Snake, alligator encounter did not stop photographer from capturing winning shot

Kevon Lorrimer of Linden embodies the Fred R. Barnard phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words”. His snap-and -share photo, which hides the proximity of two fearsome creatures in the waters, has earned him the winner’s accolade in Guyana’s 58th Independence “Snap and Share” photography competition hosted by the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry.
Lorrimer’s winning photograph captures his beloved daughter in a canoe with her pet monkey surrounded by water. During an interview with Guyana Times, Lorrimer shared the fascinating journey that led him to triumph in the competition, which commenced with a series of coincidental events on Mother’s Day.
“On the evening of May 12th, my wife Shavy Lorrimer and I were in the hall of our home, chatting as usual when I came across the Ministry of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Snap and Share 58th Independence Photography Competition on Facebook,” he disclosed.

He added, “I turned to Shavanne and said, ‘Let’s go take a quick photo and post it’, and she was like, ‘Man, me ain’t able. Plus, last year you post one and you ain’t even get to the finals, much less win. Plus, it got nuff professional photographers with top cameras gon be in that competition, so duh go tight’.”
Although he nodded in agreement, his resilient spirit refused to accept defeat.
“No Kevon, try yuh luck,” he encouraged himself. “I said to myself, ‘Self,’ and self said, “Hmm,” so I said, ‘Me going and tek a pitcha and post it’.”
Inspired, Lorrimer went outside, and saw his daughter in pampers and their pet monkey Ceasar playing together, and an idea struck him.
“I went outside thinking of an idea, while I saw little Princess Kimberly running in the yard with her bare pampers as usual, while our pet monkey Ceasar was playing in the yard too,” he disclosed. He recounted that he looked at them thinking of something ecotourism-like, and he went on to clothe his daughter with a little yellow flowered dress.

“I grabbed little Kim, Ceasar, the yellow dress and called my big son Kevin and said, ‘Let’s go at the lake located in our backyard to take a picture’, and we all went,” he said. What proceeded was a series of events straight out of a suspense novel. As they prepared for the photograph, Lorrimer said, he placed his daughter Kimberly in the boat with Ceasar perched on her shoulders.
“While Kevin was steadying the boat so I could get a proper snap, the biggest labaria snake I’ve seen in my life decided to cross between me in the lake and the land. Snakey just pass by and ain’t got no time with we,” he disclosed.

However, this was just chapter one in their wildlife encounters.
“After taking the pic and coming out the lake, when I look back, a nice little 30-pound alligator deh watching yuh bai all de time in de lake and ain’t seh nunt. When I was on my way up, one big fat agouti ran past right in front of us, and I was like, ‘What is really happening here? Is where all dem wildlife coming out from now?’.”
Despite these harrowing experiences, Lorrimer posted his photo for the competition without imagining it would win.
“I posted the picture for the competition without a slight imagination that this photo will emerge as the winning photo after competing with over 1,000 beautiful photographs around Guyana from amongst professional photographers, and walking away with over $1M in cash and prizes,” he disclosed.
Reflecting on his journey, Lorrimer drew a parallel to the perseverance of Jesus. “My message is that Jesus fell 12 times before He reached His destination, which was to die for our sins. Although He fell so many times, He didn’t give up because He knew His intentions were to save us,” Lorrimer humbly stated.
On this point, he added that when you desire something, never give up, despite the circumstances.
“Believe in yourself. And most of all, realize that only God’s time is the right time,” he advised.
Amidst Lorrimer’s passion which manifests itself within the lenses of his Android device, he has expressed his commitment to eco-tourism by saying, “Videography and photography are always my passions, but I am now more focused on the eco-tourism sector of my beautiful country Guyana, which I will now pursue.”
Organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the competition aimed to celebrate Guyana’s natural beauty and promote eco-tourism through photography. This year’s contest saw over 1,000 entries from professional and amateur photographers alike, showcasing breathtaking landscapes, vibrant wildlife, and the rich cultural tapestry of Guyana.
Participants competed for over $1M in prizes, with the top 20 photos receiving special recognition. The competition highlighted the diverse talents of Guyanese photographers and underscored the importance of preserving the country’s natural heritage for future generations.
Lorrimer’s winning photo, capturing the essence of eco-tourism and the unexpected adventures in his own backyard, stood out among the entries, earning him the top prize and the admiration of many. (G2)