Through Thy Lens

Sometimes all the inspiration you need is close to home – in the people who have helped shape your life ( literally and figuratively).  The story we share today  is a gentle reminder to cherish our creative hobbies and the small passions we happen to share with our loved ones. Enjoy ! 

• Who is Kanjo Melo? how would you describe yourself in a few words?

I am a Cameroonian living in Waterloo, Ontario. A son to 2 wonderful parents and a brother to 5 amazing siblings. I am a graduate of the University of Sheffield and University of Waterloo, having studied Mechanical Engineering in both. I think of myself as a kind-hearted person who has a very specific and passionate dream of making my home a better place one day.

• On a scale from 0 – 10 how would you rate your interest in Photography?

8, at least an 8. I have been through many hobbies; playing the piano, playing the guitar, writing, reading, football (yes, it’s football, not ‘soccer’), and tennis. However, nothing has quite grabbed my attention like photography has done. So, I would rate my interest in photography quite highly, not a 10 because I can’t do it professionally. Not yet anyway.

 

• What kind of photography are you most drawn to? Portrait, Landscape or Abstract?

I want to improve my ability with all types of photography, but my favourite would be Landscape photography. Landscape photography enables me to bring together several things I love. Travelling, photography and hiking.

• When and how did you develop your interest in photography?

My interest in photography has been quite recent actually, less than a year in fact. However, the idea of photography as an interest or passion has been close to me for a while, as it is one I share with my father. My dad had been the proud owner of a NIKON D5200 for about 6 years, and before that he owned a ………… He tried repeatedly to share this passion of his with me, but I was never quite interested when I was younger as reading the latest Harry Potter novel always seemed more appealing to me, which is how I came into contact with photography initially.

I believe living in Canada has also further developed my interest in photography. Having lived in Sheffield for three years before Canada, a lovely city at the heart of South Yorkshire (England), I never felt like I lived in a place that was particularly photogenic. Canada on the other hand, is home to some of the most beautiful natural scenes in the world (when it’s not freezing).

So, last year when I had a couple hundred dollars to spare, I bought myself a Sony DSLR and the rest is (instagram) history.

•   How would you describe the impact of photography on your life?

It has affected me in ways I did not expect. Ever since I got into photography I have a greater desire to hike, travel and experience the world, just so I can get the chance to ,hopefully, capture that perfect, still moment.

• What inspires you?

Not to sound like a cliché, but my parents are my greatest inspiration. I count myself lucky to have been raised by both of my parents, and while my father instilled in me core values that helped me grow as a man, my mom gave me the ability to believe in myself and to keep on dreaming. A hardworking, successful, and fearless lady who has not let anything stop her, she has taught me to believe in the same for myself.

From a photography perspective, I have a lot of inspirations, but my Dad always had some cool idea for a photographic project or a location for shooting. His ideas could be out of the box and really exciting, and I am able to base some of my projects off his ideas (thanks “Moh”).

• What’s next for you? Any projects or ideas you would like to share?

I’ve got a lot going on in my life at the moment. Something I do want to share with you, the reader who has indulged me so far, is that I can indulge you even further with my photography and story-telling! I’m working on my own website. This is going to be a great opportunity for me to put myself out there even more and keep growing, not only as a photographer, but more importantly as person. The website will, hopefully, be a mix of portraiture work, landscapes, cityscapes and street photography all while telling the story of places I’ve been to.

• What advice would you give my readers?

I wish I had some great quotes but I’ll just say everything happens in due time, and you just have to take everything in stride. Take the good with the bad and keep the big picture in mind (pun intended).

Thanks for sharing your story with us. You can keep up with Kanjo on his instagram.