Proof Of Life: Ep.O4—"Macro-Photography, Depression, and the Universe Betting I Stay Single" ft ABCDEE_David
Imagine telling your Nigerian parent you want to snap grasshoppers for a living...Lmao.
Suppose you saw a snake right now. What will be your first reaction?
A: Kill it
B: Run away
C: Take an up-close photo of it with your smartphone
Our first male guest on Proof of Life, David (ABCDEE_David), will choose option C without hesitation. He is a macro photographer, YouTuber, street interviewer, and reluctant philosopher who’s somehow figured out how to turn confusion, depression, an unrelenting love for bread, and the chaos of a young man finding purpose in southern Nigeria into a body of work that speaks—quietly and clearly—for itself.
David doesn’t romanticize the creative struggle. He lives it. In this episode, we talk about being loved by your craft, dancing with depression, the messiness of relationships, the weird comfort of bread, and why filming in Nigeria can feel like a crime.
Let’s walk the bushes with David, shall we?
What does Proof of Life mean to you—right now, as you sit with where you are and where you’re headed?
It's that moment after you've been depressed for 3, 4, 5, even 6 days, and it starts wearing off. You open your phone, see maybe 10–15 messages—mostly replies to old posts, or people asking for help, or saying you’re enjoying life and forgot about them.
It’s that post-depression clarity when you just decide to show the world what they like to hear—“I’m happy and having fun.”
So, proof of life? “How can I assist you?”
You chose macro photography in a country where most people barely understand what that means. What drew you to this path—and what keeps you there despite the odds?
These days I hardly know how I got into macro photography. Maybe I just wanted to be dee-fferent. Regardless, it’s a beautiful accident.
I’ve stayed because it’s one of the very few things I love… that loves me back. And that’s rare.
If you had to explain what you do to your Nigerian parents using only three words, what would they be—and how have those conversations really gone?
Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve never even had that conversation with my dad. Do I shy away from it? No. But I really hope it never gets to that, because sometimes I don’t even know what I’m doing.
Or maybe that’s just me in my “other zone.”
Regardless, I don’t think the conversation would go well.
You’ve recently added YouTube, street photography, and interviews to your creative toolkit. What part of the streets has surprised you the most?
The street opened my eyes to my own life.
I realized my life has either been boring, basic, or just not Nigerian. I’ve been blind to what really happens—or in denial.
The street is beautiful. The street is ugly. It changes constantly. It tells stories. It lives.
The street is beautiful. The street is ugly. It changes constantly. It tells stories. It lives.
Do you feel like you’ve found your purpose—or are you just freestyling through life with a camera and vibes?
That question paused me.
I possibly know what I’d like my purpose to be—if it works that way, which I doubt. I don’t think I’ve pinned mine to my chest yet.
I wish I had more fun with my camera, without always trying to make every moment count.
You’ve been open about dealing with depression. What does it take to keep showing up for yourself—even when it’s hard?
I’ve been depressed for the past 3 days, even as I type this.
I think it’d be a full episode on its own to get into that. I talk about it better when I’m not inside it.
Bread. Why the obsession?
Man shall not live by bread alone—that’s why I add milk, groundnut, eggs… anything!
Bread is a companion when I’m lonely (sad!), wine when I’m celebrating, a cigarette when my mind is full, a reward when I win.
And on bad days, it’s punishment too—when I mess up or my tummy isn’t flat.
The prices go up every 3 weeks, but hey—anything for love.
What’s your honest take on women and relationships right now?
It’s hard. I’ve known good girls, bad girls, best girls. We all want someone, but wish we could skip the beginning part—it’s repetitive, stressful.
Sometimes I wish I could just hand someone a book about me and say, “Read and decide.”
Relationships aren’t textbook, though. Two people could use the same method—one works, one fails. Maybe the universe is playing a game?
Maybe I’m just the one the universe bets on to stay single all year.
If you had the power to shift one mindset in Nigerian society—especially for creatives—what would it be?
Definitely the rules about filming in public places.
We’re trying to show off our cities and country—places that deserve to be seen. But it’s always, “Sir, we don’t allow filming here.”
I’m not even using your face! Let people create, please.
What’s on your current playlist—or a random thought that’s been living rent-free in your head lately?
I love the album Mountain Music (The Summit) by Nina Nesbitt.
People tell me it’s a sad album, and I get it… but I think my “sad” is broken. That album doesn’t make me sad—it lifts me out of sadness. It’s beautiful, cohesive, and comforting.
So my random thought?
“How did sad songs become my favourites?”
Maybe I’ve lived enough to write my own sad song album.
Thank you so much for having me! Sadly, you got me at the wrong time, and I know another time it'd be the same ol' David, but a different kind of him. Thank you to the team!
3 Random Thoughts and 1 Business Idea
No random thoughts today because I want you to leave a comment for David.
A comment that encourages and inspires him.
Proof of Life reminds us that some days are blurry, heavy, and hard to explain—but showing up anyway is its own kind of proof.
If this resonated with you, share with someone who gets it, and tell us: What does Proof of Life mean to you?
Until next time,
James