Michael Ekow Dawson, documentary filmmaker based in Bolgatanga, Ghana

Michael Ekow Dawson, known simply as Ekow, is a Ghanaian travel photographer and documentary filmmaker whose work blends visual storytelling with travel, cultural preservation and community engagement. His creative journey began in Accra but took a defining turn when he relocated to Bolgatanga in Ghana’s Upper East region, where he began pursuing deeper, human-centered narratives.

Since then, Michael has traveled extensively across all 16 regions of Ghana and beyond into West Africa, often by motorbike, documenting untold stories in remote communities. From women processing shea butter to everyday traditions that might otherwise go unseen.

He served as the official photographer and videographer for the “Around Ghana in Seven” motorbike tour, capturing demanding journeys across Ghana and into Senegal. His lens has also carried him through 10 Nigerian states, immersing himself in documenting culture, people, and the advocacy for borderless travel across the continent.

His images showcase skin tones, textures and emotions. Through his storytelling, Michael seeks not only to inspire but also to preserve Africa’s rich diversity for future generations.

How would you describe yourself in a few sentences?

“What makes me unique is my ability to blend adventure with storytelling”

I would describe myself as a travel photographer and documentary filmmaker who tells stories on two wheels. My motorbike is often my travel companion, carrying me across dusty roads, borders, and into communities where I know no one, yet the camera has always been my mode of communication especially in places where language has been a barrier.

A fun fact about me is that I once rode over 2,000 km on a flat front tire just to complete a journey, proving to myself that resilience is as important as creativity in this work.

What makes me unique is my ability to blend adventure with storytelling, whether it’s living in remote villages, teaching pupils the basics of photography and how to archive their own community stories, or documenting borderless travel across Africa, I use my lens to create the essence of people, culture and resilience.

How did you first get into photography?

I first got into photography in Accra, where I began shooting weddings and commercial projects. At the time, it felt like a creative outlet, but the real spark came when I realized I wanted to tell deeper stories about people, culture and everyday life beyond the city. That turning point came in 2022, when I relocated to Bolgatanga in the Upper East region of Ghana.

Surrounded by communities often overlooked or misrepresented, I found my true passion; using photography to capture lives, preserve traditions, and give voice to untold stories. For me, that shift transformed my photography from a skill into a lifelong mission.

What type(s) of photography do you specialise in, and why did you choose this niche?

My photography specialty is documentary storytelling. I have built my focus on people, culture and community narratives. I chose this niche because I believe photography could also serve as an archive of identity, resilience, and everyday life.

My style has evolved into creating immersive, human-centered stories across Ghana and West Africa. Over time, I moved into prioritizing authenticity, emotion and context. Today, my work balances strong visual composition with cultural sensitivity. My goal is to preserve the richness of African life while connecting people across borders.

Can you share the underlying themes or ideas that drive your photography?

My work is rooted around resilience, identity and cultural preservation. I am often drawn to stories that might otherwise go untold like the women processing shea butter in the Upper East, riders on long dusty roads, or everyday moments in villages where cameras are rare. For me, the camera is both a tool of connection and an archive of memory. I use my images to build bridges between people and places, between the present and the future.

By documenting with honesty and respect, I hope my work allows communities to see themselves with dignity, while also inviting outsiders to understand and appreciate their stories. At its core, my photography is about bringing people closer to each other through shared humanity.

What's the one achievement or moment in your photography career that you're most proud of?

The achievement I’m most proud of is publishing my photobook Green Gold - An Extended Archive, a project that began in Ghana’s Upper East Region. Through this work, I documented the ecological and cultural wealth of trees like Shea, while also highlighting the resilience of the women who process the Shea nuts and the untold stories of migration.

Turning this body of work into a book was deeply meaningful to me, it became more than just images, but a permanent archive and a resource for future generations. Seeing people reflect in those pages, and the communities knowing their stories now live beyond borders, is one of the most rewarding moments of my career.

What's the biggest challenge you've faced as a photographer, and how did you overcome it?

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a photographer was working on my Green Gold project in the Upper East region. I was documenting communities with very limited resources, often in harsh conditions, long distances on rough roads, and the emotional weight of telling stories about migration and survival.

After weeks of traveling to remote villages, documenting everyday community life, I lost the entire first set of images due to a crashed hard drive. It was devastating, I felt like I had lost the trust and stories that had been shared with me. Instead of giving up, I made the difficult decision to start over, returning to the same communities to reshoot the project from the ground up.

That experience tested my patience and endurance, but it also strengthened my belief in resilience, cultural sensitivity, and the importance of data management. It taught me that setbacks can shape the story just as much as successes, and that every challenge is an opportunity to grow as both a storyteller and a person.

If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be and why?

If I could collaborate with anyone, it would be Joey L. (known as Joey Lawrence) — an exceptional photographer and visual storyteller whose work beautifully intersects with mine in documenting culture, identity, and humanity. He has spent years traveling across the globe, from the vivid streets of Varanasi to the remote Omo Valley, documenting endangered traditions, compelling human stories, and intimate portraits.

What fascinates me most about Joey’s work is his ability to bring photojournalism into the realm of fine art, infusing his portraits with dignity and emotional depth.

What are your thoughts on the 54Ruum platform?

I think it’s a creative community that supports, uplifts, and connects African storytellers. Also it's a highly relevant and empowering place to explore.

How's the photography and art space in your country: how has it evolved in recent years? 

The photography and art space in Ghana has grown tremendously in recent years. What used to be centered mostly around weddings, studio portraits, and commercial shoots has now expanded into a dynamic ecosystem of documentary work, conceptual photography, etc. More young creatives are using photography not just as a business, but as a tool for storytelling, cultural preservation, and social commentary.

For me, Ghanaian photographers are no longer just creating for local consumption, but are positioning their work as part of a global conversation about identity, culture, and resilience. The space feels more experimental, more collaborative, and much more confident in telling our own stories on our own terms.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting their photography journey, what would it be?

For me, what I would say is, focus on telling stories, not just taking pictures. The technical side cameras, lighting, editing, those will come with practice, but what makes your work powerful is the ability to connect with people, observe deeply, and translate that into images that mean something. Every story matters, and the more intentional you are about documenting them, the more your voice as a photographer will grow.