Lemonade’s From Life’s Lemons
Another day, another rejection email. “Thank you for your submission, but…” the words blurred together, the sting of each rejection fresh. At 25, I felt invisible. My apartment, a cramped space shared with my ageing mother, mirrored the state of my life — cluttered and devoid of hope.
Taking care of Mom was rewarding, but it also meant juggling medication schedules, and a multitude of freelance gigs that barely paid the bills. Photography, once my passion, felt like a burden now.
My dream of capturing Lagos’s vibrant spirit in my photographs felt like a faded Polaroid. As I walked through the corridors of the Nike Art Gallery, I found myself captivated by the raw beauty of a portrait photograph.
The artist exhibiting was a woman with Bantu knots surrounded by a group of people. Gathering bits of courage, I approached her as she moved on from the group. Her name was Dade Martins, a renowned artist. I complimented her work and to my surprise, she engaged in a conversation — not just about the photographs, but about my struggles. She listened intently, her eyes reflecting empathy and understanding.
Dade Martins saw the artist I was struggling to be. She offered guidance, on photography and perseverance. “Amina, life throws lemons,” she said, her voice gentle but firm, “but it’s up to us to make lemonades. Don’t let fear silence your passion. Keep creating, keep learning, and most importantly, believe in yourself.”
Her words were a spark.
Two months later, selling my first photograph was a victorious feeling. The validation was seeing the world through my lens, my perspective. I had found my voice, and through my photographs, I was starting to tell Lagos’s story, and mine, one frame at a time.
The lemons life threw me were still there, but I was learning to squeeze every drop of resilience and creativity out of them. Like the Lagos sunset, the future held the promise of new beginnings, painted in vibrant hues of hope and determination.
