A great cinematographer is gone
The film industry in Ghana lost one of its extremely brilliant cinematographers when Mr Naapo Gbande died on October 17, 2015 at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra. He was 76.
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Mr Gbande worked for several years with the defunct Ghana Film Industry Corporation (GFIC) where he shot numerous newsreels, documentaries and feature films.
He later moved on to the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) as a lecturer and many of the current professional cinematographers in this country passed through his hands.
A cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DOP) oversees the camera crew working on a film, television production or other live action piece and is responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image.
DOPs often work closely with directors, production designers, art directors, set dressers and even wardrobe crew and hairstylists to help establish the look of a film and its individual scenes.
The decisions made in this area should support the script and the director’s vision and result in imagery that the camera can capture.
The soft-spoken Mr Gbande worked as the cinematographer on several projects with veteran film director, Mr Kwaw Ansah, who described him as an extremely creative and diligent collaborator.
“I worked with him on Harvest At 17, Love Brewed In The African Pot, Heritage Africa and several television commercials.
“He always tried to get images that truly complemented the essence of whatever was being shot. His work brought true meaning to the functions of a DOP on a film set,” Mr Ansah said.
A native of Kpandai in the Northern Region, Mr Gbande realised early in life that photography was his calling and he diligently pursued it throughout his working life.
Experienced lighting technician, Mr Tetteh ‘Wrally’ Apain, worked with Mr Gbande on numerous productions and they remained close friends.
“I enjoyed being on a set with him because he always knew what he was about. He truly understood what photography was about and every lighting technician cherished his presence during productions,” Mr Apain said about his late friend.
Apart from his teaching and practical work, Mr Gbande was also a facilitator at several cinema workshops in this country and abroad and he published practical guides on lighting and camera movement.
The late cinematographer will be buried on Saturday, November 14 at the Madina Cemetery in Accra. He will be sorely missed by the filmmaking fraternity.