Jaryd Niles-Morris is a Barbadian photographer whose work spans several genres; from editorial to portrait to still life. Regardless of the subject on which he’s trained his lens, his photographs are always evocative and captivating. It’s clear, looking at his work, that there is a meticulous deliberateness to every piece he creates.
The list of local public figures that Niles-Morris has photographed is impressive; Akela Jones, Chelsea Tuach, 2 Mille Hill, DJ Puffy, former Miss Barbados Universe winners Shanel Ifill and Shannon Harris, and Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, just to name a few.
He has hosted his own art shows – like Chop Suey in 2018 – and been featured in exhibitions like Typically Tropical, in 2017, and the neXus 2020 art exchange, both in the U.K.
In 2013 he appeared in season nine of Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model, photographing the final four contestants during a challenge at the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre.
He’s won a few ADDY Awards and been nominated for Photographer of the Year at the Gine On?! People’s Choice Awards twice, as well as for Visual Artist of the Year and Short Film/Documentary of the Year.
What sparked your interest in photography?
I have always been interested in creating. I used to draw and create stories. I draw very little these days; more stick men and quick sketches. I wrote some fantasy and lots of action hero type stuff with my friend [Barbadian comic creator] Delvin Howell. I still live in the fantasy/sci-fi genre since many of my [photoshoots] kind of reflect those kinds of ideas.
I was introduced to photography at [the Barbados Community College] and it was a medium that was a lot faster at bringing ideas to life, so I leaned into it. I do sometimes make up stories for characters and ideas. I am a fan of creating a good back story so the talent [in front of the camera] can use it to build a character and lend something extra to their “performance”. I don’t do it for every shoot, but sometimes it’s useful.
An image doesn’t need to have a story in my opinion. It could be a feeling and the viewer uses that to create their own story.
What has been your proudest moment as a photographer thus far?
Pride is so fleeting for me. I am always looking [toward] the next project. I am definitely always on to the next one, probably to a fault. I don’t really dwell [on past projects] because there is so much to explore.
Who is the one creative, alive or dead, that you would love to work with?
Only one? That is a hard one.
Maybe Fabian Baron. He used to be my favourite Art Director but there is a long list. Ye is in there too.
Baron’s work was next level. [He] was really great at putting image and design together and just his creative choices were very unique. Not too long ago amazing work was not so easy to find so I ate him up.
Ye is a genius.
What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
The greatest lesson is to manage your money. It’s a lot easier to create when you have a budget and you can do better work. Life is also a real drag when you are broke.
What other careers did you consider, if any? Why did you ultimately choose not to pursue them?
I wanted to be a biologist. I like science and animals. That may have been the direction I would have pursued, but since I got into art school I just decided to try my hand at that.
[I found photography] very serendipitously. I have no idea what I would have been doing [if I hadn’t gotten into art school]. That is a very far cry from the reality of this universe.
