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1 | ‘Photoblogging Is My Sustenance’, Says Ugandan Photographer Edward Echwalu | ‘Sakafo iainako Ny Photoblogging’, Hoy i Edward Echwalu, ilay Ogande Mpakasary |
2 | This is one of Edward Echwalus's photos of a boy pushing a wheelbarrow loaded with jerry cans full of water in Western Uganda. | Iray amin'ireo sary nopihan'i Edward Echwalus ity zazalahy manosika borety misy daba feno rano ity, tany Andrefan'i Ogandà. |
3 | Photo used with permission. | Sary nahazoana alàlana |
4 | The name Edward Echwalu is quickly becoming synonymous with photography and blogging in Uganda. | Nalaky lasa famantarana ny resaka fakàna sary sy ny fanoratana bilaogy ao Oganda ny anarana Edward Echwalu. |
5 | In an exclusive interview, the amazing photoblogger spoke to Global Voices about his love for photography and blogging. | Nandritry ny antsafa manokana niarahana taminy, noresahan'ilay mpandefa sary anaty bilaogy mahazendana tamin'ny Global Voices ny fitiavany maka sary sy ny fanoratana bilaogy. |
6 | Prudence Nyamishana (PN): When did it occur to you that photography was your thing? | Prudence Nyamishana (PN): Oviana no nahatsapànao fa tena toy ny rà mikoriana anatinao ny resaka sary ? |
7 | Edward Echwalu (EE): I was like many Ugandan kids that didn't know what my career path was headed even when I was in second year at Makerere University and like many Mass Communication students, I attended all the classes hoping that I would discover my passion along the way. | Edward Echwalu (EE): toy ny ankizy Ogande rehetra ihany aho taloha, tsy nahalala izay ho asako, eny fa na dia hatrany amin'ny taona faharoa tao amin'ny Anjerimanontolon'i Makerere aza, ary toy ireo maro nanaraka ny Làlam-piofanana Fampitam-baovao ho an'ny daholobe, nanatrika ny fampianarana rehetra aho tamin'ny fanantenana fa eny am-pandehanana eny no mety hahitako izay tena hahaliana ahy. |
8 | One day, a visiting professor from the USA came with his camera and encouraged us to integrate stories and photos. My life was completely changed. | Indray andro, nisy profesora avy any Etazonia tonga nanao fitsidihana niaraka tamin'ny fakàntsariny ary nandrisika ny ankizy hampivady ny tantara amin'ny sary Niova tanteraka ny fiainako. |
9 | I immediately started taking pictures and compliments came from that direction. | Avy hatrany dia nanomboka naka sary aho ary dia nahazo fankasitrahana avy amin'ny rehetra. |
10 | My passion was driven by that fact that my father had said that after my final semester at school, I would never see any of his money. | Ny fitiavako naka sary dia nateraky ny filazàn'ny raiko fa aorian'ny fiafaràn'ny enimbolana farany amin'ny fianarako, tsy tokony hitavandra vola avy aminy intsony aho. |
11 | I knew I had to earn a living. | Fantatro fa tsy maintsy nitady fivelomana aho. |
12 | But I was glad that I had discovered my passion. | Saingy faly aho fa hitako ny zavatra tiako sy nahaliana ahy. |
13 | I took a bold step and from my tuition, boarded a bus to Nairobi, Kenya to buy a camera. | Dingana feno fahasahiana no nataoko, ary tamin'ny saram-pianarako, nandray fiara fitaterana aho ho any Nairobi, Kenya mba hividy fakàntsary. |
14 | I had been told that cameras are cheaper. | Nolazaina tamiko fa hoe mora ny fakàntsary. |
15 | I didn't know anyone but that didn't stop me from going to buy a camera. | Tsy nahafantatra na iza na iza aho saingy tsy nahasakana ahy tsy handeha hividy fakàntsary izany. |
16 | I was very excited, I took photos of everything that came my way. | Tena nientanentana tokoa aho, naka sary izao zavatra rehetra hitako teny an-dàlana izao. |
17 | But then I knew that I had to publicize my photos so I set up a blog and by then not many Ugandans were blogging. | Fa nony fantatro fa mila mamoaka ny sary nopihako aho dia nanokatra bilaogy, ary tamin'izany fotoana izany tsy mbola maro ny Ogande no nanana bilaogy. |
