Photographs show “Raw” side of city life

Rowland Parks has been photographing Belize City since the 1970’s, and while his latest exhibition at the Image Factory called “Raw” is every bit the work of a seasoned professional, somehow he continues to see the people on its streets, in the yards, and on the verandas with a fresh eye… not to mention a sense of humour. Tonight News Five’s Karla Heusner brings you a preview of the exhibition you won’t want to miss.

Rowland Parks, Photographer
?Most of the time I have my camera with me, because I work as a freelance photographer, I do pictures for people for money. So what happens is I always have my camera with me and sometimes I see a picture that I just can?t resist taking. So like the picture with the lady by the shoes, I was riding my bicycle and suddenly there is this lady by the store with the shoes and I looked at her feet and everything and in a split second I just jumped off my bike, through it one side, pulled my camera out and just started shooting away.?

Karla Heusner, Reporting
Rowland Parks is always on the lookout for something unusual, or a new twist on the ordinary. He enjoys shooting family and friends, as much as celebrities.

Rowland Parks, Photographer
?I was sheltering from the rain and there were these three kids going home in the rain. It was a heavy rain and breeze and everything and they were just being battered by the rain and I pulled out the camera and just shot.?

?It was New Year?s Eve and I was out taking pictures, and for some reason people were not taking as many pictures as they normally would and along comes Grandmaster with his glasses turned upside down and he?s got this cigar in his mouth and I said ?Grandmaster, let me hit you man!? And that was it.?

But while many of Park?s best photos were spontaneous moments, he is always conscious of composition and colour.

Rowland Parks
?I always shoot with composition in mind. I like to put little things in photographs; sometimes you see a hand, or little feet going by or so. I like to do stuff like that.?

?On any given day I could go out and get all kinds of pictures. And sometimes I?m in a photo mood, a shutterbug mood and I just go out and do it, just like that.?

Rowland Parks invites anyone who loves a good image to come to the Image Factory and see his new show.

Rowland Parks
?Yes, please come, buy pictures!? (Laughs)

Karla Heusner for News Five.

Rowland Parks credits artist Phillip Lewis with first sparking his interest in photography and teaching him the basics. He also has training in photojournalism. “Raw” runs through November eighth.