A ruined constructing, 5 Ghanaians and a sublime horse: Ron Timehin’s finest {photograph} | Photography

This was taken at Labadi, a preferred vacationer resort in Accra, the capital of Ghana. You don’t typically see this facet of it. People go there for the golden sand and nightlife however they don’t actually combine with the neighborhood who stay there. I wished to point out how they fish – in conventional canoes – how they relaxation, how they play.

I like how this door appears to be like fronting a ruined farm constructing. It represents the liberty of not being sure by partitions. And I like the Ghanaian flag on the facet – a nod to position and heritage. I simply thought it was a gorgeous set. The neighborhood retains just a few horses in stables, which they use to hold tools. The one within the image pulls all of it collectively and provides class, as a result of it’s such an impressive and delightful animal. The means Africans are sometimes portrayed in documentary pictures isn’t like this.

I wished to {photograph} them in a collaborative means, in order that it wasn’t simply me going there and observing – it was them presenting themselves as they wished to be seen. The youngsters have been excited to see the lights and tools and even helped with organising. We tried just a few poses, however I feel this one actually sings. They look proud, relaxed, of their component.

The neighborhood is centred on fishing. They’re all very match and I used to be drawn to the way in which they appear after one another and the satisfaction they absorb the place they’re from. I seen, particularly with the youthful youngsters, that they actually look as much as the youngsters and so they wish to do their mother and father proud. In distinction, I’m primarily based in London and I don’t even know my neighbours.

I labored in a hybrid means, taking two sorts of portraits. I like photographing folks of their area. It’s a gorgeous factor, to have fun the place they’re from, what house is to them and what meaning. I additionally took a cellular studio to do some portraits excluding the atmosphere. I visited 5 communities for this undertaking and did that in each location.

The undertaking started after I was approached by a charity known as My Runway Group. They do cultural alternate programmes, and organized for me to go to Accra and doc it, whereas sharing some tradition between the UK and Ghana, as a result of clearly there are various ties there.

It was my first time within the nation and, whereas my household heritage is Sierra Leonean and Nigerian, I’ve household who stay in Accra. It was good to lastly go there and expertise one other a part of west Africa. I’m having an exhibition in London of pictures from all the communities. I promised them that we’d promote some prints and that a part of the cash would assist to fund issues they wish to construct, like an artwork centre. I might love to return and do a follow-up.

Ron Timehin is shortlisted within the Sony World Photography awards 2026. The accompanying exhibition is at Somerset House, London, 17 April to 4 May. Guardian readers can use code GUARDIAN15 (legitimate till 4 May, 5pm) to redeem a 15% low cost on exhibition tickets. Timehin’s exhibition is at Noho Galleries, London, from 18-21 June.