HISTORY MADE!! Michael Aboya Becomes First Ghanaian Artist Featured On Adobe Lightroom Splash Screen.

Michael Aboya, a Ghanaian fine-art and fashion photographer, is the first from the country to have his work used as the Splash Screen on the latest Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic.

 

What this means is, anywhere around the world when someone opens their Lightroom Classic software, they are welcomed first with Michael’s photo.

 

Considering the fact that Lightroom ranks as the world’s 2nd best photo editing software after Photoshop (also by Adobe), this is such a HUGE feat.

 

Adobe Lightroom is a creative image organization and image manipulation software developed by Adobe Inc. as part of the Creative Cloud subscription family. It is supported on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and tvOS. Lightroom also gives you everything you need to create, edit, organize, store, and share your photos across any device.

Truth is, every photographer in the world has either used or heard of Lightroom hence this achievement exposes not only Michael, but Ghana to the entire creative universe especially in Photography.

 

Michael Aboya also known as Aboya.8, is a fine-art and fashion photographer based in Ghana West Africa whose passion for arts and photography became real at age 19 when he lost his father to cancer in August 2016.

 

He stopped studying computer programming at the time and used the little savings and funds he had to buy a Canon T3 camera with a Canon EF 70mm – 300mm lens. In early 2017, he started working as a full-time photographer, dedicated to learning and very importantly becoming a better version of himself. 

 

Today, as a visual artist working with photography, Michael’s purpose is to tell stories that inspire, empower and connect with the viewer. His images explore emotions, love and strength through composition, lighting, and subject matter.

 

Setting international records for Ghana seem to be a specialty for Michael as last year, he won the Best portrait photography 2020, by Agora Images in Spain, Barcelona. He was also adjudged the Author Of the best photograph in the world 2019 with his image dubbed “Songs OF Freedom” - Agora Awards 2019 in Spain, Barcelona. 

 

In 2018 Michael swept Best eyes photography award, Best sound photography award, and Best horse rider Photography award.

 

Mr Aboya is currently an Adobe Lightroom Ambassador and has featured and partnered with the likes of BBC, SONY, Forbes, Adobe, Agora Images, NEWSDAY, to mention but a few.

 

See more of his works on Instagram via @aboya.8, or visit his website https://aboya8.com

 

 

See Michael’s work under Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic as published by Adobe here: https://www.behance.net/gallery/130005823/2022-Creative-Cloud-Splash-Screens?tracking_source=search_projects_recommended|Adobe Splash Screen  

 

 

By: @CwesiOfori

juliusboadu@gmail.com

 

Ghana is about to “LAUGH OUT LOUD”

Viasat1 TV is set to release a comedy series unlike any comedy ever written and performed in Africa dubbed “MULTIKOLOURED”.

The show is structured with creatively over-exaggerated themes and humorous scenarios that will leave audiences both stunned and completely ecstatic. It has a typical sitcom feel with aiding laughter tracks to guide the focus of the audience.   

This comedy series is a story of a learning institution (School) set up by a man (human status not confirmed). He is unseen but very present. He is feared by all, respected by many and rules his institution in strange ways unimaginable.

He believes that when bad students are mixed with the good ones, they negatively influence the focus of the good ones and eventually they all become bad, so In his own wisdom, he gathers students whom he perceives to be bad, dumb and unusual from various classes and houses them under one roof, he names the class; “the MULTIKOLOURED class”.In this class the hilarious story begins.

Its newest member, Jeff Hammond (Myself), through whose eyes we are introduced into the class, goes through a mind-boggling journey to discover himself and the world around him.

The Show features an all-new cast, with occasional appearances by familiar faces like Mr. Henry Hardin popularly known as Papa Nii of Taxi Driver fame and other celebrities.

