Lamu, its doors and their carvers
I shot this photo for an article about Lamu, its doors and their carvers that is going to run in an internet magazine we’ll be launching in September (more info about the magazine as the launch approaches).
I was almost surprised seeing this photo after we had left the carvers’ workshop. The man in the photo, Omar, was the quieter of Alberto’s – who was writing the article – and my two interviewees. Where in their words the two men seemed rather pragmatic towards their craft, the photo seems to tell a different story, one of dedication and love towards the work.
The plank Omar is working on in the photo will be a part of an elaborate exterior door that are very typical to this Swahili coast. The finalised doors are quite precious pieces of workmanship costing around €1,000 apiece and taking up to two months to carve.