I didn't take many pictures in Ghana. Most of what I have is from nature preserves and tourist sites - because that is what we saw. There are also a few taken from the bus, in motion.
There are a few reasons I don't have many pictures.
First off, there is such a specific picture of African countries being painted in the media - one that is largely inaccurate and harmful. I don't want to add to that.
Because of this, cameras and photographs hold a very different meaning in Ghana than say, New York City, where 'selfies' are the norm - the country of Ghana, in its collective conscious, is very aware of the images that have been put in the media, and does not want to perpetuate the myths. There is a respect for the power of an image that many have forgotten.
Another reason is that this class was primarily a tour of various nature preserves - there are only so many pictures one can take of trees.
This trip was also hard on me - I had writers block, I think due to the magnitude of the place that I didn't expect. Honestly, I was really angry in some cases on how we presented ourselves - as outsiders, I do not believe we left the best impression.
Which is all to say I was hesitant to do this post - if nothing else, I learned how inadequate photographs can be to capture the essence of a place - a place that I don't know.
But I also think it is important to share impressions and the truth I saw of a place.
<3
