Instagram has given many of us who dream of exotic Caribbean destinations the opportunity to savour islands that we’ve only heard about on television or read about in books. It has also provided an avenue for the gifted Caribbean photo blogger to showcase their work and to entice us to get up and explore the Caribbean.
Natasha, of NCP Photography is a Caribbean photo journalists who has used Instagram to display her talents and promote Jamaica, the Caribbean and wherever else her travels may take her. Her extensive photographic portfolio is testimony to her wide range of photo skills and her ability to adapt to different settings and perspectives.
I started following NCP Photography because of a request to share photos and I came across several photos that caught my attention. I do not follow many accounts on Instagram, because I do not want to miss any of the postings from my favourite accounts. But during that chance encounter, I was impressed by the quality of her photos, which made it very difficult to find a gorgeous Caribbean photo to share. It was then that I became a follower.
Later, I decided that the story of NCP Photography should be told and heard by anyone and everyone who has the slightest interest in the Caribbean. She agreed to take part in this interview, and I will be forever grateful for her consent to be featured on the Endless Caribbean blog.
Natasha, I am so happy that you’ve agreed to be interviewed for Endless Caribbean. It’s because of Caribbean travel professionals like you that we can do what we do to showcase our Caribbean. Welcome! For readers who have never been introduced to you before, who is Natasha Camille and what is NCP Photography?
First let me thank you for your interest in interviewing me and I am honored to know that you enjoy and appreciate my work. Natasha Camille has always been an avid photographer. Even as a teenager I would buy those little Kodak disposable cameras and cube flashes when on vacation abroad so that I could capture special moments. I graduated to a “point and shoot” about 15 years ago and then on to a professional camera and now I have two professional cameras. NCP Photography was born out of my own lack of imagination for a name. It simply stands for Natasha Camille Parkins Photography.
Booking.comGrowing up in Barbados, I cannot remember many people being involved in professional photography, other than those who worked in the media. Now, it’s very easy to get involved in photography whether or not you took photography classes. Were you formally educated in photography or are you a self-taught photographer?
I did a course in basic and intermediate photography at Edna Manley School for the Visual Arts and Sanaa respectively. I was taught by the First Lady of Photography in the Caribbean, Donnette Ingrid Zacca. I’ve heard people say that whether or not you took classes you can be involved in photography which is true to a certain extent. Taking a photograph is like writing an essay.
An essay has a subject and one should be able to glean what the topic is about certainly by the end of the first paragraph. It’s the same with photography; someone should be able to decipher the subject the moment they look at the photograph. If I have to tell you what the subject is then I may not have done a great job. Photography, like everything else in life, is guided by some ground rules and yes, rules are made to be broken. As photography evolves you see more and more persons developing their own style which may be in contravention with the basic rules, but that’s ok – nothing in life is static.
I’ve looked through all 2,341 photos (at the time of this interview) on your Instagram page and I am in awe at how varied your photos are. There are landscape and seascape shots, wedding photos, media-type photos and still-life photos. How easy is it for you to switch between these genres?
WOWOWOWOW I didn’t realise I had posted so many pics. Photographers tend to find their niche, develop it and then expand. I am a huge fan of land and seascapes, food photography, product photography and abstract photography. I’m now getting more into humans and I am by no means a wedding photographer – that takes a lot of skill and experience because you don’t get a second chance to reproduce. I was the “official unofficial” photographer at my cousin’s wedding. Let’s just say it’s a lot easier to do non-human photography but I plan to get into it for 2019.
Your portfolio includes photographs from several Caribbean countries namely Trinidad, Barbados, Aruba, St. Lucia and of course, Jamaica. What inspires you most about the Caribbean and what is your favourite island to explore with your lens?
The Caribbean has a lot to offer. We are more than just a beach destination. Some islands have mountains and unique attractions peculiar to its geography. I don’t think I have a favorite island to explore because each island/country (also been to Guyana) – I have been to has its own beauty. I never ever compare locations – I love and appreciate them for what they are.
Jamaica is your home island and I can tell that you are proud to be Jamaican. What are some of your favourite places to visit and photograph in Jamaica?
I always enjoy capturing Jamaica’s beaches and water bodies. Ocho Rios is my favorite spot at the moment and I suspect it’s so as I haven’t had time to go any further than that for a while. I also love St. Thomas and Portland parishes because of their rustic nature. They’re unspoiled and simply beautiful! There is an area of rough sea called Turtle Bay in Portland where the water is blue and inviting but very deceptive. You could easily be drawn out to sea just standing by the shore – but I love it so much!!
They also have a lot of hidden waterfalls in these parishes- some are just being discovered. Manchester Parish is also another favorite. It’s located in the center of the island and the architecture is very British and Canadian. The main town Mandeville is located on a hill and so the temperature is relatively cooler. There was a time when Mandeville had a large British population followed by the Canadians with the advent of the bauxite industry.
When the world thinks of Jamaica, they automatically think about Bob Marley, Reggae, Rastafarianism, and now, Buju Banton. As a Jamaican, what would you like the world to know about Jamaica?
I noticed you didn’t mention Usain Bolt 😊. What I would love the world to know about Jamaica is that we are a warm and friendly island with beautiful beaches, diverse culture, wonderful food and good energy.
Now I love a good curry goat or curry chicken, some kidney beans and rice with a bit of cabbage and plantain on the side. I’ve seen lots of images from Jamaican restaurants in the United States. Do you think that you would ever produce a photographic study on foods in Jamaica?
Funny that you would mention that as I have a passion for food photography and will be focusing a lot on this for 2019. Let’s see what the new year brings.
