Children view their portraits as they print from a portable printer the photographers brought with them to Uganda and Madagascar. (Images courtesy Aaron Williams and Nathan Dewberry)
Through photography, two Baton Rougeans gave Africans the gift of seeing their own faces for the first time
In parts ofdeveloping countries in Africa, there is no Instagram. Many residents live in a world without selfies or rudimentary cameras. They can’t capture every moment within a second or relive memories by thumbing through photo albums.
In fact, most residents whom Baton Rouge photographers Aaron Williams and Nathan Dewberry met during their two trips to the continent had never seen their own faces, other than a wavering reflection.
They traveled to Uganda and Madagascar on a mission to create dynamic portraits, capturing faces overjoyed, perplexed, shocked and humbled to see themselves for the first time.
The very premise of the project is philanthropic and inspiring. The selflessness behind the photographs adds unending depth to the faces and places in “Go Love Africa,” which is on view this month at the West Baton Rouge Museum.
“We just want to spread love to these people,” Williams says, “and we’re doing it in the form of this small gift of photography.”
A man smiles while viewing his portrait for the first time.
“Go Love Africa” was born when Dewberry visited Zimbabwe in 2013 for a mission trip and spent his free time photographing scenery and villagers from afar.
“Some people would just walk up to me and smile, just because I was holding a camera,” Dewberry says. “And that’s when I realized that photographs were something foreign to these people.”
Williams and Dewberry set out to Uganda in September 2014, just four months after meeting for the first time. Williams is a freelance writer and photographer, and Dewberry is the marketing and communications director for Jefferson Baptist Church. Despite their short acquaintanceship, the two proved to be a dynamic duo, photographing thousands of Ugandans in just two weeks.
Dewberry says the first trip was a hectic period of trial and error, but the end product is worth every ounce of stress. The collection doubles as both an eclectic art project and a way to help churches in Africa.
The exhibit includes examples of the 4-by-6-inch prints the photographers gave each subject after taking their photo.
During their trips, the photographers made temporary homes on city outskirts and traveled out three to four hours further to photograph people in remote villages. Using mobile Epson printers, the pair printed 4-by-6 portraits for each individual and family they photograph. Collectively, they have captured more than 40,000 portraits. On the back of each print, the photographers wrote a prayer and contact information for the local ministry.
Williams and Dewberry admit they’ve been nervous on some ventures into far-out villages, knowing that communication with locals is difficult. Learning local hand gestures and customs is essential to earn the respect of residents, but many still remain skeptical of the photographers’ intentions.
“We’re out there just to give,” Williams says. “A lot of them don’t realize that, because they’re used to people going out there to take. And sometimes, even when foreigners are giving to the locals, they’re still making some sort of personal gain.”
Despite the communication barriers, Dewberry says two things prove the “Go Love Africa” project is changing lives: the joy created by the portraits and the timeless gift of the Gospel.
The “Go Love Africa” exhibit at the West Baton Rouge Museum will feature several 24-by-30-inch and 4-by-6-inch prints (similar to the ones the subjects receive) from Uganda and Madagascar.
“We wanted to make sure to include the 4-by-6 prints to make sure people see what we’re actually doing out there,” Williams says, “and to show that just because they’re small doesn’t mean they’re not art.”
SEE THE EXHIBIT
“Go Love Africa” is on view through April 30. The West Baton Rouge Museum is at 845 N. Jefferson Ave. in Port Allen. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 2-5 p.m. Sundays. westbatonrougemuseum.org
