Taking aim at photography on a higher level

Mar 23, 2014 News

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– the captivating efforts of John Greene

By Kiana Wilburg
From the most photogenic young ladies to breathtaking landscapes, John Greene is on a mission to capture it all. International standards in photography are a guarantee with him. And our corporate world is now “going Greene.” The 32-year-old works for a number of major companies locally and has carved out a path to becoming a standout in photography locally.
Even with the ever-evolving technological advancements in the world of photography, many insist that what separates this “artist” from his competitors is his sound vision and attention to detail. But getting to this point, Greene asserts, is absolute proof that God was on his side. Today, he firmly believes that he was destined to be a photographer.

However, growing up, Greene was no angel. In fact, the threat of the belt and a few “hot lashes” weren’t enough to prevent him from being opinionated and stubborn. Those qualities coupled with a disregard for personal development at the time, lead Greene down a very bleak path.
The now endowed photographer attended Ketley Primary School and then progressed to Dolphin Secondary. At the time he resided in Albouystown, Georgetown, with his mother and father, Carmen and John Henry Greene. He is the last of four children, with two brothers and one sister being his siblings.
“I remember growing up in Albouystown in a tenement yard. Things were rough. My father was a trader but unfortunately, he died in a motorcycle accident. My mother and father were always strict on my getting an education, but I was always stubborn. I got caught up with the wrong company and just got lax when it came to school work. My sister and other siblings loved studying, but I just got caught up with the distractions. I wouldn’t say I was a disgusting child, but I was pretty hard to deal with at times. When I got out of high school I was drinking heavily and cursing a lot and it was depressing for me,” Greene reflected.
“Unfortunately, the environment was turning me into something I was not proud of, and I had the power to change that. Sometimes I was reflecting on my future and what I wanted and realized that I couldn’t get those things if I didn’t study. I remember telling myself that I want a beautiful wife and children, but how am I going to provide for them when I am not taking my education seriously. Those fundamental questions I couldn’t adequately answer and it slapped me in the face. It was a wake-up call and I needed to change. From that point on I stopped cursing and drinking for good. It was time to make a serious turn around in my life.”
Eventually, the Greene family moved to Kitty in Central Georgetown, where the photographer insisted was like “a breath of fresh air.”
“It was different. New friends and so on, and I felt I needed the change in the environment. It did well for me. My family and I got involved in the church and we became devoted Christians. I was happy and sad to move away from the area. I realized that I needed to change, but I had friends in that neighbourhood, and it was sad to see that they were not focused. Getting into the wrong things and not realizing that they don’t have to be stifled by what is surrounding them. I know what it feels like to be in that position. If you stay in an area for too it long feels like you are stagnant with no hope to get out.”

DISCOVERING PHOTOGRAPHY
After turning his life over to God, Greene found some clarity. He then landed himself a job at Gizmos and Gadgets as a phone technician. He turned out to be the lead technician at the company as he became very popular with even some important people.
“The job was great. I learned a lot and it brought me in contact with some really interesting people. Ministers were always calling and I was fixing phones for almost every well-known person you can think about in Guyana, even the President. But even though I was making loads of money, I was not happy with it. The numerous calls became too much for me to bear. I was not doing something I truly loved but rather because it was profitable.

“I was really hoping and looking to find something I would fall in love with. One day I took a regular camera and I took a picture of a leaf in my backyard. That was an ordinary moment but it was the defining moment of my life. I started taking my camera to work and taking pictures of some of my pretty friends in the Glamour Boutique. Things just started hitting off from there. Then I did some shots for the company and soon enough, people wanted to know, who was this John Greene?”
Eventually, Greene started getting calls for private shoots, from company bosses and models. The word began to spread about his artistry when it comes to photography.
After developing his image over the past three years, he has been a favourite with many government officials, particularly Ministers, and has done countless photo shoots. He has done work for Digicel, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and a number of local beauty queens and entertainers.
“I am passionate about what I am doing, even when I am doing my favourite things like reading and swimming, I’ve got photography on my mind. There are some people who get lucky with photos, but it isn’t about getting lucky for me. It’s about planning and having a vision. You can have the most expensive camera; if you don’t have a vision then you are leaving too much to chance. And your models or whoever you are working with can tell when you are working without a plan. It’s kind of bad for business.”
“I can’t stand delivering mediocrity to my clients. It is out of the question for me. I have such a vivid imagination, that let’s say I have to do a shoot with a model, I can basically picture her with whatever clothing that would be best for my shoot and know exactly what I want to be delivered. I am a humble artist who enjoys bringing visions to life and capturing them.”
The talented photographer expressed as well that he is working on a project that has never been attempted before in Guyana. I promised to keep it confidential.

PRIVATE
John is happily married to both photography and his wholly appreciative wife, Alicia.
He wished to remain private about his married life, but couldn’t help but admit his undying love and appreciation for the never-ending support of his lovely spouse.
Having to compete with a husband’s job may not be the easiest of challenges for many wives, but Greene admits that his wife understands his dreams and she is of course a major part of it.
“I am totally in love with the support my wife gives me. And sometimes we don’t acknowledge the role our wives play in keeping us focused. She has been supportive of my dreams and has not complained. I can’t ask for anything more. I have had the most stressful days sometimes and I don’t know how I would have made it through without her. That woman is my soul mate and I cherish the day she walked into my life. She completes me. And I am man enough to admit that,” Greene expressed with a wide smile on his face.
Today, he has a sustainable and profitable business doing what he loves just as much as his wife —photography.

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