Multikoloured is written and Directed by Mike Kat Siaw popularly known as Kat, for Digital Gate Productions. Mike Siaw (Kat), M.D of Digital Gate Productions is a Film/Music Video and Visual Effects Director. He has contributed immensely to the Entertainment Industry in Ghana and the rest of Africa with breath-taking Visual Effects and television promos for companies such as HiCom Ghana, MTN, Mbiz Africa, TN Records, Stebo Records, Samini Music, British Council, Family Tree Entertainment, Musiga, Ministry of Culture and Creative Arts, Electoral Commission etc.

He has also produced numerous Music Videos for both local and international artistes such as; Tic Tac, Obour, Kaakyire Kwame Appiah, Quata, Barosky, Mr. Smith (Nigeria), Shadow (Liberia), Sean Bridon (Gabon/France) etc. and an uncountable number of underground Artistes.

Mike Siaw (Kat) won the Award for Best African Video for Shadow of Liberia in the 2010 Annual SICA MUSIC FESTIVAL held in Benin for the humanitarian song REASONS.

MULTIKOLOURED premieres on Viasat 1, on Sunday 18th of August 2013 and every other Sunday at 3:30pm.

By: Julius Ofori Boadu (JOB)
(juliusboadu@gmail.com)
Twitter: @CwesiOfori

My Lost Identity

So i lost my wallet which contained all my ID cards sometime ago and i went to the Electoral Commission today to get a replacement of my Voters ID.

To my utmost dismay, i was told there that "the cards dierr they are on hold for now becuase of the court case" and that, i can come back after it has ended, and i'm like HOW..?

I mean, i don't know but im just asking, is my getting a replacement of voters ID going to in anyway influence the outcome of the court case??
How am i supposed to get my lost sim card also replaced when they need the ID to replace it for me?
How am i supposed to get my Passport and/or VISA authenticated without identity?

I guess they mean i have to wait till after the court case before i travel outside or transact any international business. But considering the situation you begin to see how just a little "on hold" is affecting various aspects of my life right now; communicatioin, travel and business

The whole E.C. must be "on hold" i presume, cos the major question that hit my mind is, if even somthing as small as replacing my lost voters ID card is "on hold" then what activity right now over there is "on go"?

So it just leaves me wondering, is it just here, in my part of the world, in a government institution or it happens everywhere..?

In the mean time, as i try to get this one over my head, if you know of any means i can get any of my Identity cards replaced, kindly let me know cos i need one.

By: Julius Ofori Boadu (JOB)
(juliusboadu@gmail.com)
Twitter: @CwesiOfori

Law-Abiding Deviant 2

Doing things to please other people is the last thing on my Check List. The first is to God and then country then the rest follow

Oh yeah..,and maybe I should just let you know, the list is about 3 pages long so by you might know why I never do what you want me to do and behave the way you ant me to, cos I’m different and I LOVE IT.

Call me whatever you want; silly, stubborn, deviant & unserious and I’ll still care less, cos I’m still not doing anything to please you.

My focus is simple, to please God, so better pray what you want me to do is what God wants me to do else you can as well jump from the highest mountain into the deepest valley and I’ll still be doing what I want to do not what you expect me to.

Like I say and will continue to say: “the only thing that governs my life is The Word of God and the National Constitution. If what you want me to do doesn’t fit in any, them I’m sorry in advance that  I might just disappoint you.

God First; the rest follow… #PeaceOut

By: Julius Ofori Boadu (JOB)
(juliusboadu@gmail.com)
Twitter: @CwesiOfori

We are wrong by OURSELVES

Point the fingers at your attitude.

A friend of mine requested of me to take still shots at his engagement. So I went. Well, the ceremony started 3 hours late, but I’ll leave that discussion for another day.

One beautiful usher was serving water to the guests and the sight of it reminded me of my own thirst. When this usher was done serving, there were 3 bottles of water left on the tray which she was sending back. I approached her and said, ‘Please, can I get some water?’

She responded with a beautiful smile, ‘ok, wait here. I am coming’. So I waited. After about two minutes, she returned and in her hand was a dangling Voltic sachet water. ‘Here’, she said. I took it, drank it and continued my job.

