Architectural Photography - My Origin Story

This photograph of an abandoned and dilapidated colonial-style house was captured during a trip to Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria, a few years ago. Little did I know, that this image would spark a deeper interest in architectural photography as an art form, not just a documentation tool.

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Taking a cue from the movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, I draw a parallel with the main character, Miles Morales, who had to go through a journey of accepting and believing he could live up to the role of Spider-Man. This is an analogy for what we commonly refer to as imposter syndrome, where we believe that we — or our work— are not good enough to meet the standards we deem acceptable. (Coughing—perfectionism—coughing.)

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In my case, my camera roll has always had two-thirds of its capacity dedicated to pictures of buildings at different stages of construction—a common trait, I assume, for anyone working in construction. Primarily, these pictures were required for my periodic project reports and progress updates to stakeholders. I had to refine my photographs to effectively capture the statements highlighted in my reports.

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Unbeknownst to me at the time, this activity I carried out for years was like the "wax on, wax off" subconscious training in The Karate Kid. I became more conscious of the elements of composition, framing my subjects in the right context, and ensuring that my images captured all the words I wanted them to convey.

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As I delve deeper into photography through training, peer reviews, and commissions, I remind myself that it’s a journey, not a destination. The goal is to constantly see and capture the world around you with your unique perspective, knowing there’s always a story to be told in the process.

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So, allow me to reintroduce myself: my name is Asiriuwa Uwuigbe, and I am an architectural photographer. Like Miles Morales, I’ve learned to embrace my role, trust my unique perspective, and tell the stories of the spaces around me—one photograph?at?a?time.