Photography Life

Decibel is a Career Fair, Conference and Entertainment Expo that takes place every year in May. This event aims to provide a forum for young people in the 16-25 age group who are involved in entertainment to discover and develop their skills, talents and abilities.  Usually, the promoter of the event will have local and international entertainers at Decibel to motivate the youth and inspire them to reach for their dreams. In 2017, Will Smith made a surprise appearance and the kids were ecstatic. Dream Big: Another important component of the event is the Dream Big initiative which will give a budding filmmaker the opportunity to fly to Hollywood to live his or her dream and meet celebrities and top executives, visit television and film sets, and pitch their scripts to those with the power to make movies. 

Nature is such an amazing wonder...isn't it. This little bird family with a clear blue sky behind creates such an awesome and relaxing view.  Every time I look at this photo I can almost hear Bob Marley singing his song "Three Little Birds" and that completes the picture....Don't worry about a thing, Cause every little thing is gonna be alright. Hope this post helps to brighten your day and may your worries fade away.

I found this wedding photo quite interesting. The lush tropical backdrop paired with the regal Hindu wedding wear made for a contrasting combination. What a fabulous couple!!! They had their wedding ceremony and reception at The Magdalena Grand Beach Resort in Tobago and their portraits were taken on the grounds of the hotel.....which is also a golf course. I have to say that these photos turned out really stunning with the mix of red and green on the colour palette resulting in unique photographs. What do you think?

Winner of the Junior Calypso Monarch 2017, Shervonne Rodney had such great stage presence and truly deserved to win the coveted crown of Junior Calypso Monarch 2017. This competition is one of many competitions that take place every year as part of the Carnival festivities. It gives the youth of the nation an opportunity to showcase their talent and can be a springboard to future careers in the local music industry. If you are a visitor of local, consider attending the next time it comes around.

Living on a Caribbean Island there is never a lack for fresh seafood. On one of my trips to the Island of Tobago I decided to cook Fish Broth. This is a popular soup dish made with Fish and vegetables.  Visiting the fish market, with camera in hand, I was able to capture this spontaneous and candid photo of the fish vendor as he did his thing. Fish scales covered his hat and body as he scaled and cut the fish for sale. He is quite popular and is a very familiar face to most visitors to the island.

Don't underestimate the importance of liking and bonding with your photographer. Is the photographer excited by your vision when you describe it? When they make suggestions, do they present them in a clear and respectful way, or are they timid? Are their mannerisms off-putting? In order to get the best photos; go with a pro who has a firm grasp of social graces but is bold enough to go out hunting for great images and who, above all, puts you at ease and doesn't irritate you in any way. To get the best photos, your photographer needs to be assertive enough to seek out great moments, cajoling enough to coax relaxed smiles and natural stances from guests and calm enough to be a positive force. They should ask lots of questions and be a good listener. So don’t be afraid to be picky when choosing a photographer for your event. Make sure they are the right match for you.

A short ferry ride from Trinidad will take you to its sister isle of Tobago and also to some of the most breathtaking beaches in the Caribbean. Pictured above is the beach at Pigeon Point, Tobago and one of the most popular beaches on the island. The waters are calm and blue and ideal for snorkeling, jet skiing and other water sports. Additionally, you can hop on a boat that will take you to the coral reefs and the Nylon Pool. The Nylon pool is a natural waist deep shallow pool that sits in the middle of the ocean. This natural phenomenon was created by a sandbar and the coral reefs that are in close proximity and is indeed a wonder to behold. I love visiting Pigeon Point. This is one one my favourite places in the world.

This beautiful couple got married in the cutest little church that was just across the street from a coconut vendor. They couldn't resist sharing a drink before and an informal moment before heading off to their formal wedding reception. Wedding in the Caribbean often is quite interesting. The warm weather offers a plethora of opportunity for great captures. Lush gardens, beaches and flowers in bloom and I can't forget to mention that there's never a dull moment with my Caribbean party people.

In 2012 Trinidad and Tobago celebrated 50 years of Independence in style. My family and I decided to have dinner at the 360 degree revolving restaurant at the top of the Crowne Plaza Hotel.....hoping to catch a first class view of the magnificent fireworks in the city, while enjoying a fine dining experience. Of course being a photographer I couldn't miss the opportunity to capture the city adorned with fireworks. These are just a few of the photos I captured to help me remember what turned out to be a fun filled family night.

Capturing the essence of a scene and more specifically a person is not always an easy thing to do. This photo was taken on the Brian Lara Promenade in Port of Spain, Trinidad.   The main subject was really just the side show, as I was there to photograph the winners of the Junior Calypso Monarch 2017 as they performed their winning songs.  My eyes caught this beautiful lady as she enjoyed the music. Maybe she was a returning resident of Trinidad and Tobago or even a just a visitor to our country for the Carnival season. Perhaps I will meet her one day and she will tell me her story. But for now I am left to guess at the meaning of the two nations flags. 

That time of year is coming around again!!!  My favourite time........when the Poui Tree blooms in all its magnificence.  Blooming in various colours; white, pink and the yellow pictured here. The leaves of the Poui fall majestically to the ground and the children love to run and play in the beautiful carpet it creates. The photo and video captured above was Around the Savannah in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago and is a wonderful specimen of the Poui in all its glory. Look out for them all around Trinidad and Tobago in the coming weeks.

Having an engagement shoot can improve your wedding pictures more than anything else you might do. Think about it, your photographer is VERY comfortable on his end of the camera. The time you spend in front of the camera will help YOU become more comfortable on your end as the subject. Try to get to know your photographer. Have fun! Be crazy!  Let's face it; those "magazine bride photos" that you have been looking at do not happen all by themselves. They are well planned, rehearsed, and the photo that you finally see in the magazine was probably picked from hundreds of photos. The more time you spend with your photographer, the more likely it is that he will capture the photos that you have been dreaming about.