I worked for some more hours and decided to leave as I had other appointments. On my way out, I heard someone shouting, ‘madam, madam, madam, please wait!’. I stopped. This beautiful usher with a gift bag in her hand approached me and said, ‘oh madam, I am so so so sorry. I THOUGHT YOU WERE A PHOTOGRAPHER. Please, I have 2 BOTTLES of water and some goodies in here for you………..’

It is totally ridiculous for me to hear any black person in this 21st century blame OUR woes on whatever ‘colonial masters’. We are wrong by ourselves.

Credit: Edem Asamany

9th July 2013 

Any hope for the NPP..??

So as tensions still try to stabilize i decided to have a short discussion with Mr. Nana Yaw Asiedu, a Lawyer and Youth-mentor, concerning the the current Plea of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the possible outcome of a court action.

Just take a little time to read what ensued between us.

ME: Hi, boss Plz is it possible that the Prez Elect (Mahama) will be changed if the court finds evidence enough that the NPP's allegations are true.?
LAWYER ASIEDU: In that scenario:
1) court will order a recount
2) the recount is done
3) EC announces (new) results
4) Winner after recount = Prez

ME: and are all these supposed to happen before January 7 2013 (i.e. before swearing in) or it can still continue after Jan 7..?
LAWYER ASIEDU: one only needs to start the lawsuit by 30th December 2012. On 7th Jan 2013, Prez Mahama will be sworn in but the case goes on till whenever.

ME: ok, so in case it goes on after swearin in (Jan 7), and it comes out the NPP is right, what then.? Does the Prez get "de-throned"..??
LAWYER ASIEDU: In theory Yes., But you begin to see the practical improbability, No? Remember, Prez JM can still win a recount by 50% plus, (even if NPP are right) & remain Prez.

ME: so i guess it will all just turn out then to be a "foolish case" after Jan 7 2012...?? Wow..! Interesting, very interesting....
LAWYER ASIEDU: Not quite. A decision to recount and a substantial result change would taint the legitimacy of Prez Mahama.

ME: oh ok...But the buttom line is, once he's sworn in, if even it turns out the NPP rather had the 50+1, he can't be "de-throned", right..?
LAWYER ASIEDU: Just saying "unlikely", NOT "impossible".

ME: wow.., thanks a lot boss... This has REALLY been an eye opener for me.. Bless u
LAWYER ASIEDU: Anytime..

Any comments..??
P.S. U may also post questions u wish i ask Lawyer Asiedu. Cheers...!!!

By: Julius Ofori Boadu (JOB)
(juliusboadu@gmail.com)
Twitter: @CwesiOfori

Two things we Prayed...

This is what i Believe; Before the elections Ghanians went on their knees and prayed to God for a Peaceful elections and to elect a Suitable President for us - even though we all had our factions we belonged to. I believe Strongly that God is a Prayer Answering God and has done just that, whether your party won or not.

Now, Unless u believe that God does Not listen to and answer prayers or u believe that Gods answer to a prayer can be Manipulated or Influenced by "Man", then you sure should have No Problem with the outcome of the elections.

In any case we prayed for TWO things; Peace and a Suitable leader. Now you and I can testify that we have seen the Peace, so do u think God will decide to answer our prayers partly.?? That He gave us Peace but with an "Unsuitable" Leader..?? Is that what u think.? Then believing in Him and praying to Him is Not even necessary anymore i guess.?

Indeed, we are different people from different places with different Experiences, Ideas and Preferences yet with "One God". Let this Hate talks and Comments and Insults and Curses CEASE because whether Rigging or Cheating or not, there's NOTHING and i say NOTHING which can happen on the surface of this earth if PapaGod Himself does not allow it.

Cheers to all you People who made Our Peace Possible. U are now Stake Holders of our Peace and ought to keep upholding it No Matter our differences. Lets continue to Cherish in Our Peace as we have done this elections and work together as ONE in Hope that we Achieve the "Better Ghana" Promised Us.


By: Julius Ofori Boadu (JOB)
(juliusboadu@gmail.com)
Twitter: @CwesiOfori