Gareth Manning, Gleaner Writer
DELLMAR SAMUELS
FOR 26 years, Headley 'Dellmar' Samuels lived a colourful life, travelling the world and the region, capturing what has become some of the Caribbean's most cherished moments in the world of sports.
A veteran sports photographer, Samuels has stamped his mark in his field as one of the pioneers in the development of West Indian cricket photography.
He travelled to seven Cricket World Cup finals. He has earned several accolades for his work over the years, including one of Jamaica's highest honours, the Order of Distinction (O.D.) and an honour from the Press Association of Antigua and Barbuda for his contribution to West Indies cricket.
But the work of the sports photographer is not as glamorous as it may seem, Samuels warns, since the job comes with various challenges. Foremost among these is the limited demand for sports photographers locally.
He explains, however, that photographers can boost their income through regional and international media outlets. He says diversification and seeking sponsorships helps photographers boost their income.
"You can make a living out of it," he says.
Samuels has sought to diversify his income over the years, publishing his own magazine and setting up his own photographic exhibitions. He published a pictorial review of the memorable West Indies vs England 1994 series that sold over 3000 copies in England alone, and many more across the region. He has staged seven exhibitions of his photographs in the past and will stage the eighth early next year.
Additionally, Samuels says photographers should give more than is expected of them and be willing to adapt to technological changes.
He says photographic equipment is expensive, but photographers must keep up with the change to stay ahead. "You have to spend money to earn money, because [the equipment] costs a lot of money." Travelling with his Macintosh laptop and two Nikon cameras and lens are now a must, and as World Cup Cricket nears he perceives he may spend as much as US$14,000 to upgrade his equipment.
"For the past 20 years, we have been experiencing a change in photography, with the move toward computerised cameras." Moreover, technological change has made it easier for local newspapers to receive photos of almost all sporting events from the foreign press, Samuels says, and this has decreased the need for more sports photographers.
But despite these challenges, Samuels says a career in sports photography can be fulfilling both financially and experientially. But first, he says, aspirants should seek training in the art as well as in the business of photography. Understanding the business concepts, he explains, is paramount, as it helps one to understand the importance of consistency in quality. This helps one to maintain a lasting relationship with sponsors.
