TECNO has launched a global portrait project, capturing the images of 20 Kenyans using its CAMON 50 Ultra smartphone. The project, titled 100 Portraits of Becoming, aims to showcase the company's skin-tone imaging technology. The Kenyan collection is the first chapter of the two-year project, developed in collaboration with Brazilian artist and photographer Angélica Dass. The initiative will feature 100 people across five countries, including Kenya, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil.
The project utilizes TECNO's Universal Tone 3.0 imaging technology, designed to reproduce skin tones and textures more naturally across different complexions and lighting conditions. This technology combines a multi-skin-tone colour reference system, skin-tone data, and artificial intelligence-powered imaging engines. The portraits were captured in various environments, reflecting the subjects' everyday lives and work. This approach provides a showcase for the technology beyond controlled studio photography.
The campaign also promotes TECNO's CAMON 50 Sees You brand message, linking portrait photography with personal stories about entrepreneurship, community development, and overcoming barriers. Among the featured Kenyans is Alex Muli, co-founder of Goshen Farm, who established export channels and used digital platforms to connect small-scale farmers with markets. Jelimo Cheboi, co-founder of GirlSkate Nairobi, is also featured for her work creating a more inclusive environment for female skateboarders.
The collection includes portraits of Anita Mbithe, founder of Brushes By Mbithee, Beauty and Hair, and Brian Muchiri, founder of Boy in The Wheelchair. The campaign pairs the portraits with interviews exploring the experiences and challenges behind each subject's work. TECNO says the approach is intended to show the effort behind personal progress rather than presenting the participants solely through their current achievements.
Angélica Dass leads the artistic direction of the project, bringing together her work on visual representation and TECNO's efforts to improve how smartphone cameras capture people with different skin tones. The collaboration demonstrates the imaging capabilities of TECNO's CAMON 50 series in a market where diverse complexions and changing lighting conditions present different photography challenges.
The Kenyan chapter is the first of five planned collections, with the remaining countries contributing to a broader archive of portraits and personal stories. TECNO operates in more than 70 markets across five continents, offering a range of products, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, wearables, and smart-home devices. The company says this project showcases its commitment to improving smartphone photography.
More information about the project is available on TECNO's website. The company's efforts to improve smartphone photography and promote diversity and representation have been highlighted through this project. The 100 Portraits of Becoming project is a significant initiative that showcases TECNO's technology and its applications in real-world settings.
Key points
- TECNO's CAMON 50 Ultra smartphone was used to capture the portraits of 20 Kenyans for the global portrait project.
- The project aims to showcase TECNO's skin-tone imaging technology and promote diversity and representation in photography.
- The 100 Portraits of Becoming project will feature 100 people across five countries, including Kenya, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil.
