do you face and what steps do you take in overcoming these challenges?
I think there is still a lot of limitation to expression in this part of the world. Stereotypes and poor mindset of the people affect the photographer’s freedom. For me as a documentary photographer, many times when I approach people or go out to capture places or events, I still get a lot of resistance from people. The moment they see you with a professional camera there is a lot of hindrances. If it’s not some people challenging you before you can capture your stories, some are demanding for money from you believing it is their right to make money of you. Some will even threaten to destroy your equipment. Sometimes you even get threatened by police or security personnel who challenge you and start questioning you. There is also the challenge of people holding back from letting you into their lives and stories. You have to do a lot of sensitizing and appealing. It’s usually hard work for me to find stories I want to share and you have to be o conscious of who is watching before you can shoot with your professional camera in public. The funny thing is, the same thing others shoot freely with their mobile phones you will be challenged just because you are holding a DSLR.
I believe with continuous orientation and deliberate celebration of photography and the creative industry, things will gradually get better. People will become enlightened and see photographers as necessary storytellers of our time.
- Any last words?
There is so much beauty in the midst of the seemingly harshness in the world. Humanity is nature’s best creation and the world is full of beautiful people. Let’s remind ourselves of these beauties and our place as humans in the world through visual elements, and may be gradually we can all come together to restore sanity to a world fast torn apart in chaos. I hope to contribute my little to making a better world through my art.
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You can connect with Aderemi Davies on Instagram by clicking here.
