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Changin' Times: Take 2

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"Action is the antidote to despair. - Joan Baez" 


In my last post, I mentioned that I would revisit the topic of protest. This revisit came faster than I thought. This time, it's not about land assets and perceived lack of government transparency. The subject hits a bit closer to home. I used to think of crime as a bit of an abstract concept. I've never been the victim of a violent crime (knock on wood), and so I used to think that if I did certain things, it was easily avoidable. The unfortunate truth is, sometimes you can do everything right and yet suffer the consequences of someone else's choices.


While most people think about crime in this way, the truth is that it affects all of us directly and indirectly. The effect of crime is pretty obvious but what about the rest of us? Well, when “crime waves”* occur, the immediate response from the public is fear leading to altered behaviour. We avoid certain areas and staying out late, maybe going out at all, if we can help it. We are more vigilant, watching every stranger closely. In extreme cases, the government may have to step in with increased policing. This may seem like an acceptable action for criminals but the effect is disproportionate on the rest of society. As the saying goes, "Peter pays for Paul and Paul pays for all". 


Recently, this country has been concerned and alarmed at the recent spate of violent crime. It seems that almost every day, the headlines or WhatsApp messages report a murder, shooting, robbery, or some other criminal act. It is heavy and distressing to see the statistics, to be honest. So, what do ordinary citizens do to feel some measure of control in the chaos? Well, some took to the streets on a warm Saturday morning to bring some awareness to the issue. This felt especially personal when mothers who lost children to gun violence spoke along the route. I got chills listening to them speak and telling their stories. 


I guess there are a few questions that remain. First, how did we get here? Second, is this just an anomalous spike in the crime rate following the COVID 19 years? Time will tell, I guess. And finally, will the protests solve anything? I cannot predict what the future holds, but maybe it's better to try something rather than to just sit back and accept the inevitable.  

Camera and equipment details:
Camera: Nikon D7200

Mobile Phone: Samsung A21S

Lenses:  Nikon 50mm F1.8 G Auto Focus-S

Lighting: Natural Light

Software: Adobe Photoshop 2019

Until next time...stay engaged.  



*Crime Wave - An increase, or perception of an increase, in crime in a particular period and place.

Mobile Photography Part 1: Return to Innocence

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Recently I've been wondering which projects I should take up in 2022. I don't know if I am the only one but I've found it a bit difficult to get started in photography this year. What does one do when there is the will but a lack of opportunity? Or vice versa? What should one do when you feel like you have hit a creative block? I've certainly felt "stuck in a rut" recently. It happens to all of us every once in a while, but the recent mix of the pandemic and general downturn of 2021 has left some of us with very little creative energy. My approach to photographer's block has usually one of the following:

  1. Change direction by buying new gear - while a fun idea, it is not always feasible or fiscally responsible;

  2. Set yourself a mini project or try something completely new from a tutorial ;

  3. Go back to basics

In this case, I decided to combine options #2 and #3. In the past, I've always considered mobile photography to be frivolous at best. I'm old fashioned so my phone was mostly for making calls. The substandard camera was solely for taking photos in case of an accident or getting a number on a billboard when I didn't have a pen. But much like DSLR cameras, mobile phone capabilities have moved beyond the grainy 0.35 megapixel images. There exists a number of lenses and lighting equipment available specifically for mobile phones. This brings a powerful tool into the hands of more amateurs without a need for much "technical know how" or jargon. So where does that leave the old fashioned enthusiasts and professionals? I don't think that the mobile phone is ready to replace the creative flexibility of its DSLR/mirrorless counterparts. But I do think both seasoned professionals and amateurs alike can find a lot of worth in improving their skills in mobile photography.

For some of us who started shooting digitally, we might have started on a point and shoot camera. Technically less complicated and mostly unassuming, that camera fueled our personal curiosity into the image making process. I know most purists will consider using mobile phone to be a step down from "real photography". I definitely do not agree. The real art in photography is not necessarily the priciest tools, but rather thoughtful composition and crafty storytelling. Technical ability is also key. I would rate those well above gear any and every day.

Going back to my project, what rules did I set for myself during my project? It was simple. First, shoot only on mobile phone (which is the point of this entire article). Second, edit only on the same device using a free photo app like Snapseed. Unofficially and lastly, edit within an hour of taking the shot. What happened, you asked? Well, I honestly had fun with it, way more than I expected to. Most importantly, I have changed my mind on mobile photography now. One of my favourite photography quotes says "the best camera is the one that's with you”.

I'll let you judge the results. Feel free to share your own tips and photos with me. More to come...

New Year, New Projects

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I hope you've been having a good year so far, both professionally and personally. I haven't posted here in a little while but I've been busy these past few months working on a few personal things. As I mentioned last year, I've started experimenting with making video. I've been learning this new craft as a fun side project whenever I can. Admittedly it's a learning curve for me but I must confess that I'm enjoying it very much. If you've done some video, or just started, let me know what your biggest challenges are/were. I've uploaded a few of my attempts to my YouTube channel, "Nicky Highlander Photography".  If you have any ideas, suggestions, want to collaborate or just want to discuss photography/videography, feel free to message me!

Here is the link to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9qeA1l42xbNfch6NOgLqtQ . I’ve included the link to my latest practice video, “Wind”, at the end of this post. You will see more of these from time to time.

I've also been making it to a few field trips with the Barbados Photographic Society as well as a few other places with friends. So far, I've been exploring the northern and eastern parts of the island again. We've been to Saint Peter, St. Nicolas Abbey's Heritage Train ride and Andromeda Gardens. Funny enough, video has really reawakened my love for still photography. That seems counter-intuitive but it's true. 

Here's to more enriching projects this year!

Camera and equipment details:
Camera: Nikon D5200

Lenses:  Nikon 50mm F1.8 G Auto Focus-S 

Lighting: Natural Light

Software: Adobe Premiere Elements

Until next time....