Last Saturday, renowned Barbadian photographer Ronnie Carrington staged the first of a series of activities to celebrate his sixty-five years behind the camera. The theme of the anniversary celebrations is “Light, Lenses, Lasting Impressions: A Ronnie Carrington Retrospective”.
Sponsored by Foster-Ince Cruise Services, a local agency for which Ronnie conducts photographic tours of the island for cruise ship visitors, the four-hour photo-adventure outing was designed to spark interest among young photo enthusiasts and offer more experienced practitioners an opportunity to hear perspectives from a veteran professional.
A group of 16 persons, including Ronnie and three team members, left the Haggatt Hall starting point and made their way on the Bajan Bus to the spectacular Scotland District and across the rugged east coast, taking in some of the ancient sedimentary formations.
The participants included students from Princess Margaret Secondary School, Graydon Sealy Secondary School, and the Barbados Community College.
The inclement weather prevented the participation of additional students who had registered, including from two other secondary schools, and limited the time spent outdoors, but did not dampen the spirits of the enthusiastic photo-adventurers.
Ronnie provided photo tips and challenged them to think differently about the elements that make impactful photographs, as well as the approach to making images that will not only remain for posterity, but also provoke thought and emotion in those viewing them. Ronnie told his audience, “There are three major types of photographs – photographs of record, which provide a record of an event, person, place or object; photographs of discovery, when we use our creative thinking and technical skills to interpret or create what the camera sees, to our satisfaction; and photographs of opportunity, when we happen to be in the right place at the right time.”
The outing concluded with a short stop in Bathsheba, a signature spot on the eastern seaboard and a fitting way to end the day’s adventure. The participants considered it a morning well spent. Princess Margaret student Shayera Neblett shared that, “I got to learn a lot of things. Like how lighting really matters in photography, and the different textures you need to look for.”
Graydon Sealy student Tyshawn Bowen explained, “I learned a lot. Basically, to focus more on what you’re taking and not just take a picture.” Photo-journalist Stacy Russell said, “I thought it was a great opportunity to come and learn from one of the masters of photography here in Barbados.”
This event was the first of four planned to celebrate Ronnie’s 65th anniversary in photography. Other events to mark the occasion include a photographic workshop for aspiring photographers at the Grand Salle of the Central Bank of Barbados on 20 August; an interactive exhibition at the Queen’s Park Gallery on 16 September; and the screening of a documentary on Ronnie’s career at the Daphne Joseph Hackett Theatre on that same date. (PR)
