Craig Henry – Lets his lens tell the story

Celebrating Amerindian Heritage Month…

By Lakhram Bhagirat

Photography allows us to escape to a place where we connect with our innermost creative selves. The act of taking a photograph is more than just pointing your lens at a subject and clicking the shutter. When we take photographs, we capture life itself in a form where we can preserve that memory so that at a later date, we can relive it over and over again.
Photographs have the uncanny ability to bring smiles to our faces, make us giggle like schoolgirls pulling a prank or bring tears to our eyes. The act of capturing a photo at the perfect moment is one that is cherished when that moment becomes nothing but a distant memory.
Wanting to capture that special moment and etch the story of nature into the archives of history is what led young Craig Henry to photography. His passion for telling a story through composing the perfect image is what makes him an amazing photographer.
Hailing from the Santa Rosa community of Parakeese Island in Region One (Barima-Waini), Henry is one to look out for. The 20-year-old is relatively new to the photography scene but has been making his indelible mark already. As a matter of fact, he is already one of the best photographers in his region and among the up-and-coming ones in the country.

His passion for photography developed back in 2018 while working in Sea Turtle Conservation at Shell Beach. The landscape there was irresistible and he knew that he needed to capture it. He, however, had no gear other than a smartphone so he began to make adjustments.
“The scenery was too much to miss. I researched a lot about photography and watched YouTube videos, which I still continue doing, and dedicated my free time to practising. Over the course of time, I developed a passion for taking pictures and video clips of anything I find interesting. Through the positive feedback from my family and friends, I started saving for a few months. I was able to purchase a GoPro action camera and a DSLR which both helped me up my game in the creative industry,” he said.
While Henry said he particularly enjoys shooting landscapes and travel photographs, he also loves doing portraits for his clients.
However, the road to where he is now has not been a paved one, rather it was riddled with potholes. He has big challenges in accessing gears and equipment. Limited financial access along with his geographical location were all part and parcel of the challenges.
“There is always that new lens and other equipment that you want so much and might not be readily available to purchase in Guyana. Good gears are also expensive. Another challenge now would be the risk of going out in public places to shoot. And I must encourage all who still do to please be safe and take all precautions,” Henry stated.
His end goal is to own his own media production company where he can mentor up-and-coming photographers. He is confident that he will achieve his goals but is also cognisant that it would require a whole lot of work and sacrifices.
The young Warrau grew up in what he described as the average Indigenous family. He was surrounded by family and taught the values of life and the importance of education. He is always trying to learn something new.
He spent his childhood with his family where he learned the importance of growing your own food and also doing the cassava process, which he can now boast vast knowledge of.
“As a student, I remember rowing my own dug-out canoe with my name painted on it. It was made by my dad and it was special. Some days I walked to school, which is roughly 2-3 miles from where I lived,” he recounted.
Henry is very proud of his Indigenous heritage and thinks that the lack of knowledge of Indigenous culture and traditions are major contributors to the marginalisation among ethnic groups in Guyana.
“It is evident that our traditional knowledge/practises still play an important part in our modern society. Our cultural beliefs which we hold in esteem, I believe, should not be labelled as just superstition. Some of our practices not only help us to lead peaceful lives but also take care of our bodies. Our traditional knowledge has oftentimes been disregarded as just beliefs. But take for instance our ‘bush’ medicines which have been proven time and time again to be effective in fighting off various illnesses. If researched and further developed, (bush medicine) can be essential in helping the wider society,” the youth posited.
For him, Heritage Month is the time when everybody comes together to celebrate the rich culture. For him, September has helped him a lot in understanding more about the Indigenous culture and ancient practices which are not only interesting but can also teach values and life principles.
However, this year will be a lot different since the world is currently battling the global coronavirus pandemic.
As COVID-19 cases began rising in the Moruca Sub-Region, one of Henry’s friends came up with an idea to start an online group to spread education and awareness on the virus. He worked with the group and created a few education and awareness videos on COVID-19 which were shared on social media.
“I would say never give up on your dreams no matter how hard it might seem. Value your education and grab every opportunity you can. Sometimes we might fail but never be afraid to try again and finally, never forget your roots, let’s preserve our rich culture and tradition,” he advised young people.