As a creative I consider myself a bit different because I refuse to identify with one of the traditional labels. That is – a designer, photographer, cinematographer etc. I believe when we decide on a label we begin to operate within the “box” that governs that title and impose rules and expectations on ourselves without realizing. Creativity for me is holisitic. We pull an experience from one medium and bring it to another. I value the experience of creating because for me it’s a means of self discovery. I appreciate telling the stories of others as well as my own story, in whatever medium or combination of mediums is best suited to do so. So for now I identify as a storyteller with photography and cinematography being the primary means through which I create.
The NoMaddz
I’ve always respected their music and their energy because, as artistes, they play in so many spaces with their music. This photo will always be special for me because I was able to capture so much of who they are in it. Fun fact: this wasn’t done in a studio. I set up a musilin backdrop in their living room and used two speedlights and shot this portrait. This photo is featured in the sleeve of their album “Heaven On Earth” (which I recommend you listen to).
Unruly Boss
It was my first time attending Unruly Fest and actually seeing Popcaan perform live. This portrait for me was just one of those moments when you could feel the energy and ting. The title in my head is “Unruly Boss” because di man look like just that – di Unruly Boss. This was shot with a 85mm which is one of my favourite portrait lenses.
Kanye Sunday Service
This photo has a WHOLE story but I’ll try and keep it short. I was fortunate enough to be backstage for the Kanye West Sunday Service concert in Jamaica. Throughout the night I would be shooting and I swear he kept looking directly into my lens no matter where I was. So I was about 7 feet away from him and shooting him with a 70-200mm and then he looked over and I honestly don’t know if he was smiling or scowling but this photo is what I captured. I genuinely love it because it speaks to what Kanye shares with the public; he’s always somewhere between happy and hyper introspective. I just kept wondering what was going on in his head.
Ms. World
What this portrait means for me is an actualiztion of a philosophy that governs how I operate: “Great opportunity, meets great preparation”. I had been honing my photography skills and I was able to make the best of a moment. A genuine moment of happiness that Toni was feeling and I was able to immortalize that moment with my capture. This was shot with a 85mm and is BARELY edited because I was happy with the look right out of camera.
