Photography; I shoot what I like, and sometimes people like what I shoot. All photos are copyright to Michael C. Lam unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Growing up in Guyana, a joyride meant what it sounded like, jumping on a bicycle/ motorcycle and going out for a ride with friends and having fun, but it seems that up north it means and meant a completely different thing… I guess we were wrong.
Joyride – 16-1823 | Canon EOS 60D, Sigm 10-20mm | 2016, Lusignan, E.C.D, Guyana
Click on the image to see it in the “Out and About” Gallery, a rather quirky collection of images.
There’s much that could be said, but little that I feel like sharing.
In the meantime, enjoy a photo that has my mind crossing space, time and emotions. I’ve also included this into the extended Oniabo Collection.
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Canon EOS 60D | Between 15 and 50 | February 2016
Click on the image to see it in the Gallery
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Apparently, I took this photograph on the Fourth of July, last year. I remember taking the photo, but the date doesn’t ring a bell; I only know it was the 4th because the metadata says so. Metadata is handy, you can tell a lot about an image from the metadata, from the type of camera used, to the focal length, ISO, speed and aperture settings, to a host of other miscellaneous fields, these days, even the GPS coordinates. The Canon 60D doesn’t have built-in GPS though, so that wasn’t included.
Across cultures we find that the importance or significance we place upon one thing may not be the same that those who live in another country place up a similar thing. Take the Fourth for example; Americans (as in those who live in the United States of America, and not just anyone who lives in the Americas) are very proud of their Independence Day, the 4th of July, it’s a big deal, so much so, that by just saying “the Fourth” anyone in that country knows what you’re referring to. In Guyana, it used to be the case that our Independence Day passed largely unheralded, with more emphasis being place on Republic Day, or as it is more commonly known here, Mashramani. That has changed over recent years, but the emphasis is still skewed that way.
I suppose photography is similar, as a parent taking quick photos of their children, the emphasis is centred on the child (most times literally centred in the frame); as a fashion photographer, the subject is the model and the articles being displayed by said model; as a wedding photographer, the bride better be the main subject or somebody’s not getting paid; I get asked sometimes about my seawall photos, why do I shoot them?, what is it I see that makes me take so many? I figure I have to be a lousy photographer to be asked what it is in the frame that I’m trying to show.
The subjects of my photos are not always front and centre (hardly ever actually, unless it’s people on Mash Day, or that kind of thing), the subject is often the entire scene; the lines, the textures, the tonal variations, the clash or harmony of nature and man; If a photo doesn’t make an impact on you, just move on; if it made you stop for a second, then it was good, if it made you feel something, anything, whether good or bad, then it was a great photo for me.
Meander – 15-9718 | Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 10-20mm | Georgetown Seawall, Guyana
Click on the image to see it in the Collection, along with others in the Black and White Gallery
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Finding Treasure. That’s what it feels like when you pop a memory card into your camera and realize that it is full of images from a year ago, it was a 4GB card, but it was full of RAW files.
I don’t recall how it is that I never copied off the images, but given that it was not one of the cards I normally use, but more of a backup or emergency use card, it seems that I forgot that I had used it for a few days of shooting.
As is usual for me, it will take time to get to the images, but here is one that I spotted and wanted to share.
Canon EOS 60D | Sigma 10-20 | Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, Guyana
Click on the image to see it in the collection along with others in the People Gallery
Thomaslands, Georgetown, Guyana. 2015
Click on the image to see it in the Gallery
A walk on the sea,
Adrift on a wayward cloud,
Awash in sunlight.
Click on the image to see it in the Collection along with others in the Black and White Gallery.
Sometimes, its necessary to stop, let everything that’s weighing on your mind take a backseat, and just let the wind, the waves, the sun and the sand speak to you.
Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 10-20mm | Thomaslands, Georgetown, Guyana | 2015
Click on the image to see it in the Gallery along with other Black and White images
Last year sometime, someone called me to tell me that there was an old house on Regent Street that was being put up for sale, and they were letting me know just in case I wanted some photos before the new owners took over (and who would more than likely tear it down); I wish more people would call me like this actually.
I went out one Sunday morning, and took a few photos, some just to record the building, others with a more studied eye to the scene, and as usual I was always on the look-out for one or two that I think stand out from the rest; this is one of those.
Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 10-20mm | Regent & Light Streets, Georgetown, Guyana | 2015
Click on the image to see it in the Gallery
The idea that someday, someone in power would choose to make the decision to fix the beautiful structure that is Georgetown’s City Hall is likely a dream, one that may remain unfulfilled.
As it is, most of us can see that is makes more financial sense to let it fall to pieces and then put up a square unattractive concrete block of a building with no character and no appeal, probably all because of years of neglect, and the squandering of taxpayers monies.
Should it be fixed? That depends on your view I suppose. Guyana’s tourism depends largely on natural wonders like Kaieteur and the animals of the rainforest, as well as upon the old-world Victorian/Colonial architecture that is still evident in many structures along the “Heritage Trail”, but are our tourist numbers enough to justify spending millions of dollars on rehabilitating this beautiful building?
What would I know? I’m just a citizen 🙂
Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 10-20mm | City Hall, Georgetown, Guyana. 2015
Click on the image to see it in the Gallery
I don’t do a lot of sunrise or sunset photos anymore, I guess unless there is something particularly appealing to use with it it’s just another sunrise or sunset to me, and that is probably a sad thing, as they are beautiful moments.
I was on a little impromptu photowalk with Fidal and another photog last year, it was actually Halloween day; we stopped at the seawall at Victoria village before continuing on to Mahaica and I took a few photos there, one of which I’ve come to like. It really is nothing spectacular, but the composition, the pastel colours and the sunrise moment gives it a nice peaceful vibe 🙂
Canon EOS 60D | Sigma 10-20mm | Victoria Dawn 15-0355 | Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara
Of course, those who know my work, will know that to see a landscape in colour (especially along the seawall) is a rarity these days 🙂
Click on the image to see it in the gallery.
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