Willborn M.I

ACTIVE.....W/ @_irene_jay #fitness #portraitphotography #lifestyle

Crafted visuals for Show Up: The Collection by @dera_wears #fashionphotography

A glimpse behind the scenes of Show Up: The Collection. Crafted by the visionary @dera_wears #campaignshoot #fashion

Behind every print is a heartbeat. Skin. Fur. Scale. Feathers started as a question, what does it take for Lagos to truly see its animals? Not as strays. Not as nuisances. But as living, breathing beings deserving of shelter, care and dignity. This is the process. The patience. The stillness required to truly see them. Every print sold supports animal shelters right here in Lagos. Because art should do more than hang on a wall, it should change something. 🖼️ Prints available link in bio. #animalshelters #sfsf #wildportraits

We didn’t just have fun, we made impact. We challenged fears, broke down harmful myths, and replaced them with knowledge that empowers. From misunderstood creatures to overlooked ecosystems, we opened eyes to the real dangers facing our local wildlife and the urgent need for proper animal shelters and protection systems. Every conversation, every moment of learning, every shared experience brought us one step closer to a community that cares, understands, and takes action. Because awareness isn’t enough, it’s what we do with it that truly matters, especially when it comes to creating safe spaces for vulnerable animals. And the experience doesn’t end here. Prints from this project are still available for sale, so you can own a piece of the story while supporting the message. Let’s keep the energy going. Let’s keep protecting what can’t speak for itself. #sfsf #wildlifeconsevation #animalshelters

Workflow... SFSF😎 #sfsf #wildlife #pangolin #conservation #animalshelters

It is remarkable what a single idea can grow into when the right amount of dedication, collaboration, and shared vision come together. When sound thinking and like minded people are introduced into the process, an idea begins to expand beyond its original form. S.F.S.F is therefore more than an exhibition; it is a call to represent creations that have remained largely underrepresented within the practice of photography in this part of the world. Animals, despite their profound presence in our ecosystems and daily lives, rarely occupy the center of visual narratives in contemporary photography here. In this day and age, visuals are one of the most powerful forms of communication. Images have the ability to move a subject from the subconscious into conscious awareness, allowing audiences to engage with issues in ways that words alone often cannot achieve. I believe one of the reasons we continue to lag behind in the fight for wildlife protection is that visual creators have not always considered these subjects important enough to document, interpret, or elevate within their work. S.F.S.F seeks to challenge that absence. Through these images, the project encourages a shift in perspective, inviting empathy, responsibility, and a deeper recognition of the animals that share our environment. By bringing these subjects into the visual conversation, the work hopes to inspire greater awareness around issues such as protection, trafficking, and the urgent need for structured care systems like animal shelters. Ultimately, this body of work is an invitation for photographers, artists, and audiences alike to reconsider what we choose to see, what we choose to represent, and what we choose to protect. #wildlifeportait #sfsf #animalphotography #nigerianwildlife #lagosphotographer

I am deeply moved and humbled by the overwhelming support my first solo exhibition titled Skin.Fur.Scale.Feathers has received. Even more meaningful is knowing that, through these works, I have been able to play a small part in shifting and challenging some of the negative narratives often associated with animals, opening space for empathy, reflection, and new ways of seeing. What began as an idea became a space for conversation, reflection, and connection through these works. In many ways, this became the first exhibition of its kind, where each piece carried fragments of time, thought, and emotion, and witnessing how people engaged with the works has been deeply meaningful. My sincere appreciation to @iwalewagalleryofart for believing in the vision from the beginning and for providing the space and platform that allowed the works to be experienced in their full context. Your support and trust in the project made this exhibition possible. I am also deeply grateful to @saintmarksanimalhospital for their access, generous support and encouragement. Your commitment to care, compassion, and the wellbeing of animals resonates strongly with the ideas and sensitivities that inform this body of work. Special thanks as well to @greenfingerswi for their access, immense support for my work and dedication to wildlife awareness and environmental responsibility. Your work in protecting and advocating for wildlife continues to inspire important conversations that extend beyond the gallery space. Huge thanks to @fehinticontemporary for executing such a brilliant job curating s.f.s.f in the best possible way, they understood the vision and got it spot on. And to everyone who visited, supported, shared, and spent time with the works, thank you. Your presence gave the exhibition a life that extended far beyond the gallery walls. Though the exhibition closes, the dialogue continues. Skin.Fur.Scale.Feathers [First exhibition of its kind in Nigeria] WILLBORN M.I #wildlife #wildlifeportrait #wildlifeexhibition #nigerianwildlife #sfsf

“If we can teach people about wildlife, they will be touched. Share my wildlife with me. Because humans want to save things that they love.” - Steve Irwin Skin.Fur.Scale.Feathers Running till the 7th of March At Iwalewa gallery of art #wildlifeconservation #sfsf #animalportraits

Today, we celebrate World Wildlife Day. Skin. Fur. Scale. Feathers was created not only as Nigeria’s first animal-focused photography exhibition, but as a platform for awareness and advocacy. While its primary objective is to amplify animal shelters and wildlife care institutions in Nigeria, another essential purpose is to reintroduce the public to wildlife often misunderstood or misrepresented. Through intentional portraiture, S.F.S.F. challenges fear-driven narratives and invites a closer, more informed encounter with species that are too often reduced to myth, trade, or spectacle. The exhibition is still on view and running until the 7th of March. We encourage you to stop by the gallery, experience the work firsthand, and be part of this important conversation. To see differently is to care differently. To care differently is to protect differently. #WorldWildlifeDay #sfsf #WildlifePhotography #Conservation #NigeriaArt

“To approach animals in their most natural, native settings, I have to understand the mysteries of their behavior. With careful preparation, I can show the animal in its best light, demonstrating its beauty, strength and intelligence.” — @paulnicklen Skin.Fur.Scale.Feathers runs till 7th of March Iwalewa gallery of art Outfit: @urbantwistsng Photography: @aktvisuals #wildlife #sfsfexhibition #wildlifeportrait

We are truly grateful ❤️ Thank you to everyone who showed up and showed love at the S.F.S.F Exhibition Nigeria’s first photography exhibition dedicated exclusively to animals. Your support, conversations, and encouragement mean everything to us. Seeing so many people connect with wildlife through photography and even physically reminds us why we started this journey in the first place. If you haven’t visited yet, there’s still time! The exhibition is running until 7th March 2026, and we would love to welcome you. And if a piece speaks to you, don’t just admire it, take it home with you. Own a moment. Own a story. Own a connection to the wild. And for every piece you take home A PERCENTAGE GOES TO AN ANIMAL SANCTUARY. Thank you for supporting art, storytelling, and wildlife through photography. #SFSFExhibition #artinlagos #photography #animalshelter