Everyone loves the Christmas season. It is a great time to reconnect with family, and if yours is benevolent, a time to exchange gifts. The festive season is always special as my birthday falls on new year's eve and gives me extra motivation to think about, and implement, my new year's resolutions.

One such resolution of mine is to take mobile more seriously. The mobile devices of today have in-built specs that would dazzle anyone from 2-5 years ago and for social media enthusiasts and bloggers: they allow us to consume and produce content on the fly. Being an Apple enthusiast I'd bookmarked an iPhone 6 purchase - if for the very least, to sync with my MacBook and other devices that make my working life simpler and easier.

And then surprising happened...

I received my first Huawei device, ever. I almost feel giddy. It is not that I haven't owned an Android phone before, I dabbled with HTC's Dream G1 device, and even owned Samsung's Galaxy Two, yes there were a few before the new Galaxy 6s and Galaxy Edge were introduced into the market. And if you have been an ardent follower/reader of this blog there was the Samsung A5 and my thoughts on that here. But never have I owned a Huawei, until now; and I have been pleasantly surprised. I'll be more than happy to share with you the highlights and functionality of the Huawei P8 Lite, especially in our Dumsor-laden, expensive data Ghanaian environment in a bit. In the meantime, Afi hyia pa! Check out the pictures and the brief unboxing video on what's to come next.

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.

Here's one of my favorite pictures from the Kid's Christmas party my family helps put on every year. And yes, that's my mom all excited cos the young girl won a hoola-hoop competition. And I thought I was intense, pah.

This is, most certainly, one of the first pictures I ever took with the D80. It is difficult to imagine that a year has quickly come by since. I'm looking forward to developing as a photographer and a better human being; maybe next time I'll be able to tell Santa to pick up his 'belly' before I press my shutter...