Scotiabank presents over $1m to Calendar Photo Competition winners
SCOTIABANK HAS awarded over $1 million in prizes to the fifteen photographers whose pictures were selected for the 2018 Scotiabank calendar. The winners gathered recently for lunch at the bank’s headquarters in downtown Kingston to view the final product.
The competition, which ran for the month of September, invited local photographers to provide images that embodied the theme ‘My Jamaica’ in the categories of nature, people, and daily life.
“It was a difficult decision determining the winners of this competition as the quality of photographs was very good. We want to thank all the photographers who took the time to share their talent and creativity for helping us to promote all the positives in Jamaica,” said Yanique Forbes Patrick, vice-president for marketing at Scotiabank.
Over 1,000 photographs were entered, with 15 selected for the 28-page calendar. “It was quite a task narrowing it down,” said Forbes Patrick, “but we received assistance and guidance from experts like Andrew Smith, Jeremy Francis, and Collin Reid.”
The top award was given to Marlon McLeod for his photograph ‘Our Future, Our Jamaica’, depicting schoolgirls from Spicy Hill Basic School in Trelawny having fun while running with the Jamaican Flag.
PRIDE OF JAMAICA
“The future of Jamaica depends on our children. I wanted to capture the children being happy, energetic, and showcasing the pride of Jamaica,” McLeod said. “I prayed and specifically asked God to not just let me be a winner, but a first-place winner. I am very happy as this win means more to me than the award; it’s like God telling me to just trust Him.”
McLeod, a photographer by profession, was awarded $250,000, and his piece was placed on the front cover of the calendar.
Second prize went to David Madden for his photograph titled ‘Carbarita Island’, showcasing the beauty of St Mary. Taken from the elevated location of Firefly, Madden’s photograph captured the magnificent view that incorporated sections of Port Maria and the Carbarita Island itself.
“It’s my way of promoting and showcasing Jamaica. I was thrilled when I heard that I had been selected and was excited to be part of the winners,” Madden said. He received $125,000 and his entry placed on the back of the calendar.
The award for Top Online Votes went to Jamoni Howell with his ‘Aerial View at Night of Emancipation Park’. Taken by drone, the photo gives a different perspective of the park. According to Howell, he and his girlfriend reached out to their friends and family as far afield as Africa and their huge social networking group to attain the votes required to make it to the top.
“It was a gratifying moment when I was advised I had won the public vote. I was elated. This is a great way for Scotiabank to give back to the country, and the method is most commendable,” he remarked. Howell received $100,000, and his piece appeared for the first month.
The remaining photographers were each gifted with $50,000 for their entries that included ‘Flat ‘Z’ Bridge’ by Robert Johnson, ‘Goat Owner ‘by Marie Baillie, and ‘Kids Relaxing At Play’ by Vidal Smith.
Other entries were also selected for inclusion in the calendar: ‘Bandana Pickney’ by Roxanne Perue, ‘Mitchie’ by Laurence Perkins, and ‘My Jamaica’ by Gerald A Gordon in the people category. Those selected for the category of nature included ‘Aerial Canoes’ by Max Earle, ‘Blue Mountain Ruins’ by Kyle Hibbert, ‘Downtown Looking Up’ by Fernandez Barrett, ‘Hummingbird Chillin’’ by Stokely Saddler, Jr, ‘New Castle’ by Hugh Wright, and ‘Trelawny Morning’ by Claude Fletcher.
The 2018 calendars will be distributed across the island through Scotiabank branches and subsidiaries.
The future of Jamaica depends on our children. I wanted to capture the children being happy, energetic, and showcasing the pride of Jamaica.