Glenmuir High Student Tops JN Photo Award Competition

Glenmuir High School’s Jodi Morgan has copped the coveted Best Photo Award in the 2013/2014 Jamaica National Resolution Project.

Her photo, ‘The Real Me’, was selected as the top piece from more than 200 entries from students across the island, who entered the 10^th staging of the annual competition.

The 18 year old also walked away with the prizes for Best Male Body Image; Emerging Photo Advocate; and the People’s Choice Award, at the presentation ceremony held on July 18 at The Olympia Gallery on Old Hope Road.

Her prizes include a Canon Powershot digital camera; an internship at the Gleaner Company; a Galaxy 3 tablet; a gift certificate valued at $5,000 from Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS); a plaque; and a certificate.

Speaking with JIS News, Jodi confessed that she was both surprised and overwhelmed by the awards, as her interest in photography was only a recent development ignited by her older sister.

“After getting involved in photography I realize it is something I really like and would consider doing as a part-time job,” she stated, also noting that she will be pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Economics at the University of the West Indies, Mona next academic year.

In the meantime, the Best Selfie Award went to another Glenmuir High student, Carl Simpson, who also tied with his schoolmate, Makeda Bawn, for the Best Female Body Image Award for their respective pieces ‘Colours of the Wind’ and ‘Pure: Her Most Prominent Possession.’

Other awardees included: Mikhail Henry from Glenmuir High, who got the first and third place prizes in the Best Body Image category for his submissions ‘Disjointed Reflections’ and ‘Ready to Lead’, while second place went to Anchovy High’s, Sheronica Beeputh for her ‘Nasty Words Hurt even More’ photograph.

The Best Children Body Image award went to Vanessa Benjamin of Spot Valley High, while Crystal Edwards of Hampton High received the Best Culture and Sport Body Image award. Glenmuir High won the trophy for the Best Overall Performing School.

In congratulating the awardees, Youth and Culture Minister, Hon. Lisa Hanna said she was impressed by their talent and professionalism. “I was totally blown away by some of the images I saw”, she stated.

Chairman, JNBS Foundation, Earl Jarrett, encouraged the awardees to learn how to market their works and to protect their intellectual property as they go forward.

He noted that in a world where gross revenues from the purchase of stock images is estimated at some US$2.8 billion, students need to understand that they have a skill that can enable them to earn an income, should they decide to pursue a career in photography.

Mr. Jarrett also said the competition aimed to assist young persons, particularly in rural Jamaica, to leverage the power of photography as a tool for advocacy, communication, and art, as well as to showcase the beauty of the people and the island.

Since 2004, the JN Foundation Resolution Project, which was conceptualised by Mr. Jarrett, has been equipping and training secondary-level students outside the Kingston Metropolitan Area in the art of photography, photojournalism and human rights advocacy.

Approximately 200 students from 30 schools across the island entered this year’s competition. The theme was ‘Resolution X: My Generation’, which explored ideas of deportment, style, dress, and fashion, crystallized, to result in photographs depicting body image.