Through Thy Lens

          In the second act of our series on Cameroonian photographers who have decided to revamp the narrative on their home through photography ,  Yvanna Abena takes us to the streets of Yaoundé. One portrait at a time, she shares scenes of every day life in the city as well as tidbits about herself, the inspiration behind her work and how photography fits into her future aspirations. Enjoy ! 

•  Who is Yvanna Abena ? how would you describe yourself in a few words ? 

I would say that Yvanna is a very laid back person, also passionate, kind of bossy but extremely  outgoing. Also, Photography is my main activity, but apart from that, in my daily life I am a french teacher, and I am also currently pursuing my studies, preparing a PHD in contrasted Literature.

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

I Would rate my interest in photography at 10, cause it has become a part of my life. 2 years ago I fully integrated it in my daily activities. When I walk down the streets of the cities, I always imagine great sceneries without needing to pull out the camera.

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

There are two types of photography  which represent my work best ;  street photography and portrait. I love combining the two because I am mostly drawn to people interacting in the most basic way, and this is street photography at its prime. But on the other side, in these streets there are these beautiful faces of people depicting incredible emotions and I HAVE to capture these. I think both manifest the beauty and the recklessness of life.

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

Photography definitely changed my life and my vision of the world. I can say that its impact was phenomenal. In fact, practising this art made me understand how photogenic places and people can be.  Imagine having the power to show others, the attractiveness of places that we see everyday , without even noticing what makes them special. This is immediately what triggered me to continue the adventure.  Now I can create more, meet new people, and even link up with fellow photographers.

• You are mostly known for your eclectic portraiture of the streets of Yaounde and its inhabitants. What’s your approach to street photography and can you share your experiences with trying to get people to pose infront of your camera ?

I have to acknowledge that streetphotography demands some pluck and boldness, because generally people don’t appreciate being filmed by strangers. Yet, it’s for sure what makes it so lively and relatable : common people and actions represented, then beautified.

It’s true that getting people to accept to pose is another struggle. It definitely made me more outgoing, because  I have to talk them, engage the conversation before doing anything. As you can see,  my gallery is full of lively faces, and people in the rush. I always come to them with a warm « hello », so that they are not scared of my lens. Just like some of the kids pictures that I get to take in the streets, it was only thanks to a warm and friendly approach, otherwise it would  probably have been a NO.

• What inspires you ? 

I would say one word : God. Acknowledging that He is the one who created the world,  these beautiful places and people,  then my only wish whenever I pull out my camera in the streets, is to magnify life as it was genuinely given and designed in multiple shapes by the Creator.

• We always hear about the missed potential for Tourism in Cameroon. Do you think photographers like yourself have a role to play in addressing this issue ?

Of course, we photographers play a huge role in the empowerment of tourism in Cameroon. Since we are artists, we have the possibility to see the sparkles and the marvels of our country. By depicting resorts, and other nice places in Cameroon throughout my pictures, i want to catch the public attention, so that they want to discover more. Then, there is an open window for the populations inside and outside the country. We want them to be hyped, and motivated to visit the country and help us enhance its beauty internationally.

• There seems to be a growing number of young Cameroonians taking up photography as a means to portray their own perspectives of their cities especially on social media such as Twitter and Instagram. As one of them, what’s your take on your peers’ disposition towards collaboration ? Have you had a chance to shoot with some of them ? If yes could you describe the experience ?

Indeed a lot of people are getting more and more involved in photography and they are now considering it as a whole independent art. I feel a sense of belonging to this group, since I started looking up to our peers who actually paved the way. For the moment I haven’t really had a chance to work with one of them, but I am still looking forward to it, at least we have already established solid plans and links online.

• What are your other interests in life ?

I am fascinated by life as it takes form in my other activities which are : drawing, reading, writing and learning new languages. I try and I want to capture the motion of life in the spectre of time, thats why I am so in love with art. Apart from that, I am a huge lover of our world’s diversity and I’m trying to discover other cultures. By the way, I have recently become addicted to asian K DRAMAS AND MUSIC .

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

I would say that the next level would be to validate my academic thesis, because I want to become a university professor. Also, I am creating new concepts and activities to reunite local photographers in a national association, I absolutely want it to be a collective movement, backed up by a digital platform which will permit Cameroonian traditions and lifestyle to shine. It will also allow some of us to get recognition for the work we do. 

• What advice would you give my readers ?

The advice I would give them is to keep dreaming, no matter what happens. Indeed, when your motivations die, your desire to succeed fades with it. You never have to apologize for who you are, as we are all unique. You never have to be ashamed to express your mind. The one and only thing that you have to do, is believe in yourself whatever people say. Even though life can be harsh at times, look up to your dreams, chase them and become the best version of yourself. No matter what, God has your back.

                     Thanks Yvanna, for taking the time to share your story with us. You can keep up with Yvanna’s work on her Twitter and  instagram @yvanna_shooter