There is something about Armstrong Too that commands attention. Be it his firm chiselled jawline, his low husky growl, or his intensely direct and unwavering gaze. Whatever it might be, you certainly will be transfixed in his presence. We are seated in his studio on a Friday afternoon, his equipment folded and facing away from us. “A camera is like a car, the number of times you click on it are the equivalent of its mileage.” When I ask Armstrong about mobile phone photography, I expect that he will speak vociferously against it. Instead, he explains that he uses apps to convert his iPhone into a DSLR camera and use it in place of his camera, all without compromising on quality. “I have done a whole fashion shoot using just my phone.” Like most modern day photographers, Armstrong uses Instagram to share his images with the world. While his Instagram bio states that he is an amateur photographer, in truth, he has been in the industry for over six years working on various projects, including a stint as Pawa 254’s event photographer.
The 26-year-old has set himself up as a guru as far as incorporating light into photography is concerned, citing Osbourne Macharia as his biggest challenger in the country. “Art takes time to grow. Before I discovered that lighting and concept were my biggest strengths, I tried everything out. I shot weddings, funerals and everything in between. I think I’m now at the place where I’ve found my niche,” says Armstrong. Self-taught, the photographer learnt everything he practices through YouTube tutorials and time spent volunteering to be an assistant for established photographers. Although Armstrong has managed to shoot a variety of themes and concepts, his real genius is in capturing the male essence. Women will want to tear off their clothes after viewing his ‘30 on 30’ Kenyan rugby players picture series, the rough and rugged masculinity of ‘Kenyan Bikers’ and a particularly sinfully sexy man’s face in his ‘Dramatic Black and White’ series, all which can be found on Behance. Even with something as mundane as architecture, Armstrong imparts this same masculine essence by emphasising straight lines, sharp rigid forms, and more dark than light. Armstrong, whose studio is located along Ngong Road, is currently working on a headwrap/ turban series.
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