18 | Part of my course had a design component so I designed business cards. | Ampahany tamin'ny fianarako ny fanomezana endrika ara-barotra ka dia nanamboatra karatra ho fandraharahàna aho. |
19 | And just before the semester closed, I was invited by the US embassy for an Editor's meeting. | Ary talohan'ny nifarànan'ilay enimbolana indrindra, nanasa ahy ny Masoivoho Amerikana nandritry ny fivorian'ireo Tonian-dahatsoratra . |
20 | It was an exclusive meeting with Editors of top-level media houses. | Fihaonana manokana niarahana tamin'ireo Tonian-dahatsoratra manana ny lazany avy amin'ireo voaiben'ny fampitàm-baovao io. |
21 | I was only a student and the only portfolio I had was a link to my blog. | Mbola mpianatra fotsiny aho teo ary ny hany mba zavatra nanànako dia ny rohy mitroka avy ao amin'ny bilaogiko. |
22 | So what I did out of excitement became my defining moment. | Araka izany ny zavatra nataoko niainga tamin'ny fientanentanana/fahataitairana no lasa fotoana namaritra ny fisiako. |
23 | And thereafter, I got many more emails from people that wanted me to do work for them including the Daily Monitor that took me on as a their photographer. | Ary taorian'izay, naharay mailaka maro aho avy amin'ny olona izay naniry ny hanaovako asa ho azy ireo, isan'ireny ny Daily Monitor izay nandray ahy ho toy ny mpakasary ao amin-dry zareo. |
24 | PN: What has been your best moment as a photoblogger? | PN: Inona no fotoana tsaroanao ho tsara indrindra tamin'ny naha-mpakasary fanao anaty bilaogy anao (photoblogger)? |
25 | EE: They are quite a number of great moments but my best moment was when I received a call from London that I had been nominated for CNN African Journalism Awards. | EE: Misy maromaro ihany ny fotoan-dehibe fa ny tena tsara indrindra dia ny nandraisako antso avy any Londona fa hoe voasoratra ho isan'ny natolotra ho amin'ny “CNN African Journalism Awards” ny tenako. |
26 | I didn't know how to respond. | Tsy hitako izany navaly. |
27 | The call came in when I was in a car with my friends going to party when I told them, the party started right there. | Tamin'ny fotoana niarahako tamin'ireo namako teny ambony fiara fitaterana handeha hifety indrindra no niditra ilay antso ka nitenenako tamin-dry zareo fa nanomboka teo ny fety. |
28 | For the first time I felt like somebody appreciated my work. | Sambany mihitsy no nahatsapako hoe nisy olona mba nankasitraka ny asako. |
29 | Night fishing with kerosene lamp is common in Uganda. | Zava-mahazatra fanao ao Oganda ny jono atao amin'ny alina ampiasàna solitany. |
30 | Photo used with permission. | Sary nahazoana alàlana. |
31 | PN: What challenges do you face as a photoblogger? | PN: Inona no fanamby atrehanao amin'ny maha-mpakasary fanao amin'ny bilaogy anao? |
32 | EE: In Uganda people don't appreciate talent. | EE: Tsy mankasitraka loatra ny fanànana talenta ny olona ao Oganda. |
33 | I keep pushing myself to do better work. | Izaho ihany no manosika ny tenako hanao asa tsaratsara kokoa. |
34 | At the university I didn't learn much for most of what I know I learned from YouTube. | Tany amin'ny Anjerimanontolo, tsy nianatra zavatra betsaka noho izay maro haiko tamin'ny alàlan'ny Youtube aho. |
35 | Equipment is very expensive and not available in Uganda yet photography here is easily unnoticed unless your work is exceptional. | Lafo be ny fitaovana no sady tsy misy ao Oganda ka tsy hisy hahamarika izay sary izany ny eto raha tsy hoe zava-miavaka angaha ny asa nataonao. |
36 | In journalism, photojournalists are always on the front line and yet in Uganda, they are not insured. | Amin'ny asa fanaovana gazety, saiky eny an-dohalaharana hatrany ny mpanao gazety ary mbola ao Oganda ihany, tsy manana fiantohana izy ireny. |
