KINGSTON, Jamaica – Naomi Redway and Orlando Bryan, have jointly won the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) General Manager’s Awards for Best Photo, in the JN Foundation’s advocacy through photography programme, Resolution Project.
Redway, of Westwood High School in Trelawny; and Bryan, of Clarendon College; were among the more than 100 students from some 35 rural schools across the island who were recognised on Tuesday, July 16 for their successful entries in the annual high school photography competition..
Bryan shared the top prize with Redway for his work, entitled, ‘Downtown Beauty’, while Redway’s work is entitled ‘Share the happiness’. She also emerged as the Most Outstanding Female Photographer.
“I’m extremely excited right now. It’s amazing and shocking at the same time. I’m really grateful to Jamaica National for giving me this great opportunity because I didn’t see photography as something I want to do but now it has become a big part of my life,” said Redway shortly after the ceremony.
Bryan who was equally elated said: “I got an award last year and it motivated me to push harder to claim the top prize. This programme has helped me to express myself through photography, which is a good thing considering the many social issues affecting us today.”
An initiative developed by Earl Jarrett, General Manager of Jamaica National, the Resolution Project, formerly called Youth Zoom, offers a creative avenue through which young people can express and give voice to their concerns. The project challenges students to critically examine the issues affecting their respective communities, and facilitates the use of photography as a tool to commend or advocate for change in situations or the lives of people, which might otherwise have been invisible.
“Photography is a powerful tool for advocacy, because photographs can and have changed lives,” Mr. Jarrett told the recipients at the awards ceremony held at the Rex Nettleford Hall at the University of the West Indies, Mona on July 16. He said, “The Resolution Project provides an avenue for you to use your creativity to conceptualize and create high quality images which can speak volumes on issues that affect you and other members of your communities.”
He reminded students that, “Photographs are our memories, and it is important that what is captured is a record for posterity, whether good or bad.”
Alicia Glasgow, Arts and Media Specialist with the JNBS Foundation said the theme of this year’s cycle “Portraits of a People” explores several aspects of Jamaican life: at home, at work and at play. She said that in addition to providing cameras to the schools, workshops were held in Ocho Rios, Mandeville, Montego Bay, Savanna-la-Mar and Portland during October of 2012 and March, 2013.
“The students and their teacher/coordinators were taught the fundamentals of advocacy and photography by lead photography trainer, Stuart Reeves; as well as, the basics of journalism to inform their writing of supporting photo captions and titles,” she informed.
Now in its ninth year, the Resolution Project has grown in scope and impact. Miss Glasgow said since 2011, greater emphasis has been placed on widening the reach and exposure of student photographers to achieve awareness of their stated advocacy issues.
Resolution Project photographs have been exhibited at the Consulate General of New York and currently enjoy semi-permanent exhibitions at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. Last year, the work of students was part of a one-month Jamaica 50 Photo Exhibition, in concert with the works of UK Jamaican Photographer Neil Kenlock, at the JNBS Representative Office, at Elephant and Castle, in London, UK.
The Resolution Project will mount a month-long open exhibition of photographs at the Institute of Jamaica in Downtown Kingston between July 22 and August 30.
The JN Resolution Project is implemented by the JNBS Foundation with support from The Gleaner’s Youthlink Magazine.
