PHOTOGRAPHY: A profitable venture
We all love photographs. We get excited to see our images in albums, phones, books, newspapers, magazines etc. In times past, taking photographs and getting them printed went through a lot of processes.
Now with the advent of technology, taking photographs has become very easy and an everyday affair that anyone can engage in.
The art of photography is very important because it gives us the opportunity to take pictures of the present to remember our beautiful past.
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However, for some years now, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has not received the needed attention from various governments, and as such photography has lost the chance of being a well-paid profession because it is now easy for just anyone to take pictures without employing the services of a professional photographer.
However, there are a few professional photographers such as J.K. Bruce Vanderpuije, who made a mark and left legacies for young ones to emulate.
J.K. Bruce Vanderpuije was a pioneer of photography in Ghana and West Africa.
He started his profession at the age of 23 by taking pictures of colonial masters.
He founded the first photography studio named the “Deo Gratias”, meaning “Thanks be to God”, in 1922. After his death, his son Isaac Hudson Bruce took over as the curator, and he later handed over to his daughter, Mrs Kate Tamakloe, who happens to be the current curator of the studio and a professional photographer.
J.K. Bruce took exceptional pictures no other photographer had and this made him one of the best photographers in West Africa.
For instance The Guardian Newspaper in the UK requested some photos from his studio to publish during one of Ghana’s Independence day celebrations a few years ago.
The National Museum also requested photos during their event dubbed “Architectural Heritage of Ghana”.
In an interview with Mrs Tamakloe, she advised children who would like to venture into photography to ensure they had the passion for it and be able to take unique pictures that would attract the attention and support of the government and other stakeholders.
“They should be able to tell the story behind every photo and look for unique and rare photos,”she said.