37 | Police have beaten me in my line of duty, I pursued the case but it fell off along the way. | Nidaroka ahy ny polisy teo ampanatanterahana ny asako, nametraka fitoriana momba ilay tranga niseho aho saingy very an-dàlana fotsiny izany. |
38 | In 2009, during the Buganda riots, there was tension everywhere and every scene was a front-line the whole town was ablaze yet I wanted as many exclusive photos as possible. | Tamin'ny 2009, nandritry ny korontana tao Buganda, nisy fifanenjanana teny rehetra teny ary saiky vava-ady daholo izay toerana nitrangàny, nirehitra ny tanàna iray manontolo ary dia niezaka ny hahazo sary tsy misy mpanana araka izay azoko natao aho. |
39 | The Army was in charge so they started shooting at people- they arrested me and beat me I was taken to a police barracks where I was flogged. | Niatrana ny tafika ary nanomboka nitifitra olona - nisambotra ahy sy nidaroka ahy, nentina tany amin'ny tobin'ny polisy aho nokaravasiana. |
40 | But there was no body to see me being beaten. | Nefa tsy nisy olona nahita ahy voadaroka. |
41 | Fortunately, I had airtime on my phone that was enough for a text message to my editor- who in turn sent a message that spread to many radio stations in Kampala- then the army men started wondering who I was and was released immediately. | Soa ihany fa nanana fotoana nidirana mivantana avy amin'ny findaiko aho izay ampy tsara nandefasako hafatra ho an'ny tonian-dahatsoratro - izay nandefa kosa indray hafatra ho an'ireo toby fampielezampeo marobe tao Kampala - avy eo ireo miaramila nanomboka nanontany tena hoe iza marina aho ary namotsotra ahy avy hatrany. |
42 | Then in 2011 during the “walk to work” protests, I was downtown taking pictures of the protesters. | Avy eo, tamin'ny 2011, nandritry ny hetsika “diabe ho an'ny asa”, tany afovoan-tanàna aho naka sary an'ireo mpanao hetsi-panoherana. |
43 | The army me shot warning bullets in the sky before I knew it, one soldier opened fire on the crowd and I saw a young man that had been full of life shouting a in front of me dead. | Nanao tifi-danitra ho fanairana ny miaramila aloha raha ny nahalalako azy, nisy miaramila iray nitifitra tany amin'ireo olona marobe ary hitako ny tovolahy iray nirijarija teo anoloako maty voatifitra teo amin'ny lohany. |
44 | I was traumatized and raged. | Sady nipararetra aho no tezitra. |
45 | I took more pictures despite the beatings. | Naka sary maro aho na teo aza ny daroka. |
46 | And all I could do was tell the young man's story. | Ary ny sisa azoko natao dia ny nitantara ny amin'ilay tovolahy. |
47 | PN: What is it like being a Ugandan photoblogger? | PN: Manao ahoana izany hoe Ogande mpakasary fanao am-bilaogy ? |
48 | EE: Photoblogging has opened very many doors for me. | EE: Nanokatra varavarana marobe ho ahy ny fakàna sary fanao am-bilaogy. |
49 | I have power in the camera. | Manana ny tanjako ao anatin'ny fakàntsariko aho. |
50 | I chose ideas that relate to my global audience. | Fidiako ireo hevitra izay mifandray amin'ny andrasan'ireo manjohy ahy manerantany. |
51 | I use blogging to raise awareness of issues. | Ampiasaiko hanairana ny saina mikasika ireo olana misy ny fanoratana bilaogy. |
52 | For example the nodding syndrome story that I covered in northern Uganda. | Ohatra ny tantaran'ny nodding syndrome -Soritr'aretina nodding [Eng] notateriko avy any avaratr'i Oganda. |
53 | The disease puzzled me; nobody seemed to have answers to it so I decided to travel to northern Uganda what I found there was shocking- I covered what it takes for a child to live with the disease. | Nanahiran-tsaina ahy ilay aretina; toa tsy nisy olona afaka nanome valinteny mikasika azy io ka dia nanapaka hevitra ny handeha ho any avaratr'i Oganda aho ary tena nanohina mafy ahy ny zavatra hitako tany - noraketiko ny zavatra zakain'ny ankizy iray mba ho velona miaraka amin'ilay aretina. |
