Ann-Loy Morgan replaces words with photos

Garfene Grandison, Gleaner Writer

Photographer Ann-Loy Morgan tells The Gleaner "I was born in Montego Bay where I was raised by a very loving extended family, headed by my grandmother. I was a very quiet child and spent most of my time reading and daydreaming; I didn't speak very much".

Photography coincided with her moving across the island. Morgan says: "I moved to Kingston to be with my mother and stepfather who has been encouraging of my photography pursuits. I learned eloquence over time, but it still was not truly expressing my thoughts. My fifth-form English teacher, Miss Webster, helped me a lot with my reluctance to be truly expressive. Looking back, I think she created a creative monster."

How long have you been in this field?

I've been interested in photography for as long as I can remember. It started with cheap, plastic, disposable film cameras, and grew as I did.

Where have you studied?

For the most part, I'm self-taught. I did two short photography courses at Edna Manley - Basic and Advanced Digital Photography. Those really helped to boost my confidence and encouraged me to pursue photography seriously.

Why this career path?

To be honest, I'm not always good with words. I often have a problem expressing myself. Sometimes I wish I could show people the images that are in my head, have them see the world as I see it. Beautiful in all its simplicity and complex in all it's beauty.

What was the process like when you first started in this career field?

I enjoy shooting abstract things, seemingly simple and everyday things that we often take for granted. That's something most people could not understand but enjoyed looking at. I joined the JBW Photography Club while at Edna and some members gave me a lot of feedback and encouragement and I'm very grateful for that. At that time, I had a two-megapixel point-and-shoot Nikon camera that frustrated me no end. But I eventually learned how to get out the images I wanted.

What are you currently doing to further develop your ambitions for your career path?

Mostly working on my portfolio, doing more shoots and saving up to buy more gear. I'm a gearhead and have a long list of lenses and cameras I want. I'm also getting to know more photographers, having other people there who share your passion really helps.

What do you hope to achieve in 10 years?

Besides retirement? I hope that my work be a source of happiness for others. Something someone would want to have in their house to look at whenever they feel the least bit down.

What drives and inspires your career path?

An endless love of beauty. Being able to see is a privilege and being able to see beauty is a gift. I've found that visual stimuli is very powerful. One can feel anger, sadness, hope, fear or any other possible human emotion from a photo. I want to evoke emotions with my work, make people feel something, anything and remember that, in feeling, they are human.

What do you have to offer as the future of the next generation?

Beauty, I hope. I want to offer timeless images and countless memories.

Do you consider yourself to be revolutionary. How do you plan to change the game (your field)?

I'm not leading the pack or marching in the streets; nothing of the sort. I think I'm of the sleeper variety of artists, the ones whose work aren't noticed till they're dead. Morbid, but true. That's why I work on my ability to make people feel something when they see my work so even when I'm gone, my work, what I felt and what I wanted them to feel, remains.

Besides access to education, what do you think needs to be done in order to transform youth in Jamaica?

Passion. Our generation lacks passion to do anything. We pass through the education system because we have to. Nothing sticks, very little makes an impression. But I think that if we were allowed to do more, to tap into our creativity and create our own paths and build a passion for something so much more could be accomplished.

Distinguish yourself from your peers.

Photography is only one of my many many interests. I'm a very creative person. My other hobbies often manifest themselves in my photographic work. For example, as I design for my clothing line, I start to shoot more fashion editorial style photos. Or, I start to shoot more food photography as I work on recipes and plan a menu for my dream restaurant. My photography is a form of insight into what is on my mind, which is never one thing, and so, it's always changing, always evolving and taking on new forms.

Old men rule the world, true or false? Why?

False. No one rules the world. The world is controlled by a collective, by us as its inhabitants. Our thoughts, feelings, hopes and worries drive us to make the decisions we do and shape the world as we go along.

What's been the most challenging part of making a name for yourself in your field?

Saturation. So many people think they're photographers when they're really just camera owners. I think it takes a certain eye to be a photographer. But at the end of the day, our work speaks for itself, we're just the messenger.