Emmanuel Jambo, a South Sudanese photographer working in Kenya, made an impression after being chosen to capture President William Ruto’s official portrait.
In an interview, he revealed that he just took 25 minutes to photograph Ruto’s official image. His portrait photographs differ from those of his four predecessors in terms of design and quality.
The brilliantly caught image has a Kenyan flag in the background, a custom followed by US Presidents since 1961. Jambo also used 3D technology to take the portrait, which is one of a kind since independence.
“He just came in fresh and in good spirit. Trust me, it took like 25 minutes, and I was done. Everything synched because we have worked together on other projects,” he said.
Jambo is a well regarded portrait photographer in Africa. In Kenya, he first gained attention for taking an official photograph of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He has also photographed former Zambian presidents Rupiah Banda and Kenneth Kaunda, as well as South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and other celebrities.
In 2012, Forbes magazine named him one of Africa’s most prominent photographers.
In addition to working for senior dignitaries, Jambo worked on a documentary for the Blind Kids of Thika with a charity based in Atlanta, US.
He also claims credit for popularising women’s rugby in the country through his photography abilities.
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Jambo’s love in photography developed from his sister and family history, which inspired him to purchase a film camera to hone his talents.
After fully committing to photography, he contacted Oyunga Pala, who offered him the opportunity to shoot for the then-new publication Adam publication.
Jambo attributed his achievement to his constancy and awareness of technology advancements.
“To build a name for yourself, consistency is key. How good your work is should never be dependent on the price you charge for it. Determine your quality and the standard of service you will be providing and stick to it
“With time, your returns will be commensurate with the kind of work you are putting in. Part of my modus operandi is that I keep it natural and try not to depend on photoshop a lot. This sets me apart from the rest,” he stated.
