Each Monday, we’ll highlight one indie photographer whose body of work deserves special recognition. Please enjoy their photography here, and make it a point to enjoy the rest of their work on their website.
Kerron Riley, is a Fashion & Lifestyle Photographer based on the twin island Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, who has also been privileged to photograph Queen Elizabeth II, the current President of the United States of America Barack Obama and other world leaders. The holder of a photography degree from The Maryland School of Art, Kerron quickly became known for a unique photographic style that was as complex and as beautiful as his mixed heritage.
Early in his career his photo documentary style shot him to prominence setting him apart from his contemporaries because of the crisp and poignant use of photography for storytelling. In 2011 Kerron’s photographic work landed him a nomination for Caribbean Photographer of the Year. Kerron is ambidextrous when it comes to cameras and shoots with both Nikon and Canon he finds it difficult so say which ones he likes more but thoroughly enjoys using both his Nikon D3XS and his Canon EOS 1D Mark II.
His favorite lenses are prime lenses and he most enjoys shooting with his 85mm f/1.2, which his primarily uses for fashion and portraits. Most of the time when natural lighting permits he shoots with no supplementary artificial lighting and his 85 mm lens wide open to its maximum aperture of f/1.2. In Kerron’s own words “I feel like I can almost shoot in darknessâ€.
Kerron’s work flow changes depending on whether he is shooting fashion or lifestyle. For fashion photography, he usually uses a beauty dish as the lighting source or a complement of strobes enclosed in soft boxes. For lifestyle photography he shoots a bit differently, tending to us no flash whatsoever in order to give images a natural tone feeling For post production he uses Apple’s Aperture with a little touching up if Adobe Photoshop CS5 if required, he tries not to do much editing in the lifestyle genre because he wants to stay true to form.
Kerron wishes one day to try his hand at underwater photography. He has always been fascinated by this last frontier requisite with new, undiscovered things. Ironically, he is somewhat challenged in the respect that he can’t swim and as he said, he feels as though he would drown in a foot of water in the bathtub, so it is a work in progress.
Kerron suggest that as a photographer one should stay up to date with current trends and technology innovation, it helps you to keep your style fresh! Secondly, he says “rules are made to be broken, so do not be afraid to take risk and play around. Push your models to get the maximum potential and don’t be afraid to be harsh when needed. Always take your time and be aware of the surroundings before you take a picture. Visualize the photo first.â€
Kerron says he devised his own unique editing techniques by trial and error. Truthfully his way of editing is far different from what is now taught, he bases this on the fact that he learned graphic editing software as a graphic designer which he did for 10 years before becoming a professional photographer.
When asked to name 2 photographers who inspire him, Kerron said he has great regard for the works of his close friend Calvin French and also Herb Ritts, of Ritts he says “this style of fashion photography excites meâ€.
Recently Kerron spent time exploring the rich flora and fauna of the Caribbean and Latin American Jungles and also documenting a sustainability research project on a native tribe of the Amazon rainforest. Despite Kerron’s experience his main passions are in the discovery and development of new talent and making extraordinary images from ordinary things.
Kerron website: www.kerronriley.me
Kerron’s Facebook fan page: Kerron Riley Photographer
Scorch Magazine: www.scorch.com
Havens Swimwear www.havenswimwear.com
Offline, Kerron’s work can be found in: Scorch Magazine, Profiles 98, Caribbean Bell, Tell Magazine , Mentality, Metro, Discover Trinidad and Tobago guide book, Carnival Scene, Tribe Carnival Magazine.
very cool..