A tall Acacia that sees East Africa’s greatest lake for its magnificence

The first time I saw Acacia Hotel, was after we had done our first photoshoots in Kisumu in Mlimani area. Wide-eyed with the possibility of getting a chance to partner with the biggest hotel in Kisumu, we stopped over to make an inquiry.

Acacia Premier Hotel is one of those modern-day high end hotels, with regal exteriors that looks expensive. It is a tourists' favourite and is described in Trip Advisor as ‘among the best if not the best hotel option in Kisumu’.

This is not an overstatement, the hotel is in the middle of the city, next to Kisumu’s wealthy Milimani neighborhood, with modern malls and a fascinating view of the greatest lake in East Africa.

Dream shoot

If we could ever come up with a crazy phot concept, for Kisumu, we felt it had to speak to the beauty that the city had to offer its visitor; Nam Lolwe, from the front seat of its most luxurious hotel.

We would take incredible photos at their location that they could use to market them and we would market our photography. We felt like we had a great idea, and all we needed to do was convince them.

We felt like we could even propose to pay for a shoot and sort of split the costs to show that we could put in skin in the game. Or if they did not see it our way, we might as well pay to shoot at their premises and use the concept to sell to more hotels in the city.

Well, they did not, and their rates were too high for our startup, so we shall revisit.

Stand-in photographer

The next time I visited their premises was as a photographer, covering a Kenya Medical and Education Trust (KMET) event last minute, as their photography team was unavailable.

The call was made in the afternoon so I joined the meeting a little late. On my way in I met Blue which just turned out to be an amazing coincidence. The first time I saw Mr Blue we barely talked as I asked around for directions to ‘angwen’, the room where the meeting was being held.

He had his camera strapped to his shoulders, smartly dressed in a well ironed official shirt. He lay out some printed photos on a high table, examining them closely, keen on the quality I would imagine.

He sees me seeing him and we recognize that we are in the same trade, we nod a quick hello as I rush in.

Inside I meet with Santana who whispers a greeting to me smiling warmly. Careful not to disrupt the meeting further than I already had, she catches me up on what I need to know. 

She tells me they started early morning and I just missed their key speaker. Now that is convenient. I still felt useful because she starts to let me know who is who in the room, so I make sure their faces don’t miss out in my final selection.

Group photo

Santana also tells me that they are very keen on a group photo, however there was a photographer in the morning who took one of them at the stairs. I recall the man I met outside and figured she must be speaking of him.

Now it sort of seems my biggest assignment is to deliver that group photo now that I missed the key address. I also realize that the photographer who I just saw outside had already beat me to it, and got the key guests as well. But if they are still keen on it, means the felt we could do a better job, the pressure.

I tell her we can plan to do one after the session just to spread our option and she agrees. With this I begin clicking away. Trying to capture moments, and get really good photos while at it. 

It’s always odd being a photographer, you are kind of in their way but after a while they let you in. Almost like you are not there. And with that you confidently move among them and steal their smiles, until they suddenly remember you exist.  Just as they are about to break for lunch and Santana asks me to introduce myself to the whole team, making me rethink my assumed invisibility.

I took a few photos while they had their lunch, had mine as well and waited for the last afternoon session, after which I hoped to get the group photo. However, Before I could start looking for a good location for the photo, she lets me know that we should try the group photo day two since people will be a little too exhausted today and I oblige.

Acacia Premier

The next morning, I come in early and this time I am able to take in the interior of the hotel.  Their lobby is beautiful. I loved the choice of timeless furniture and high walls.  There was also a spiral staircase from the first floor that looked like something from a movie, where actresses walked down from as they do they first grand reveal after a makeover or something.

The hotel looked clean and classy. On the first floor they had unique art pieces hanged on the walls and even some books. I could see spots that would make a complete photo-set in frame. After getting a closer look I discovered the books were German, written in German. I wondered why there were none by local writers yet Western Kenya is fertile with writers.

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I was looking around for a good spot to take the group photo, I wanted to try out something a little more creative than the typical staircase photo.

I ended up on their rooftop and my mind was blown away. The views were incredible. You could see the way the lake curves into the earth, and the hills from a distance deep green covered in vegetation, with some houses popping up every so often. I tried to take a photo, but it simply could not do it justice.

Got me thinking about this poem I heard of how we are already in paradise, and sometimes we just don’t see it.  I get lost in the view and my thoughts for a minute before realizing why I was here in the first place. I did not have much time and continued my scouting.

The rooftop had to be my favorite spot at this hotel. There was a pool that looked too welcoming in this Kisumu heat, the chairs fit the mood, and the colors complemented the sky, the plants were a great addition to this ambient space as well.

I had found my perfect spot for a group photo. When I go back, there are a few people who were yet to arrive and the session had to start without them.  That meant the group photo had to wait. So, I decide we can take the photo just before or after lunch.

Later we move back outside to set the place for the group photo. At the rooftop the sun is setting, there’s a beautiful golden hue covering the space. You can see the reflection on the water, and there is a band setting up live music to entertain the guests.

We take the group photo, as I soon realize maybe the stairs is a more reasonable location for a big crowd.

My colleague joins me a bit later. Organizing the team for a photo after lunch seems problematic and our contact person tells us she will make an announcement for the photo in the evening instead.

Dinosaur

As we head back, I tell my colleague about Mr. Blue who has already taken a group photo so not all is lost. He tells me he just met him also and we see him seated on the corridor with his photos. We take a look at the ones he has and he tells us today they used a different paper where he normally prints, and he doesn’t like how they came out. He shows us the difference with the two, one glossy and the other a bit darker.

This gives me great doubt about what to expect of his version of the group photo and I understand Santana’s concerns

He says he is lucky most of his customers don’t even know the difference, and laughs.  My colleague examines the photos and his camera and tells him that to avoid such dark photos he needs to buy a Speedlight and a better lens. It will change his game. ‘ Mzee, ushawahi skia Speedlight?’  He asks him as if to school him on something he knows nothing about.

The old man laughs and says yes, he plans on buying it this coming October, but he does not see the need for a different lens as this one serves him just fine.

As though trying to solve the old man’s problems, my colleague tells him about the settings on his camera that he should adjust to avoid dark photos. He also tells him that people have moved digital, which means he need not suffer with print. He asks him if he has considered moving with the times. 

The old man says he understands his camera and the settings as he has done this for quite some time. As for moving digital, people can move, he will just sell his print. Even if someone wants a digital copy he can share, but they have to buy the printed one first.