Nina Dances
This image is from the first of two wedding ceremonies Nina and Efiom had in Nigeria. This was her Igba Nkwu held in her family’s home village of Dikenafai. We had a few minutes between ceremonial happenings, so we did a quick portrait session inside. I can’t tell you how happy I am with this image, the color, sense of movement, happiness, grace, everything. That perfect shadow just puts it over the top for me. The color is just insane, and it’s straight out of the camera. Unreal. Ye Nikon D3 and your insane low light skills, I couldn’t have done it without you!
I feel so honored that people will go through all the trouble and expense of hauling me to such remote places to help document these very important family rituals. And I’m so happy there are people out there who see above the mindset of “it’s just pictures” and go through the trouble of making photography a priority. These images will outlive everyone involved in creating them, and I’ll have been forgotten the soonest, but my stamp will be on these images forever. And best of all, in two trips to document weddings in Nigeria, I’ve made many great friends I’ll never forget.
Posted on February 12th, 2009 by Climie
Filed under: Behind the Image, Destination: Nigeria, Nigerian - Igbo - Efik, Whys and Wherefors
Oh, I love this image, Marc. It’s absolutely perfect – the lighting, the reflection, the color – just amazing!
So much color and the expression is priceless, I love it
[...] Efiom. Efiom Married Nina twice! Once in the village of Dikenafai and once in Calabar. This portrait was made after their [...]