On today’s episode of #49thBTS, we have Yusuf Sanni also known as “Buch” in the spotlight.
Buch is an amazing creative director, visual storyteller, and photographer. Buch who is a photographer popularly known for taking stunning images of one of our favorite Afro-fusion artist Burna Boy. Buch He also runs a clothing brand known as a western zealot, a lifestyle and luxury brand that showcases different forms of designs on shirts. Recently, Burna boy celebrated his birthday and posted a few pictures that made everyone know how happy he was and these pictures clearly showed our African Giant had a fun-filled day. Buch is someone who is able to express himself, his thoughts, feelings in different creative ways through pictures or photographs.
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49thStreet: Your name & where you’re based?
Buch: My name is Yusuf Sanni, popularly known as ‘buch’. Currently based in Lagos, Nigeria.
49thStreet: Why do you do photography?
Buch: I see it as a form of self-expression and a medium to document moments forever. And to make money of course.
49thStreet: What inspires your art or what’s your source of inspiration?
Buch: A lot of things. Light, shadows, nature, people, places, conversations, experiences, music, film, art, women money and so many random things. I get my biggest source of inspiration from being alone and by myself.
49thStreet: How did you stumble into photography?
Buch: I had a long holiday after I was done with A-levels, before resuming uni, my dad asked me what I was going to be doing and I told him I wanted to learn photography. I went to a photography school for a few months & interned there for a month. All these happened in Ibadan.
49thStreet: You have worked with quite a number of top artists, how did it feel?
Buch: Just a few actually and the experience was unique for each artist. It felt great but to be fair, that’s how I feel whenever I’m shooting anybody or anything. Most times, I’m just a fly on the wall capturing these moments.
49thStreet: What’s the best part about being a photographer for you so far ?
Buch: The best part is the fact that you can document moments for life. Although, it’s a blessing & a curse. A curse because you don’t get to experience & enjoy those moments in real-time, a blessing because you can always go back to experience it in the images made. But it’s a curse I don’t have any problem living with.
49thStreet: Challenges?
Buch: I think it’s the same almost everywhere, the country. There’s no proper structure so it’s tough doing it as a business. It’s almost like everything is set up against you, it’s difficult to make things happen or bring your ideas to life.
For instance, I love shooting outdoors & on location but it’s difficult to do that. It’s either you can’t access or you have to pay huge fees to get access to places that ideally, should be free.
49thStreet: Biggest achievements?
Buch: Tough one. Shooting for Burna Boy, shooting for Nike and a few projects that are not out yet.
49thStreet: So far what’s been your main focus in photography?
Buch: I’m still exploring but for now it’s basically portraits and lifestyle but with a documentary approach. I have interests in documenting people, black skin and unconventional beauty.
49thStreet: Will you one day go into an academy type of stuff to impact new generation of photographers?
Buch: Maybe, maybe not, who knows? Time will tell.
