Around this time last year my brother and I swapped the UK’s coldest winter on record for the far more inviting climate of Uganda in east Africa. We arrived in this beautiful land to photograph the wedding of my friend Roy and his queen, Maggie. With their anniversary fast approaching and a recent bout of man-flu (the worst kind!), I’ve had plenty of time to reminisce about the amazing things I experienced during my stay there. Breathtaking scenery, rich culture, captivating wildlife (in their natural habitat!), wild nightlife (my unnatural habitat!), stylish hotels, crazy motorcycle taxis and white water rafting for the very first time. Great weather was matched only by the warmth of the people we met who showed us so much love, kindness, and generosity that it was a real struggle to leave.
A memory I revisit often given the chance, is a short five minute journey across the width of the River Nile. It was dawn and we were leaving behind Paraa Lodge perched on a hillside deep in the Murchison Falls National Park. The calm of the waters were disturbed only by the gentle waves created from our boat transporting a mixture of locals, tourists and our vehicles. The clatter from the boats diesel engine interplaying with echos of the surrounding animal kingdom was an unfamiliar mix and the distinctive sound of hippos from our afternoon crossing two days earlier had disappeared. My attention was soon captured by the emerging sun on the African horizon. It’s rise brought with it not just a promise of a new day but a call to action. All the ideas, aspirations and possibilities that had been scattered in my mind suddenly started moving in sync and fell into place. Evolving into something far greater than before, my vision for the future was now much clearer. Uganda and a sunrise had altered my sails and I was heading in a new direction.
I want to thank my friends and family for their continued love and support throughout 2011. To my wonderful clients; I feel extremely blessed to have been part of one of the most significant moments in your lives and wish you the very best as you continue on your journeys on the road to a lifetime of marriage. One way or the other you’ve all helped me along in that new direction.
2012 will see me pushing further along my journey with renewed energy gifted to me by a recent trip to Miami and the Bahamas with a inspiring community of friends and also the buzz of a fresh new year. So lying here disarmed with man-flu, I raise a cup of my special healing tea to the sunrises in your lives. May you all shine your very brightest in 2012!
Happy New Year!
Happy Anniversary Roy & Maggie!
Great blog post and gorgeous imagery! Sorry to hear you’re not feeling well. I just got over pneumonia myself and I’m no man, but whatever I was feeling seemed like a horrible man-flu case anyways HAHAHA!
Your work takes my breath away Bandele. Absolutely fantastic work, your use of light and composition is effortless
beautiful imagery, anthesis to all the negative images of Africa we see in the western media, nice work keep up the evolution Banderi
Dude your skills have become legendary
Just simply superb! Your passion for your work comes across in bucket loads. I thought I was a lucky tog, being invited to photograph peoples’ big days in the south of England, you get to do it across the world. Fabulous work, amazing eye and a real empathy with your subject. Hope to meet one day. Neale James
Your experience out in Uganda has definitely swayed my mind on wanting to visit and get married out there. Your very detailed and descriptive blog most certainly will change people’s perspective, it will open their mind to a whole new surrounding. Anyway B keep up the real good work see you soon.
An inspirational post, such emotion and honesty confirms the devotion to ones craft and the production of exceptional work.
A wonderful occasion between two special people in a wonderful place. Simply beautiful.