For several years, we’ve featured images on climate change and so many other environmental issues. Few have really taken to the conceptual world of photography to do it, but Adedolapo Boluwatife has made a series called Invitation to Invade that has rightfully earned awards with how well it illustrates the problem. Besides photographer Christine Ren, he’s the only one who has made we’ve really wanted to hang on our walls around the issue of climate change, waste, etc. Adedolapo is an introvert — and so he made the project from simple observations around him.
All images by Adedolapo Boluwatife. Used with permission. For more, check out his website and Instagram @adedolapoboluwatife.
“Since childhood, I’ve consistently identified as an introvert, preferring solitude and struggling with interpersonal interactions,” Adedolapo says to the Phoblographer in an interview. “This inclination led me to explore various avenues such as fine art, writing, and calligraphy as alternative means to articulate my innermost thoughts. My introduction to fine art photography occurred when I joined my university’s photography club, exposing me to the fine art aspect of photography through works of influential photographers like Stieglitz, Steichen, Ansel, Fani Kayode, and Man Ray.” He spent a lot of time studying these folks and soon realized that it was the best way for him to express himself.
Adedolapo has specific tools to craft his photos. He uses a Canon 5D Mk II and Olympus OM30. He uses 35mm and 50mm lenses. To get his effects, he reaches for Pro Mist Filters or Vaseline. Literally, vaseline used to be an option many photographers used to get glow in their images.
Here, Mr. Boluwatife tells us more plainly about Invitation to Invade:
The project is plainly a metaphorical depiction of the effects of plastic waste on us. Growing up in Lagos exposed me to the dire consequences of plastic pollution, particularly its contribution to environmental issues like flooding. Prompted by the pressing need for improved waste management and environmental sustainability, I initiated this project to advocate for change through art using metaphorical depictions and symbolism. I currently live on the outskirts of Lagos and I observed a lack of awareness regarding the harmful effects of improper waste disposal. In response to this, I actively collect waste, use them in making these photographs before depositing them at a local recycling plant. With this project I am looking to explore the intricate connection between humans, plastic waste, and the environment. The images serve as a testament to the hazardous relationship between plastic and our ecosystem, therefore urging collective responsibility to protect the environment and drive positive change.
Adedolapo Boluwatife
Adedolapo’s photography is very human in creation. With that said, we strongly see it as art that’s not made to please algorithms. And though we see it this way, Mr. Boluwatife thinks that social media has positive impacts too. To him, only an artist has the power to devalue their own work. Through social media, photographers can reach audiences directly without going through traditional channels. Therefore, it created new independence for artists and photographers. “The challenge with social media just like you said, is the synchronicity; the fact that the work can get lost in the stream of other works seem to be one very big challenge,” he explains. “But the way to tackle it is by being consistent and using the tools made available to fine-tune your demography.” He continues to state that because he’s an introvert with social anxiety, he was able to use social media to raise awareness around his work.
Most importantly, Adedolapo makes photographs that we believe an AI image making device can’t make. “… I personally believe that the element of willingness, physical and emotional input, and personal experience, is what makes up a good photograph,” he tells us. “The process contributes a lot to how a photograph is defined. At times, the process is what controls the emotional response to an image, that it makes one appreciate an image more or sometimes, less, and this is what I believe AI photography does not have.”
AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT
The Phoblographer works with human photographers to verify that they’ve actually created their work through shoots. These are done by providing us assets such as BTS captures, screenshots of post-production, extra photos from the shoot, etc. We do this to help our readers realize that this is authentically human work. Here’s what this photographer provided for us.
