Mongomo: My Sticky, Camera-Sweaty West African Photo Dump

okay so mongomo wasn't exactly on my bucket list but sometimes the universe just shoves a camera in your face and says 'go'. as a freelance photographer chasing that elusive 'authentic' shot, i ended up in equatorial guinea with sweat dripping onto my viewfinder.

i just checked and it's...well, it's basically walking into a warm hug made of wet towels outside right now. hope you're into that kind of thing. the locals call it 'dry season' but it feels like you're breathing soup. humidity's at 71% and the pressure's dropping faster than my motivation at 10am.

if you get bored, bata is a short, bumpy drive away. think jungle closing in on both sides with potholes big enough to swallow a moto. someone told me the road gets flooded during rainy season but honestly? the swamp vibes might be the most photogenic part.

“don’t bother with fancy gear unless you’ve got a dehumidifier for your camera bag,” warned this guy at a roadside shack. “last week a tourist’s lens fogged up like you breathed on it mid-shot.”

shot this whole trip with basically two lenses and a prayer. the market? chaotic. colors bleeding everywhere. smells of smoked fish and something vaguely electrical. took 400 photos before realizing my memory card was full. rookie mistake.

“if you want real portraits, go to the riverbank at dawn,” whispered this grandma who didn’t speak english but gestured wildly at the horizon. “that’s when the light paints their faces.”

she wasn’t kidding. that golden hour glow on the kids washing dishes? still can’t get it out of my head. shot until my fingers pruned.

here’s what stuck with me visually:

heard from this backpacker that the presidential palace has these insane mosaic murals but you can’t get close. said he snuck a shot through a fence. risky move but the results looked insane. check out his flickr if you’re curious.

for eats? hit up this random roadside joint for plantains that’ll change your life. seriously. and if you need supplies before heading out, this tiny shop sells emergency sd cards and bug spray. lifesaver.

gonna need like three showers to feel clean again. totally worth the lens wipe-downs though. that humidity? it forces you to slow down. weirdly meditative.

pro tip: pack more lens cloths than underwear. trust me.

Mongomo: My Sticky, Camera-Sweaty West African Photo Dump

You might also be interested in:

About the author: Arthur Webb

Comments (0)

Join the conversation

Comments (0)

Join the conversation