Ghanaian Nana Yaw Oduro’s Digital Portraits of Masculinity

Nana Yaw Oduro, a Ghanaian photographer born in 1994 and currently based in Accra, is known for his unique approach to photography. Graduating from the business program at the University of Ghana in May 2017, he began his photography journey in 2015. Nana Yaw Oduro’s work features fictional self-portraits, with his models taking on the role of actors in a biographical performance. As the stage director of his own emotions during a photo shoot, Nana Yaw Oduro’s photos tell personal stories through carefully crafted images.

Through his use of pictorial composition, Nana Yaw Oduro’s photos reveal the individualized characters and settings within each shot. While the specific location of each photo is not always defined, the images themselves are timeless and evoke a sense of curiosity in the viewer. Nana Yaw Oduro’s work also represents a desire for freedom, with the only limitation being his imagination as a photographer.

The emotions and colors of Nana Yaw Oduro’s environment are reflected in his photographs, with a mixture of tender, pure, and raw hues, as well as black and white shots. These colors help to structure the images and create a sense of harmony between man and nature, shaping the narrative of each photo. Nana Yaw Oduro’s work is not bound by a specific concept or rule, but rather inspired by his own sensations and daily life experiences. His creativity knows no limits, and he finds inspiration in everything around him, whether it’s a song, a passing horse, or a basket of fruits. This is what makes his work truly unique and poetic.