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In our mad dash to catch our flight, I grabbed a couple of rolls of film that have been rattling around the house for a while. After only a couple of rolls, and some advice from Jose Villa via Blend, these are my favorites.
Ok, seriously? What could be more awesome than shooting an engagement session on a beach in Africa with horses galloping around us!
(ed’s note: This is Part 3 of Punam’s series on Boomie and David’s wedding week. You can check out Part 1 and Part 2 as well.)
It’s cold here in Santa Fe, and it just might snow. It’s funny how much weather I’ve passed through. I can barely remember how very sweaty I was on Boomie and Davids wedding day. And though I said he didn’t have to, Husbone was a real hero and wore his suit jacket, despite the heat. There are many interesting things that happened on this wedding day, but at the end of it there was one overwhelming notion. These two people love each other, so utterly and completely. It’s nice to observe the internationality of wonderful love. It’s the same across the globe -people find each other, they connect and they are enriched in each other. It’s such a great honor to be the one to preserve this love in photographs, and I’m honored to have been chosen for the task. This one, specifically.
Just to be clear, in my contract I’m the only professional photographer that can be hired for any event that I’m commissioned to photograph. However in Nigeria, it’s a general tradition that many family members hire their own photographers. In this particular case, it being Africa and all, I was happy to be flexible. But I must say, I’ve never worked so hard in my whole life. Seriously. I thought it funny that the mob of photographers and videographers surrounding all the action at close proximity at all times were often referred to off-handedly as the paparazzi. Seriously folks. I think that this is what it must be like to be a paparazzi photographer. Never before have I had to employ all my limbs, knees, elbows and all, to fight my way to a photograph. Good thing I’ve got New York in my bones, because my formerly timid California Girl self would have been no match. But between Husbone’s manliness, and my squirminess, we made it through. We fought for this wedding like we’ve fought for each other. And in all the chaos, amid those one thousand plus people, Boomie and David were the beating heart of the giant beast. Let me just say, I barely removed my wide angle lens all day.
I just want to say, to Boomie and David, thank you so much for this opportunity. Husbone and I have come to care for you both, and it seriously was one of the best experiences having you both to lay on couches with, in your hotel room, exhausted together, and looking forward to a new friendship in America. As overwhelming as it may have been at times, I’m so glad it was the two of you that we were working so hard for. You guys are so beautiful!
I just adore Boomie and David. And the more time I spent time with them, I absolutely adored them even more. I was so excited when we got to spend the whole day with them the day after the traditional ceremony. They picked us up and we frolicked on the beach for half an hour, and it was awesome! I shot some film, too, but I’m afraid you’ll have to wait, as I’m in Santa Fe with no means of developing any film. Since David lives in Nigeria and has never even been to the States, and the Yoruba ceremony was insanely chaotic (though amazingly vibrant), the Bones and I were very excited to take some pictures with no distractions in that special engagement way that I love so well to do. Yum.
I am so excited to finally present to you, the first of a series, about Boomie and David and Africa.
Boomie and David met over the phone, about a year ago. She was in Maryland, and he was in her hometown of Lagos, in Nigeria. They spoke on the phone quite a bit, and for quite a while, before Boomie decided to surprise David. She had her uncle meet him at Barcelos (an amazing made-to-order fast food chicken extravaganza), to give him a gift. The gift was her. She was hiding in the car. David had said to her in one of their talks, that when he finally sees her in the flesh, he’ll pick her up and spin her around. He was so shocked when he saw her emerge from the car that he totally forgot. And after some time, he told her to put down her things, and he delivered as promised.
This, their wedding week, is only the third time she’s ever seen him. But the love just oozes from them. So much for each other, and for everyone else around them. Arriving at Murtala Muhammed Airport was the first time I ever (and finally!) met Boomie, and I was so taken with her brightness and sincerity that it feels like I’ve known her for a year. David has never been to America, but he’ll be moving here next week, to be with his new wife. How awesome is that?!? Husbone and I look forward to having them as our dear friends.
Lagos is probably one of the most vibrant, chaotic, visually rich places I’ve ever seen. And I have to say the same about their various wedding ceremonies. The first of which, was the traditional Yoruba ceremony. I am weary with travel, and I have three more flights left today until I arrive in Santa Fe, New Mexico for the Blend workshop, so I’ll let the pictures do the talking!
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