Faculty of Art

Photography

Jessann Reece

ROAD!

My road trip through my family's homeland.

“For my Final Thesis project at OCAD University, I went to Jamaica to document my family history and witness daily life through my father’s eyes. Inspired by Bell Hooks’ essay “In Our Glory” and the snapshots of photographers like Liz Johnson Arthur and Jamel Shabazz, I wanted to highlight the unseen and showcase a culture that is often misrepresented in Western media. I was also privileged enough to learn more about how my family history ties into the history of the island itself.I used a single Nikon DSLR with a very fast shutter speed to document my road trip and ended up with a final series of 100 images that speak on my behalf. Despite some rough content, the bold colors of each image is a testament to the resilient nature and vibrant culture of Jamaica. It’s a heritage that although I’m still learning about, I feel blessed to be apart of. It was important to capture as much as possible since Jamaica is currently in a state of rapid economic development. Many of the remnants of my family’s past are nearly gone, so I’ve chosen to continue the tradition of documentarian before they disappear forever.”