( CNN ) -- Ivorian artist Paul Sika is no ordinary photographer . His `` one-frame films '' are eye-catching explosions of color , falling somewhere between cinema and photography . The influence of the big screen is obvious in Sika 's photographs , which resemble stills from an ultra-stylish , slightly surreal movie shot in glorious Technicolor . `` The style of photography I have I call photomaking , '' he told CNN . `` It 's influenced by cinema -- I call it one-frame filmmaking . `` Behind these photos , what you have is imagination at the beginning , then you have a script that I write , and then you have a cast and crew . We rehearse when needed and then we go and shoot . After that I do the post production . '' Completely self taught , Sika , 24 , only took up photography after returning to the Ivory Coast in 2006 , having been inspired by an experience he had while he was a student in London . `` I was just walking down Tottenham Court Road , a road known for its computers and electronics shops , and at some point I saw a trailer for `` 'Matrix 2 : Reloaded ' , '' Sika told CNN . `` I was impressed and from that moment on I wanted to experiment and do those kinds of beautiful things . '' Stars shine at African Oscars . The oversaturated , vibrant colors in his work are the result of extensive post production , using Photoshop . Sika is at home working in the digital medium having studied software engineering at university , and his dynamic style has won him work on advertising campaigns for Ivorian fashion labels . His work is also gaining recognition overseas , having been exhibited in New York and featured on U.S.-rapper Kanye West 's blog . But Sika is keen not to limit himself to just one medium . Describing himself as a `` creative entrepreneur , '' he has just published a book of images and text called `` At the Heart of Me , '' and is looking for partners to help him branch out into fashion , perfume , and online computer games . But for now it 's his photographs that are grabbing people 's attention . More than just eye candy , Sika 's images tell complex stories about Africa . One striking photo shows two men using small bags of water to put out a blazing fire . It 's an image rich with symbolism . `` It 's basically about the personal and collective struggle and the perseverance we show when we get towards a common greater good , '' Sika told CNN . `` The fire can be understood as the problems in life . The small water bags can be the small means you have to get out of these problems . `` So these youthful people you see are creative enough to use the small means they have to get out of the big problems they 're encountering . '' It 's this kind of positive portrayal of Africans , free of cliches and stereotypes , that Sika says is central to his work . `` You have great people everywhere , '' he told CNN . `` I 've been very bent on showing positivity , happiness , hope , in ways that are not just flattering , but in ways that are real . '' CNN 's Isha Sesay contributed to this report .
Ivorian artist Paul Sika describes his photos as `` one-frame films '' The vibrant colors in his work are the result of extensive post production . He approaches his photos like a movie director and uses actors as his subject . He hopes to branch out into fashion and produce a perfume .