Storyteller, I

December 09, 2019 Jhaye-Q Baptiste 0 Comments
MY introduction to this blog (Pages: "This Blog Because") opens with the admittance: I take photos for the story, not for the art.
     You'll see I acknowledge that's a strange thing to say even as I am setting out wholeheartedly to create a blog that is "phoTocenTric, expressing how passionaTTe I am about all things quinTessenTially T&T." 
    I love telling stories, see. I was born to a line of storytellers. My career was completely centered on storytelling. Life is full of stories, and I mean to share those few I'm fortunate enough to collect as imagery with you.
     I also outlined in the intro: 

I have three categories for my type of photos:-


  • The Scoop: When I set out to look for and capture some subject specific in tone, energy or theme and achieve success
  • The Seize: When my path crosses what can only be described as a “photo op,” and I don’t let the opportunity slip by me. That whole carpe diem thing, nuh
  • The Snatch: My intrepid media maven forte. It’s the same set-up as The Seize, but without the luxury of focus time. This is point and shoot on adrenaline. Or clicking with fingers crossed. Or whistling while looking the other way a la misdirection 

     The three photos I'm using as examples were all taken on a trip to Trinidad and Tobago's historical site, Fort George, located on the hills to the north of Saint James, with an exhilarating view of the Gulf of Paria (examples of that will come in time). 
The back of the prison cell was on a little hillock. I wanted someone looking into the dark, but not in a contrived way. So I situated myself and waited. Sure enough, this foreign visitor provided me with what I needed. This is the Scoop.
The cannons of Fort George face several directions out to sea. I was walking the line taking different angles, then noticed that where these pretty, fluffy clouds were gave an impression of smoke having bellowed out of cannons upon firing. Could not have wished for a more perfect set up. This is the Seize.
On the thrilling drive up the steep, winding way, we came upon a goati caught in the middle of the road and undecided which way to bolt, left or right. Instead, he charged straight toward us, veering from the wheels and tearing off down the hill. I barely had time to stick my cell phone out the right back window, and really did not expect to have gotten anything. But I got something. Woohoo!That's the Snatch.