Isaiah Maghanga was six years old when his parents first noticed his knack for drawing. When left unsupervised, surfaces around their home became his canvas. From tables, to walls or counter tops, he did not hesitate to use his crayons or colouring pencils to liven them up.
His love for art carried through to his teenage years when he joined Voi Secondary School. The school offered a drawing and design class which Isaiah signed up for. The technical elements tackled by the syllabus improved his pre-existing skills, and he enjoyed learning about the transformative power of design in spaces.
After high school, Isaiah pursued a certificate course in graphic design at the Kenya Polytechnic, followed by a three-year diploma course at the Academy of Graphic Technology to study graphic arts technology. His coursework prepared him to become an artist and a graphic designer, and every day Isaiah inched closer to fulfilling this dream. But this smooth flow of events was interrupted in 2006 when he graduated from college and began the job hunt.
Isaiah’s first job was as a 3D artist at an interior design company. Then he transitioned to designing for a print firm a few months down the line. In both fields he could not reconcile his artistry with his work, and the result was a period of creative dormancy. What had initially been a straight path turned into a maze that Isaiah was not sure how to navigate. But he was more than eager to find a way out. He pored over publications done by the print firm, looking at graphics, artworks, and illustrations, hoping that one of these might rekindle his spark. His wish was granted when he came across photos taken by #KePhotographer Abraham Ali for an advertisement. Ali’s creative interpretation caught Isaiah’s eye and made him yearn to create such imagery. For the first time, Isaiah’s thoughts turned to venturing into photography and creative ways to bring concepts to life through this profession. A few weeks later, after he mentioned his new interest to a friend who imported and sold photography gear, he was loaned a Canon 5D Mark 2. This was the push he needed to begin developing his photography skills.
Insects, birds, flowers, furniture – all became test subjects of Isaiah’s trial photos. If it was in his eyesight, he did not hesitate to click away. As he grew confident in his prowess, he began taking bookings for photo shoots. Capturing important milestones like weddings, baby bumps, and birthdays was always special, and Isaiah was happy to be the person documenting these priceless moments.
In April 2010, Isaiah used his savings to set up a photo studio. By this time, he had found a process that gave him the chance to recreate stories for his clients and has stuck with this concept to date. Whenever he is working on photo shoot ideas, Isaiah engages his clients to learn more about them and what makes this achievement so special. He then draws inspiration from their stories and captures images to compile into a photo essay that will simulate how this accomplishment was achieved. During the image-editing process, Isaiah creates composites while manipulating light and colour to create an artistic reality in which the story unfolds. Through this new process, Isaiah found a way to reconcile his love of art and his work of photography.
Isaiah has worked with many individuals who desire to bring their stories to life. Names that grace his client list include Larry Madowo, Victoria Rubadiri, Jamila Mohamed, H_Art the Band, and Polycarp from Sauti Sol. His art has appeared on multiple album covers and billboards.
Finding his niche in the world of photography has been a full circle process. His ability to capture and enhance moments in order create unique works of art is worth acknowledging and appreciating. Hongera Isaiah, keep flying the artistic flag high!
