Why did Yoshida begin taking photos? She wanted to
show that Africa and the people there were attractive.
Almost everyone around her thought of Africa as a
hungry, poor, and violent place. She thought photos
would help them understand the continent better.
In addition, she wanted to take photos of African
people in their traditional costumes. Nowadays, some
young people in the ethnic groups avoid wearing their
traditional clothes. She believes that taking photos of
people in their clothes might help pass their traditions on
to following generations.
However, it was difficult to take good photos at first.
"The trust between a photographer and their subjects is
important," says Yoshida. "If they don't trust a photographer,
they will not show who or what they really are."
To gain their trust, she behaved as if she were an
African woman. She wore the same costume, ate the same
meals, and put on the same make-up. This led to her success.
