Nigerian artist Imran Abiola Sulola started by taking pictures of the sun and the moon. Then in 2021, what began as a hobby changed after seeing photographs taken by Martins Deep, poet, portrait photographer and Facebook friend. “His profound, aesthetically edited photographs became the beginning of my portrait photography,” he remembers.

Self-taught, Sulola says he immersed himself in YouTube videos and watched the work of other Nigerian photographers including Ilemobayo Ojo, Adesina Taofeek. Michael Emerald and Deborah Ajilore, “Their beautiful works have been an inspiration for me to keep exploring the digital art space,” he says.

Now focusing mostly on self portraits, he pursues themes that revolve around meditation—grief, loss, happiness, seclusion, and identity. “I have a shy personality and I saw self-portraits as a way to bring myself out of the realm of shyness,” he says.

The theme of seclusion, for example, is shown in the photographs Dire and Blindfolded. ”These photographs,” he admits, “were taken at a very critical stage of my life, between 2020 to 2022, when I was lost and sinking in the pool of self doubts, when the world seemed to not make any sense and i felt like i was the only one plying through the journey of life.” 

Sulola shoots his self-portraits by placing his phone in front of him with a timer; he sometimes snaps by the front of the camera. He then edits the picture on snapseed, enhancing the image with the use of curves, white balance, glamour glow and drama, and finally with Paint app, and the best suitable art templates.

“Color photography plays a vital role in the message of my art,” says Sulola, “the emotions attached to the color serves as a story line on its own. 

“My most recent work, Allure, and Blind Spot, came to life as an attempt at experimenting with cultural artifacts and the ambience that comes with my Yoruba culture’s mode of dressing,” he says.” A man wearing a Yoruba traditional cap shows the Yoruba culture, pairing cultural with emotional messages.

“I’m currently working on collaborating with key figures in the photography world,” he says “as well as models that understand the quest for passing across to the audience, vital and profound messages that interpret the grief and agony of individuals in society.”

Imran Abiola Sulola lives in Osun State, Nigeria. He has been published in numerous online and print magazines including Aké Review, Acta Victoriana Magazine, Lumiere Review, and Cool Beans Lit.