The World is Your Spotlight
Featuring: A Streetlight Portrait of the Artiste known as Blainboy
"And the consistency is important. But bold of you to assume that what you show up with, every day, isn’t the world’s greatest anything. Bold of you."
— Victoria “Leo” Akingbemila
If you are reading this, odds are, you are one of the 243 + people who subscribed to this newsletter because you liked my tweets, rants on WhatsApp, or an earlier draft of my About, back when I named it Every Shot A Story. You are the reason I am writing. I dedicate this newsletter to you.
I have lived a brief and rather fortunate life. Of my many privileges, I have had the honour of meeting so many great people before their prime: some at the twilight and others perhaps decades before. I hope I am wrong about the former—and their best days have not seen dawn.
A little over a year ago, I met Stephen, preferably known as Blainboy, the subject of today’s photograph. The Port-Harcourt boy with a knack for style, stories for days, and the confidence of a man who bet on his horse because it was his horse. He was a lot of things, but sure he would win was the thing you could not miss about him. He is an artiste to look out for, even if you are not looking. He would tell you that much.
I think of him often. How he turned my work into album art, dominated my early TikTok experience, and what he has been up to since his last If I Was On …’s Track. I hope Omah Lay likes that verse.
I did not plan to write about Blainboy today. Clearly, I had no plans to write at all. When I sat to review my portfolio, I thought about how little I have grown in years. I could be so much more by now, but here I am—thinking I could be so much more instead of being that guy.
I long believed no one was watching; my work would matter only when I had good stuff to share. I could be right, you know? But I refuse to be both stupid and audacious. I must pick one and commit. I choose the latter.
There are 363 subscribers set to get this mail. At least one of them will remember I tried, and many will forget till I say something next Sunday. To the one reading, I have only one thing to say tonight: The world is your spotlight. Perform—even if no one is watching yet.
Last Time: Closed on Sunday
A Double Exposure Photograph; of a Shirtless Christian + Some Tree Branches
You see, Christianity has been a constant part of my life longer than I have been alive. It was a catalyst in my parents meeting, and my teenage realisation that I am indeed an agnostic-theist. It is the reason I joke about being an idiot and mutter “God forbid” under my breath.
You must be wondering why you are reading this on Monday. Well, you can wonder no more; I have no explanations. But what I do have is an invitation to join Bernard Kalu, SustyVibes, and I live to discuss photography, visual storytelling and photographing what matters to you this Tuesday (the 22nd of August) at 6pm (GMT+1).
Photography, writing, and public speaking. I’m on a mission to get all the communication stones before I turn 25. You should register and watch me try.
Also, be kinder to yourself, ok?
Tam Olobio