Elan Personality: Sunmi Smart-Cole

Almost entirely self-educated, he has garnered numerous awards and accolades for his work, exhibiting worldwide and even documenting some of our nation's first post-democracy government missions.

His humble beginnings as an architectural draughtsman and jazz aficionado to becoming one of the country's most renowned photo-journalists make conversation with Sunmi Smart-Cole all the more interesting, as his experience and perspectives are vast.

So whether you know him from his black and white photos in Sundays' THISDAY, his days as pioneer editor of Lagos Life and photo editor of The Guardian newspaper, or as the jolly barber at his then barbershop known as Sunmi's Place.

It is easy to say, once you've met him, you can never forget him. It is just his personality. Today we are
capturing him in his essence right in his living room, despite currently battling the symptoms of malaria.

Writing with Light

Sunmi bought his first camera off an American Embassy official for five pounds, using it to document his first trip to the U.S. "I took photographs from Virginia all through Washington D.C and on to upstate New York, travelling by road. From there to Chicago to the Black Expo, the last one organised by Jesse Jackson for the Southern Baptist Leadership Conference led by Dr. Martin Luther King before he started off on his operation PUSH."

Since then he has used his lens to capture a wide array of decisive moments, still shots and portraits in black and white, all which are now available for public view at www.sunmismartcole.com.

His living-room displays an amazing juxtaposition of the evolution of technology. In the corner sits his antique view camera, the first generation of analogue cameras.

It is the old school boxy contraption seen in the movies where the photographers throw a black hood over their heads to take the picture and the image is captured upside down.

The other corner holds a vintage rotary dial phone, and the piece de resistance is an original Nigerian Posts and Telegraphs switch connector phone. Meanwhile, a Mac Book Pro belting classic hits is on a corner table next to his Nokia E75 phone.

Sunmi and élan photographer, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, reminisce on the Olympus ON2 and ON1 cameras, which boasted the best in metering systems for photography in black and white in the late '70s.

"This guy has been around, Kelechi says, "but he still knows what's happening."

Discovery of the Hangover

Sunmi Smart-Cole has a phobia for alcohol.

"I was lucky enough that at the age of 12 some grown-ups exposed me to alcohol at a party and some sips of beer, gin, whisky and wine got me drunk. My head was spinning the next day, I was vomiting, and much later on in life I realised that is what they called a hangover."

Since then he has prided himself on having never indulged in any more drunken episodes. He explains further: "As a photographer, you should not consume anything that would cause your hand to shake."

With the weight of the camera and the balancing act that ensues from trying to capture that perfect moment when in motion and under the best lighting, a trembling hand is nothing but additional disaster.

"In my opinion, alcohol is a drug. Apart from free basing cocaine, the most addictive drug is alcohol. But people here, instead of saying that man is a drunk they say, ‘Oh that man knows how to drink.' I cannot live their lifestyle."

Student of Life and Photography

"My study of photography began in 1976 and I still call myself a student of photography; there are so many things I have not done. I have not been to space. I don't know a thing about medical photography but you see, you learn things every day. I believe in doing something every day to improve my mind," he says with a smile.

He shows great respect for his photography predecessors like Jackie Phillips and Peter Obeh. "When I was photo-editor I did not restrict myself to photo-editing. I would go out on assignments with my camera and stumble on a news item on the streets. Lagos is full of those. When people see me at parties they think I am only a society photographer, but I only do that for bread and butter money. I prefer doing serious photography, as art in black and white."

Tree Hugging, Fatherhood and Double Breasted Suits

He has trained over 30 photographers and served as a role model and inspiration to many.

With dreams of opening a school of photography, he expresses the importance of setting a good example and putting faith in God to actualise all plans.

His lifelong advocacy for the environment and sensitivity for natural subjects have show through in his work, as he is moved by a love for music, fashion and art. "My belief in God, being the proud father of two young men, and as a lover of natural objects, an ornamental horticulturist, they all influence my work."

He also did a stint as a gardener and has been involved in the Friends of the Earth and Lagos Horticultural Society environmental groups for years. His dress sense is simple.

A crisp clean style characterised by shirts, trousers and blazers with pocket squares, preferably double breasted. "Double breasted just never goes out of style." Neither does good photography.