Convener of the Photography Chat-Room Conference and Leader of the #AsISeeAm Movement, Gaspard Lihouenou’s Story is one of dedication and struggle. A Documentary Photographer in Lagos Nigeria, Gaspard has toured Nigeria on Assignments and whilst talking to BOP, He tells his story as to how it all began.
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- Kindly Introduce Yourself
My name is Gaspard Lihouenou Koutchika, a national of Republic Du Benin but based in Lagos Nigeria. I am a multiple award winning street and documentary photographer. I love telling stories with my images by focusing on things happening around my environment, connecting my story line to culture, lifestyle and other socioeconomic activities.
- How was growing up like?
Growing up was one of the hardest parts of my life but in all I give the Almighty glory. I had to hustle to finance my way through various aspects of my life. I am my family’s last child but I’ve had to be independent for so long so it seems all but normal today. Still, I wouldn’t trade the experiences for nothing; they made me the man I am today.
- What’s your educational background?
My education is another story on it own I have never been to university before after my secondary school there was no support to continue my education “financially” so I have to stopped and joined “Barbing Business” so that was the starting of my hastily.
I did that for over a decade and left it for IT/Graphics Designing etc.
- How did you start Photography?
I started my Photography journey without going to any school of Photography when I saw my 2D Graphic Lecturer then in my Graphic Class where he will come to class with his DSLR Camera so each time I saw him using it to demonstrate or showing us his amazing images he shot I do feel like owning my own camera too so that is how it all started, so one day a brother my church bought himself Nikon D60 with kid Lens so haven’t been seeing my lecturer with his I quickly to Mr Julius the brother in my church that I can “snap” and he gave me the camera to start shooting during the church service and I held to the camera for 30mins looking where to on it… and he was watching me if it’s true that I can snap and since I couldn’t ON it so I have to upon up to him I don’t anything about the camera I always see I lecturer with his and from distance I do imaging what he was pressing, that was when Mr Julius then show me where to ON the camera and the rest is no history today I started making research online if I see any photographer I will asked questions some will answer me why some will walk away but I never give up and around 2014 I got to hear about some workshops and I started to attend the ones I could and that year Bayo Omoboriowo had his photo-walk with the theme; “PHOTOGRAPH A CHILD” at Makoko, Lagos. I did loads of networking there and met other photographers.
- Was it just a hobby or did you from the onset want to take it as a career?
No it wasn’t a hobby for me. I saw myself building a career from onset and till date that’s how I’ve treated photography.
- What type of Photography do you do?
I do Street Photography.
- Where/Who do you draw your inspiration from?
Honestly, my first source of inspiration is always Nature. I mean all things created by God are beautiful and that level of beauty is inspiring. Also, things happening around me great shape the style of my work.
- So far what has been your highest point as a photographer and how is the Business of Photography like?
As of now I can’t really say because I’m still on a journey but I hope someday, I can look at it all and tell good stories. Also, I feel the Photography Industry in Nigeria needs one voice and some form of unifying agency where pricing limits amongst other things can be set.
- What challenges do you face and what steps do you take in overcoming these challenges?
One of the challenges is acquiring gear to execute jobs. Once, I tried getting a loan from the Nigerian Bank of Industry but is a tale I’d rather not tell… since then, I’ve worked hard to purchase any piece of equipment I feel I need to better help achieve my visions.
- Any last words?
My last word to those up and coming up to never lose focus from their dreams or visions.
#asiseeam
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Gaspard Lihouenou Koutchika is a multiple award winning documentary photographer. He runs a Photo Media Organisation in Lagos, Nigeria. You can connect with him by clicking here.
