Michael Aboya, also known as Aboya.8, is a fine art and fashion photographer based in Ghana, West Africa. This story is about his journey to the 8, which never ends and will always be told long after he’s gone. At 19 years of age, his passion for arts and photography became very real. At that time, he was studying software programming, a subject he had no particular interest in, but his parents wanted him to be a programmer.
The journey and story began when he lost his father to cancer in August 2016, and this drove him to realise that one day he will also die; but does he die knowing he pursued his dreams or that he wasted his life? These were the questions Michael kept asking himself. Then, he started to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional photographer. He stopped studying computer programming and used the little savings and funds he had to buy a Canon T3 camera with a Canon EF 70mm – 300mm lens. In early 2017, he started working as a full-time photographer, dedicated to learning and, most importantly, becoming a better version of himself.
Today, as a visual artist working with photography, his purpose is to tell stories that inspire, empower and connect with the viewer. His images explore emotions, love and strength through composition, lighting, and subject matter. As he looks to the future, he looks forward to continuing the exploration of our humanity for many years to come.
Over this period, Michael has received six awards for outstanding visual storytelling and composition and made some inspiring achievements.
