Taking pictures is an enjoyable activity, but if you decide that you want that to be your job, you may find at that you need to have an inner compulsion to communicate stories you feel strongly about.
Award winning Ugandan photographer Daudi Murungi says that for him, photography is a way of feeling, touching and loving.
“It’s a powerful medium of expression and communication. I love to speak through photography,” he further reveals during an interview with UG Christian News.
Currently working with Blush Media, Murungi was earlier this year declared as one of Uganda’s top photographers, after receiving the majority vote from fans.
Brought up from Kasubi, the second born to Mr Rwabuhemba Wilber and Evelyn pursued a bachelor’s degree in industrial fine art and design at Makerere University.
Let alone growing up from a Christian home, Daudi says that he begun to fully comprehend God’s love upon joining Primary School.
“Discipline was enforced right from childhood since I grew up from a Christian home. I was at the same time taken to a Christian school – Joy primary school. It was based on Christian values that helped me grow up knowing God,”
While at Joy primary school, Daudi gave his life to Christ. At such a tender age, one would say that he probably didn’t understand the magnitude of the decision he had made.
Many times when we grow up – more so to the adolescent age, there is a regular tendency of dropping off the course of following Christ, perverted by youthful pleasure that tends to draw up back. Haven’t you ever looked back since then? Has your salvation walk been unwavering, we asked Daudi.
“It’s a challenge sometime. In this generation, things change a lot – campus especially where you get to meet new friends. But the only trick was staying in church circles and involving myself in ministry,” Daudi answered.
“I’m not an outing person as such, this helped me as well. It has kept me from many temptations and habits like smoking, drinking, drugs and the rest. My main circle of friends is mainly church…I believe that has helped me a lot be stable,” he continued
Daudi says that he first held a professional camera during his form six vacation.
“That was 2011. I was called up by one media team that asked if I was interested in learning photography to join their team. I didn’t hesitate. I took on that opportunity God had freely given me. It was always my dream to hold such a camera, and the chance had finally come, ”
“I have been trained and mentored by Wabwire Wagner, a professional photographer. I’m a volunteer with my Church’s media team where I shoot during church services, workshops, ministry activities. With continued engagement, I keep growing and getting better,” he says.
With now close to five years of imagery making, Daudi has learnt that Photography is an art -a creative art.
“There has to be a vision before capturing an image. I love making each moment count and powerful. The camera has always been a guide, and it has allowed me to see things and focus on things that maybe an average person would not have seen. When words become unclear to me, I focus with my photographs. I speak through photography,”
aaron@ugchristiannews.com
