Rob Collinge & Rob Combes - Mohamed Amin: Capturing Endurance and Legacy

Car 6 Rob Collinge & Rob Combes Renault Alpine A110 at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) Start. Kenya’s renowned photojournalist Mohamed Amin, one of his favourite jobs, was the East African Safari Rally. During the five-day, 3,500-mile event, Mo (also known as ‘Six Camera Mo’) and his Camerapix crew would work flat out to deliver on time. Often they slept out in their battered Land Cruiser, miles from the beaten track, in order to claim the best position for filming. Mo covered this gruelling test of endurance for more than 25 years, and his film reports of the rally achieved legendary status. Sometimes in his desire to get as close as possible to the action, he made the news himself. In March 1978 he parked his vehicle next to a flooded track and, together with his new partner, Duncan Willetts, set up his tripod and camera on the roof to capture the cars as they sped past at 80 mph, spewing sheets of water on either side. For Willetts it was a dramatic introduction to his first Safari Rally. Suddenly Japanese driver Yoshio Iwashita arrived on the scene and broadsided out of control. The careering car hurtled off the road, rammed into the Land Cruiser, and pitched Mo and Willetts into a mud-filled ditch. The incident left Mo with a broken wrist, but typically he kept his cameras running throughout to provide the evening television bulletins with some spectacular footage. His professionalism led to Iwashita receiving an anxious phone call from his wife in Tokyo. Not wanting to worry his wife Iwashha had not told her about the crash, but thanks to Mo and Visnews film of the incident had been screened in Japan. Sometimes in his enthusiasm to be first or to get a saleable shot, Mo would stretch the rules.

• Subject Matter: The photograph depicts a pivotal moment during the East African Safari Rally – specifically, a Renault Alpine A110 car colliding with another vehicle amidst torrential rain conditions.
• Composition: Centered around the automobile and its surrounding spectators, the image establishes a dynamic visual narrative emphasizing movement and excitement. Strategic placement of the KICC building provides context to the event’s location.
• Color Palette & Tones: Presented in monochrome—black and white—the photograph leverages tonal variations to convey depth and contrast effectively. Highlights illuminate the car's surface and faces, while shadows delineate architectural elements and clothing textures.

• Lines, Shapes, and Textures: Vertical lines dominate the composition, representing rally officials’ uniforms, juxtaposed against the curved contours of the automobile. Visible textures contribute to realism—the rough terrain of the road and the fabric of the crowd's attire—enhancing the overall sensory experience.
• Lighting & Perspective: Natural daylight illuminates the scene, creating dramatic highlights and shadows that sculpt forms. The perspective is straightforward, offering a panoramic view without exaggerated angles or distortions.

• Depth & Symbolism: Layers of figures in the crowd create depth, mirroring the scale of the Safari Rally itself. The ‘SHELL’ logo serves as a prominent graphic element symbolizing sponsorship and highlighting the event's commercial significance. Beyond its visual representation, the photograph embodies resilience—Mo Amin’s unwavering dedication to capturing the rally despite physical injury underscores his commitment to journalistic integrity.
• Style & Technique: Executed in documentary style, the image adheres to traditional photographic techniques utilizing film. The meticulous craftsmanship evident in the print demonstrates a mastery of camera operation and darkroom processing – hallmarks of Mohamed Amin’s distinctive artistic vision.

Provenance: Camerapix Archive, Nairobi, Kenya. This iconic photograph exemplifies the spirit of African photojournalism during the 1970s—a period marked by courageous reporting amidst challenging circumstances and a profound desire to document history with unflinching honesty. It remains a testament to Mohamed Amin’s legacy as one of Africa's most influential visual storytellers.