54 | The response was overwhelming, people came up with ideas of how to get involved and as a result, there were campaigns to raise funds for the nodding syndrome. | Mahasafotra ny valinteny, tonga miaraka amin'izay hevitra heveriny ho fandraisany anjara ny olona, ary hatramin'izay vokany, nisy ny fanentanana hamoriana vola hiatrehana ny “nodding syndrome”. |
55 | Media coverage increased internationally and locally. | Nitombo be ny fandrakofan'ny fampahalalam-baovao tao an-toerana sy iraisampirenena. |
56 | Photoblogging has helped me tell humanitarian stories that ordinarily would never appear in the mainstream media. | Nanampy ahy ny fakàna sary hatao amin'ny bilaogy hilazàna ny tantaran'ny maha-olona izay raha ny hita dia tsy mivoaka velively any amin'ireo fampahalalam-baovao mahazatra. |
57 | Along the way, I found my niche I now do photography for development so I use more pictures and less words. | Teny an-dàlana teny, hitako ny toerana tokony hisy ahy, maka sary ho amin'ny fampandrosoana aho ankehitriny ka dia ampiasaiko kokoa ny sary raha oharina amin'ny teny. |
58 | PN: I have seen many of your amazing pictures that tell the story even without reading the caption. | PN: Nahita maro tamin'ireo sary mahaliana nalainao aho, izay milaza tantara na dia tsy mbola mamaky ny teny kely fanazavàna azy aza. |
59 | How do you manage to capture these moments? | Ahoana no fomba andraketanao ireny fotoana ireny ? |
60 | EE: I go out for emotions yet many photobloggers go for activity. | EE: Mivoaka ho an'ny fihetsehampo aho raha maro kosa ireo mpakasary hatao anaty bilaogy no mandeha noho ny asa. |
61 | When I capture the emotion I leave the field gratified. | Rehefa mandrakitra fihetsehampo aho dia mahatsiaro ho tretrika mandao ilay toerana. |
62 | It is never easy capturing emotion it requires patience, time and skill. | Tsy mora velively ny misambotra ny fihetsehampo fa mila faharetana, fotoana ary fahazàrana. |
63 | As a photographer you must be humane enough to tell the story. | Tsy maintsy anananao ampy tsara ny toetra maha-olona hilazàna ilay tantara amin'ny maha-mpakasary fanao am-bilaogy anao. |
64 | You need to feels what these people are feeling, with the nodding syndrome, I was angry I felt like the children deserved better. | Mila mahatsapa izay tsapan'ny olona ianao, miaraka amin'ilay aretina “nodding syndrome”, tezitra aho nahatsapa hoe mendrika zavatra tsaratsara kokoa ny ankizy. PN: Inona no mbola manosika anao hanohy raha ny zavatra rehetra mikorosy? |
65 | PN: What keeps you going when things are falling apart? | EE: Sakafo iainako Ny Photoblogging (fakàna sary hatao amin'ny bilaogy). |
66 | EE: Photoblogging is my sustenance. | Tsy manana birao hita vatàna aho. |
67 | I don't have a physical office I have encouraged photojournalists to pursue photoblogging that what I earn on a project is 98% of my annual revenue if I had a daytime job. | Mamporisika ny mpanao gazety hitozo amin'ny fakàna sary hatao amin'ny bilaogy aho fa ny azoko aminà tetikasa iray dia 98% amin'izay azoko herintaona aminà asa raikitra iray atao isanandro. |
68 | I decided that the many hours I was giving to my employer, I invest it in my job, I feel that I am yet to tell the best story of my life- I don't feel like I have taken my best picture yet. | Notapahako ny hevitra fa ny ora maro nomeko ny mpampiasa ahy dia hatontoko ho an'ny asako, tsapako fa mbola mila milaza ny tantara tsara indrindra eo amin'ny fiainako aho - tsy mahatsapa ho toy ny efa nahazo ny sary tsara indrindra tamin'izay nopihako aho. |
69 | And for a long time, I used never to take compliments. | Ary nandritry ny fotoana ela, tsy mba zatra nandray dokadoka. |
