ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - FIBA Africa has embarked on an online photographers' course that is bringing together men and women behind cameras from across the continent to share with them more tips on how to take beautiful pictures celebrating the hoops game. 

A total of 66 photographers from the French-speaking part of Africa attended the first course moderated by the FIBA Africa Head of Photography Mohamed Talal and another session will be done with the English-speaking photographers. 

"WE ARE ALL GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME BUT WE CONTINUE TO WORK THANKS TO NEW COMMUNICATION TOOLS. DURING THIS PANDEMIC PERIOD, WE HAVE INITIATED A SERIES OF ONLINE TRAINING COURSES FOR COACHES, REFEREES AND TECHNICAL COMMISSIONERS."- Bile

As the old English adage goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words", basketball pictures convey stories especially in an era that embraces social media which defines so much more that the limitation of words is no longer a drawback with no solution to it. 

FIBA Africa Regional Director Alphonse Bile told FIBA.basketball that, "Now, it is the turn of French-speaking photographers. The next webinar will be dedicated to English-speaking photographers. As you may know communication is a very important axis in the development of basketball."

Basketball in Africa has over the decades been documented thanks to photographers who capture moments in artistic ways and continue to break barriers on a continent that is divided by language and in more ways that one culture. Photos transcend these limits. 

"This is why we thought it would be useful to give African photographers the necessary didactic elements in order to better cover basketball events. We have very beautiful photos during FIBA AfroBasket and other competitions organised by FIBA or FIBA Africa. It is necessary that we have the same standards for the domestic leagues of our members national federations," Bile explained in detail.

"We are all going through a difficult time but we continue to work thanks to new communication tools. During this pandemic period, we have initiated a series of online training courses for coaches, referees and technical commissioners."

Burundian journalist Armand Nisabwe, is excited about the knowledge he acquired in the first session on Thursday. He said, "It was important because being a sports photographer is one thing and being able to cover a FIBA event professionally is another thing. With that course, I can say that it added value to my photography career. We learned about the FIBA guidelines and what is expected from a FIBA photographer."

"It was easy to learn from another photographer. We found ourselves during the course because we speak the same language and were able to immortalise the event. Now I cannot wait to get an opportunity to cover a FIBA event."

Hundreds of more photographers from across the continent will benefit from this course, a unique opportunity to touch base with modern ways of capturing stories through pictures. 

FIBA