Dutch photographer captures candid moments of life on the streets of Christian Village

“Photography helps me to see more, to connect with strangers and listen to their stories.”

Arne van Oosterom is an Amsterdam-based creative strategist and photographer. As a co-founder of the Design Thinkers Academy, Van Oosterom travels around the globe regularly to share his insights on creative economies and facilitate design collaborations. This photo collection, People of Christian Village, was created as a side-project during one such trip to Ghana in May 2017.

Van Oosterom was invited to deliver a keynote speech at the inaugural Design Thinking Conference in Ghana. In his free time, he took the opportunity to venture out onto the streets of Christian Village, a small town on the outskirts of Accra, with his camera in hand. Guided by colleague Peter Kersten (ambassador of the Association of Dutch Designers) and local aficionado Apenyor Adjei, the photographer sought to gain a broader understanding of what life in Ghana is like outside of the more upscale districts of Accra.

People of Christian Village

 According to the photographer, it is an enlightening experience to meet local citizens and document informal moments of their lives on film.

“Through photography, I can see more. It slows me down. It connects me to where I am in the moment. Photography feeds and satisfies my curiosity and makes me more courageous than I really am. It helps me to connect with the strangers I meet and listen to their stories.”

People of Christian Village

People of Christian Village

People of Christian Village

People of Christian Village