In the words of American photographer, Minor Martin White, photography (which means ‘drawings with light’) is a language more universal than words.
Since Joseph Nicéphore Niépce took the world’s first photograph in the 1880s following the evolution of the earliest known concept of the camera, photography has become one of the main tools used to capture and preserve history.
From major historic events, people, nature, and architecture, photographers and their cameras have immortalized the best and the worst human moments across the globe.
Ghanaian photographers in the last century have distinguished themselves with captivating images that highlight the past, expose the present, and project into the future.
Capturing life before, during, and after independence, these creatives have told Ghana’s story from some interesting angles.
Modern photographers like Yaw Pare, the late Emmanuel Bobbie, Senyuiedzorm Awusi Adadevoh, Philip Kwame Apagya, Joshua Kissi, Nana Kofi Acquah, Amokwei Quarshie, Thomas Fynn, and others are selling the nation’s tourism sector, sports, fashion and people on an international scale.
These photographers are doing so with skills and current technologies available to their counterparts around the globe.
But before them were some photographers who led the way in directing the world’s gaze to Ghana.
Here, The Ghana Report takes a look at some iconic photographers who paved the way for photography in Ghana.
- James Koblah Bruce Vanderpuije
Also known as Nile Kofi Bruce II, J.K Bruce Vanderpuije is the founder of Ghana’s oldest photo studio, Deo Gratias Photo Studio located at James Town, Accra.
The James Town boy learned the art of photography for three years from an old master before venturing into his own business in 1922 at age 23.
He captured some significant historic events in the Gold Coast such as Major Imray’s shooting of the late Sgt. Adjetey Sowah and others at the Christianborg crossroads on February 28, 1948, which was later tended in evidence for the crime committed.
Some of his most interesting photographs were the ones he captured with his portable camera on the streets of Accra showcasing the everyday life of the people.
He also worked for the government after the country gained independence at the Accra Town Council, now Accra Metropolitan Assembly.
J.K Bruce Vanderpuije later worked on branding and product launches for many companies till the 1970s.
He also took it upon himself to train and employ many other young photographers including two of his sons who later took over his photo studio after his death.
- James Barnor
Frederick Seton James Barnor is Ghana’s first photojournalist who worked at the Daily Graphic in 1950 as well as the erstwhile Drum Magazine.
Barnor, who comes from a family of photographers started his art at the age of 17 after a headmaster gifted him a plastic camera to play around with.
After perfecting his craft, he set up his first photo studio, Ever Young Studio. He photographed families and individuals, including Ghana’s first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
He later traveled to England where he worked at Colour Processing Laboratories Ltd., an experience that led to him taking Ghana’s first colored photograph.
Barnor also set up Ghana’s first color photo processing facility.
His photography career spans six decades and his works have been exhibited in various parts of the world earning him international recognition.
He has documented life in Ghana from the late 1940s to the 1950s, and African life during London’s “Swinging Sixties”.
One of his notable photographs besides Dr Kwame Nkrumah is ‘the Greatest’ Muhammad Ali.
James Barnor currently resides in London.
- Felicia Abban
Felicia Abban is Ghana’s first female professional photographer.
She became an apprentice to her father who was also a photographer when she was 14 years at Sekondi-Takoradi.
After four years of understudying her father, she moved to Accra where she set up a photo studio, Felicia Abban’s Day and Night Quality Art Studio at James Town in 1955.
She employed other young female photographers as apprentices at her studio.
She also worked for the Guinea Press Limited, now known as Ghanaian Times.
Mrs Abban worked as a photographer for Dr Kwame Nkrumah for many years during the 1960s.
Her photographs were mostly studio portraits, including her famous self-portraits showcasing Ghana’s local fabrics.
These photographs were exhibited at international events. She is currently retired from photography.
- Chris Hesse
Rev. Dr. Chris Tsui Hesse was the personal photographer and official cinematographer of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. He is known to be the first war cameraman to shoot a film on the Congo Crisis in 1960 while working for the United Nations.
He also traveled throughout the world to film conferences at the UN, Commonwealth, OAU, Non-Aligned Movement, Heads of State visits, and various international seminars.
Chris Hesse rose to become the Managing Director of the Ghana Film Industry Corporation (GFIC) for ten years until his retirement from government service in 1994.
He worked on many films and short documentaries such as The Boy Kumasenu and Love Brewed in the African Pot which won international awards.
Rev Hesse was ordained into the Christian ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in 1985.
