Minister Grange Hails Ken Ramsay’s Legacy

The Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Hon. Olivia Grange has expressed deep regret at the passing of distinguished Jamaican photographer Ken Ramsay.
She said Mr Ramsay’s passing has left a void in the area of Jamaican photography as well as in the wider cultural landscape of which he was a distinguished member.
Ken Ramsay, who died on March 28, 2008 was born in 1935.
He studied photography during the 1960s at Harrow College in London, and the Germain School of photography in New York. After his studies he worked for a short time with fashion photographer Peter Basch of New York and returned to Jamaica in 1969.
In the 1970`s he expanded his repertoire in the classic `black and white` photographic medium and became famous locally and internationally with photographs like `The Head`. In the 1980`s Ken Ramsay delved in fashion photography, working closely with Jamaican model agency `Pulse`. His exotic black and white photos and his flamboyant sense of style were the hallmarks of his unique creativity, also exemplified in his own life style and dress.
In 1994 he published his first book of photographs Dare to Dream, which he co-published with the Verlag Rombach of Freiburg, Germany. He subsequently published his second book The Dream Lives On in 1997, containing a series of black and white photos of former Prime Minister Michael Manley.
Ken Ramsay has mentored many young people and students through his generosity of spirit and his willingness to offer assistance and advice to persons working in the field.
At the time of his death he worked as a freelance photo-journalist with The Jamaica Observer.
Minister Grange said: “Although his physical presence has been removed from us, the nation can nevertheless rest assured that the legacy he has left will continue to exert a positive influence on all Jamaicans.”
Ken Ramsay, brother to late defense attorney Ian Ramsay, is survived by his wife Pat Ramsay one of Jamaica’s foremost cultural educators and charity fund raisers.