Then Prime Minister Michael Manley (left) was lifted bodily on stage, followed by the Opposition Leader Edward Seaga (right) in full view of everyone.
-Contributed photo
Howard Moo Young, Contributor
TODAY WE
celebrate the 60th anniversary of Jamaica's number one reggae icon and
greatest musical
ambassador ever, the Hon. Robert Nesta Marley, C.D. Internationally known as 'Bob Marley', he literally introduced Jamaica to
millions worldwide no matter where they lived, what language they spoke, and despite their lot in life.
Bob Marley is the best known Jamaican who has ever lived, and I had the privilege of meeting him for the first time, during the planning of the
historical 'One Love Peace Concert' in 1978. As I attended the early morning rehearsals, I could, from these sessions, sense the interpretation of every word and musical note emanating from this genius, feel the sheer emotional power of this living dynamo that was about to explode at the National Stadium within a few nights.
VIBES
Every accompanying musician in that room held the highest
respect for this world-renowned creative writer, musician and prophet. As the
instruments harmonised
to produce the pulsating background for this unique voice, I felt the vibes beginning to flow from that house on Strawberry Hill, giving a warning of what was to come.
At the time, my job in creating the posters and advertisements to announce the concert
provided the opportunity to work along with the Peace Committee,
including the High Priest of The Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Bob Marley, Claudius Massop, Buckie Marshall,
and other group members. I had never photographed Bob before, and so I looked forward to getting my first opportunity behind the
camera, come the night of the Peace Concert.
Stanley Motta Ltd., agents for Kodak in Jamaica at the time, was about to introduce the new Kodacolor 400 ASA film to the Caribbean. They released
samples of this, the fastest colour negative film ever made then, and rolls were being given out to selected photographers for testing. I received one roll of 36 frames which I planned to use at the concert. I had to make an important decision regarding my choice of camera and lens for that night. This was my first time, and probably my last of capturing Bob's image on film.
One camera! One lens! One filter (the star filter)! One roll of film! That was my final decision! My choice camera was a Nikon F 35mm SLR with a 85mm 1.8 Nikkor-H lens which I still have in my possession. The film was the same roll given to me for testing and I deliberately left my flash unit at home, hoping to take advantage of the colourful stage lights which was to illuminate the entire show. You might call me 'crazy' for not taking at least 6 rolls of film to an event of this magnitude.
THE GRAND EVENT
The National Stadium buzzed with activity as thousands of Jamaicans and foreigners started to fill the grandstand and bleachers from very early, overflowing on to the football field below the stage area where dignitaries and specially-invited guests were seated as VIPs. Security was tight all around, as the atmosphere became charged with anticipation of the evening's events. History, most certainly, was about to be made.
I positioned myself in front of the main stage with the many other photographers who were laden with equipment that made me look like I was wasting my time. However, I remained focused with one intention capturing the King of Reggae in action, the man who wanted to bring 'Peace', himself having recently been a target for gunmen. Nothing else mattered, and having seen Bob only on TV clips and during rehearsals, I did not know what to expect.
For the first part of the concert featuring other friends for 'Peace', I used approximately half of my roll to capture Peter Tosh, Jacob Miller, Big Youth, some Rastafarian dancers and others, while bearing in mind that the best was yet to come. Making very sure that every frame counted, I took no chances and wasted no pictures. Midway through my only roll, I decided to save the rest of the frames for Bob Marley.
I am glad that I stopped when I did, as probably the most important images I have ever taken in my lifetime were about to unfold, and I had less than one roll left. The man himself appeared on stage in a custom, hand-sewn 'Joseph Coat' of the blazing Rastafarian colours of red, green and gold, with microphone in hand, to the pulsating bass of the reggae beat. As the colours blazed under the flashing stage lights with the entire stadium on its feet, I gently raised my camera to check composition, exposure and shutter speed. The reading looked good and the distance was perfect, remember that I
didn't have a zoom lens, my lens was fixed.
I was mesmerised looking through the viewfinder on Bob performing, and after capturing him in various positions, was tempted many times to finish the roll, but I didn't. I had an intuition that something was about to happen. Close to me, the sound of motor drives hummed, as photographers went through rolls and rolls of film, but a voice within commanded me to
"Stay put! Don't finish your roll!"
Before I knew it, the Prime Minister, Michael Manley, was lifted bodily on stage, followed by the Opposition Leader, Edward Seaga in full view of every individual in that Stadium. Shouts of "One Love! One Love! Peace!"... erupted, echoing across Long Mountain, Up Park Camp and the Liguanea Plains. As long as I live, I have never and will never forget those moments. I had to keep my
camera as steady as possible, remember I did not want to use, nor did I have my flash.
The minutes to follow were unplanned and certainly not a part of the programme, and caught everyone by surprise. As Bob held the hands of both
leaders and brought them
together, I just calmly composed my photo image, stayed focused, and prayed that the exposures on my one roll of film were dead-on. I captured the entire sequence of events that were to turn the tide in my photography career.
RAN OUT OF FILM
Around me, some photographers ran out of film and went berserk trying to borrow anything, black-and-white, colour or slide film. They failed to capture the most important moments of this concert that would never be repeated in life. The next day, I waited with bated breath for the results from the photo lab. I breathed a sigh of relief as I viewed the contact sheet. Each image came out perfect with great colour and saturation, they were all winners!
One year later, I captured the silver medal for Portraiture in the 1979 Commonwealth Photography Exhibition held in Edmonton, Canada, with a photograph of Bob Marley from that very same Peace Concert. In 1982, I was awarded two gold medals in the Festival National Photography Competition for two different portraits of Bob, all from the same 'one roll'. Today, I still treasure these negatives which have remained in excellent condition, and from which I now share with you.
Bob always sang "Yu a go tired fi see mi face..." today, the world sings 'One love!'
All photographs were taken at the historic 1978 'One Love Peace Concert' held at the National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica by Howard Moo Young. Howard Moo Young is an advertising/graphic design/
photography consultant with over 40 years experience.
Please send your comments to mooimages@yahoo.com.
