Renae Simpson
Renae is a Print & Online journalism student at the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication, CARIMAC, Jamaica.
She got the photography bug after her lecturer, Jamaican artist/photographer, Michael Stanley, selected all the images from her course portfolio for a CARIMAC exhibit in February 2007. Since then, Renae has nurtured her love for photography into a passion, especially for portraiture.
Her writing and photographs have appeared in the Caribbean Link newspaper, New York. She is also a contributing writer for the bi-monthly publication, JAMROCK magazine.
She lives in the beautiful, seaside town of Port Antonio, Jamaica, and is the proud owner of two Rottweilers, Opie & Cipher, and a German Shepherd called Dmitri.
Portfolio
Portraits
Photo Journalism
Projects
Landscapes
Stock Photography
Artist's Statement
Anyone who truly knows me knows how much I love my hometown Port Antonio, Jamaica. I boast of Port Antonio for the same reason Errol Flynn did when he said it was more beautiful than any woman he had ever seen.
So naturally, my first photographs, taken in January 2007 with my 1st DSLR camera, were attempts to capture the quiet charm and unique appeal of my seaside town. My work featured popular Port Antonio landmarks; the Folly Ruins,Rio Grande, Navy & Monkey Islands and the Castle at Trident Villas. The blue, aquamarine and green hues of the Caribbean Sea were dominant themes throughout this phase of my development as a photographer.
Viewing the world through the lens of a camera helped me to see things from a completely new perspective, literally and figuratively. I started to see everyday occurrences in a whole new light. This initiated and fueled an intense appreciation within me for the beauty and potency of candid portraiture.
Portraiture for me is more than just capturing the likeness of a person. It is a universal language that is instantly recognizable and transcends cultural, racial and geographical boundaries. It functions best as my presentation of someone's personality, quirkiness and character to a wider unfamiliar audience. Toya Part Deux, The One& Little Men II are examples of this. I also use portraits to communicate what I think are universal messages and truths. Mother & Child II and the Look of Love are my attempts to show the unique and precious bond between mothers and children everywhere.
My portraits are almost always black and white. This is so only because there are times when I feel that color can be more distracting than enhancing to a photograph.
More recently, very likely through my interaction with fellow Utatans, I have developed a keen interest in fine art and conceptual photography. I predict that my growth as a photographer and artist will continue along these lines.
Favorite Photos (of mine)
Utata Member Page for Renae Simpson