A group of Ghanaian photographers, led by Mawuli Sikanku, Nana Kwame & Teresa Menka, organized a volunteer, donate photograph session at Akuapem Tutu in Aburi, Ghana called Help-Portrait 2012. In partnership with the Trinity Home Academy Orphanage, Ghanaian photogs, yours truly included, took pictures for the hundreds of kids who were present. Ghanaian reggae rap sensation, Iwan was also present and gave the event some celebrity/media coverage.

The smiles the laughter and of course the sounds of numerous shutters from the Help-Portrait Ghana photogs who volunteered made last Christmas a special one for me.

The orphans were made-up and excited to be in front of the camera; everyone wants their beauty to be appreciated....

The amazing happened as the kids, most orphans, got comfortable in front of our cameras. I don't remember a more worthwhile cause to spend my December 24th at. Looking forward to the the Help-Portrait in whatever country I'm in on December 24th, 2013....

More pictures here: itake photos 1985 on Facebook

As  I kid had a fear-love relationship with folk in masquerade costumes. They would come by mom's house in Awodome - my grandfather, Mr Sawyer, always supported the end of year celebrations in Winneba so they made it a point to come by for donations - and I was really intimidated by them as a toddler. As I grew older, I began to love & appreciate their colorful costumes and elaborate masks as part of their jovial nature. It was amazing to watch the young lady go through my childhood experiences with masquerade costumes in 15 minutes. One of my all time favorite memories as I walked out of my house at Airport West in Accra Ghana. This is why itake photos.

Maybe we should train young sprinters by employing coaches in masquerade?

Azonto is a Ghanaian dance craze that's taken the continent by storm.

When curiosity trumps fear...

They even did the Azonto upside down.

Blowing this up as one of my fav pix from my lens in 2012

All's well that ends well.

I recently took on the role as the national photographer for my fraternity, Iota Phi Theta, and one of my first assignments touched me deeply. The executive grand council visited the St. Jude's Children's hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Our Grand Polaris (president) is a cancer survivor and as we toured the facility through out the day it was incredible apparent how need the fraternity's call to fight against cancer and find cures to diseases that particularly affect African Americans is, and we all renewed our commitment to impacting other's lives.

Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. Executive Grand Council visit to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee. Friday March 30th, 2012.
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