My hometown remained strangely distant, a place I knew yet felt disconnected from. Time and familiarity tricked me into believing that my bond with this place had grown, when in truth, it had faded. As I grew, so did a longing to leave this place alongside a feeling of being stuck. Then photography found me. It came with fresh eyes for seeing and a new means to discover the true beauty of a place. A small town in Nigeria, called Gauraka (also known as G-town), became my canvas. This once-overlooked place began reclaiming its meaning, and Intentional exploration of the town became a form of therapy for me.

With a shifting perspective, that longing to leave and the feeling of being stuck were replaced by a sense of gratitude. As though a blindfold had been lifted, I began to see, and my bond with G-town was restored. Every place hosts an unlikely beauty, and the true essence of a place is not defined by its physical characteristics alone, but the bond we create when we intentionally engage with our surroundings. With childlike wonder and curious eyes, the hidden beauty of a place unveils itself even in the most ordinary settings.