70 | Sometimes when I compare myself with other photographers around the world I know that I am not yet there so I have to keep pushing myself to the limits. | Indraindray rehefa mampitaha ny tenako amin'ireo hafa mpaka sary manerana izao tontolo izao aho dia fantatro fa tsy mbola ao tsara ka mila manosika ny tenako hihoatra ny fetra. |
71 | Yes, times have been tough when I lost my morale for any work. | Eny, tena mafy ny fotoana rehefa ilay izaho trotraka ara-tsaina iny eo am-piasàna. |
72 | I felt like my work was not very impactful. | Tsapako ho tsy misy fiantraikany ny asako. |
73 | I spoke to my mentor who told me to take a step back and for the first time in my career for a whole month, I did not click a camera, I didn't take any picture and didn't carry a camera or smart phone. | Niresaka tamin'ny mpanoro hevitra ahy aho izay nilaza tamiko haka bàhana kely sy voalohany indrindra teo amn'ny asako, hiato mandritry ny volana iray manontolo, ary dia tsy nanapika fakàntsary mihitsy aho. Tsy naka sary aho na iray aza ary tsy nitondra fakàntsary na smartphone. |
74 | I went on a wild adventure. | Nandeha tany ambany ravinkazo. |
75 | Temptations came along the way but I used this season to jump-start my life and when the one month was over, I was ready for a fresh start. | Nikitikitika ahy nanerana ny làlana ny fakàmpanahy saingy nampiasaiko io vanim-potoana io mba ho teboka fanombohana ny fiainako ka rehefa tapitra ilay iray volana, feno fahavononana vaovao aho. |
76 | Then there is a time when my equipment was stolen; all my cameras, backup hard drives yet that was my life. | Avy eo nisy fotoana iray nisy nangalatra ny fitaovako rehetra; ny fakàntsariko rehetra, ny angon-drakitro tanaty kapila mafy, izany hoe ny fiainako manontolo. |
77 | I felt amputated. | Toy ny bory tongotra aho. |
78 | It took good encouragement to get me back to my feet. | Nandray ireo fankaherezana tsara aho mba hiverenako hijoro tsara indray. |
79 | Friends organized and fund-raised about 2000 dollars contributions came from allover the world; Brazil, Ghana, Ethiopia US and many other countries. | Nifandamina ireo namana ary nanao famoriam-bola nahazo hatramin'ny 2000 dolara teo ho eo avy amin'ny lafivalon'izao tontolo izao; Brezila, Ghana, Etiopia, Etazonia ary firenena hafa maro. |
80 | That was another defining moment, because I had global voices that were encouraging me to go on. | Fotoana iray hafa namaritra ny fiainako izany, satria nanana ny Global Voices aho izay teo nankahery ahy hanohy hatrany. |
81 | PN: What can you tell a blogger out there that is about to give up or has already given up on their blog? | PN: Inona no azonao lazaina ho an'ny bilaogera izay mila ho kivy na efa niato mihitsy tsy nanohy ny bilaoginy? |
82 | EE: Giving up on a blog is like giving up on life. | EE: Toy ny fanariana aina ny famelàna ny bilaogy. |
83 | Whatever reasons made you open up a blog should keep you going. | Na inona na inona antony nahatonga anao nanokatra bilaogy, tokony hanohy hatrany ianao. |
84 | Many bloggers give up because they are not getting enough feedback but you have no idea that your blog might have been changing a life somewhere, even if it was one person that is all that matters. | Maro ireo bilaogera no niato satria tsy naharay tamberina loatra, nefa ianao tsy takatrao mihitsy hoe ny bilaoginao mety nanova fiainana iray any ambadimbadika any, na dia ho olona iray aza izay, tsy olana. |
85 | Sometimes we get discouraged over things that do not matter. | Indraindray mahakivy antsika ny zavatra tsy dia misy dikany. |
86 | Don't lay your tools down; there are people out there that are feeding from your thoughts. | Aza ampirimina ny fitaovanao; misy olona any miandry ny avy any an'eritreritrao. |
87 | Keep going. | Tohizo hatrany. |
88 | Edward's work can be found here. | Azo jerena ato ny asan'i Edward. |