Artist, Akinbode Akinbiyi: My name is Akinbode Akinbiyi.
Wandering is very much part of my being. I noticed it around seven, eight. So now that’s my way of working, wandering as loosely and as freely as possible and engaging with my environment. One of my life experiences has been to understand that in being yourself, you come to understand and realize the person opposite you or near you. There is no such thing as a hundred percent stranger. There’s always this relationship. Always.
I started off with black and white. This is in the ‘70s, when I became a serious photographer. And now black and white is very much my main mode of working. I prefer film, analog film. So I take the image, come back home, develop the film, then I cut it down, and make the contact sheets. This all takes hours, but I prefer working like this, digging into the chemicals and literally holding these things in your hand. It’s the tonalities. I still feel there are some subtle differences.
If I had any advice for wanderers, I would say be serious about it. Breathe well. Eat well, drink, find your own rhythm, and then focus. And go for it. What you want to photograph is up to you.