Beyond the Lens | Photographing possibilities with Rev Almighty

American basketball player John Wooden once expressed, “The most important thing in the world is family and love.” Keeping the score at two points ahead of life by photographing endless possibilities, is Akeim Mosely.

Mosely grew up in a big family, travelling between Kingston and Spanish Town. He told Beyond the Lens that his family life afforded him the opportunity to see both ends of the spectrum, which consequently made him a balanced person.

Receiving support from home was the order of the day. So it came as no surprise that it was family that got him acquainted with his love for photography.

“I was introduced to photography by my sister. I was looking for something to do one summer, and she had a friend who wanted help with photography for his company. He was offering training on the job, so it sounded like a good opportunity,” he said.

Mosley went for it, but discovered that photography was far from what he expected. It was a lot harder than it looked. It took all day, and he admitted that he was one who thought the skill was just ‘point and shoot’. Boy, was he wrong!

Starting from scratch, he was in awe of both its complexity and artistry.

“Slowly, I realised how much I enjoyed the challenge it presented and the ability it gave me to express myself, while showing how I tend to see things.”

Mosely started taking photography seriously when the time arrived for him to go to school. Admitting that he was stubborn by nature, he decided that since he was being compensated for his work, it seemed best to pay his way through school, pursuing what he wanted to study while continuing his growth in the creative arts. But it turns out that the more he did photography, the more he fell in love with it. This encouraged Mosley to keep going full-time and see how far he could push his imagination. In order to do more, he needed capital, so he made the transition from one ‘p’ to another: passion to profession.

Seven years later, there’s no looking back for this talented artist.

Specialising in urban and lifestyle photography, he revels in capturing moments in their natural form, living in every emotion and expression and snapping away for all to see and enjoy for a long time to come.

“I like being a part of that process,” he said.

Adding new experiences, meeting new people, and learning new things, he says that the journey has been bittersweet, but one that is definitely worth it.

The name Rev Almighty, resonated with him as a daily reminder that there is nothing he can’t do if you set your mind to it.

The young entrepreneur revealed, that venturing into the field has taught him adaptability, taking steps to make the best out of any situation that comes and trusting the process.

“What I love about photography is the ability to really create a vision I have, or help create that vision for someone else. It’s a beautiful thing seeing an idea manifest itself into action. And, of course, the ability to connect with people is priceless.”

A major obstacle that Mosely has encountered thus far, however, is access, but he moves forward in bringing a concept to life, despite setbacks like time and location.

Persons, he also highlighted, believe that photography is easy to do professionally – he can tell you at first hand that this is not the case. A lot of moments, he says, are just that, and if it is missed, it isn’t something that can ever be recreated naturally.

As far as work stations go, studios are beneficial because it is a controlled environment and the incorporation of props is always a plus in that setting, but he prefers outdoor shoots, as he says, “you get to interact with nature and utilise your surroundings”.

Added bonus: he gets to use natural light, a great love of his.

The once Canon shooter, has since made the switch to Sony and says that there are no regrets.

He is looking forward to collaborating in the near future with other photographers and videographers as well as artists and designers. He also recently launched Focus Media with his business partner, providing full photography and videography services.

His advice to aspiring photographers, is to start with the basics, “Understand what you want to do first, and what you’re trying to achieve, because photography is broad. Don’t focus on equipment. Do your research first and grow from there.”

Mosely’s work can be found on Instagram: @revalmighty or he can be contacted via email: Revalmightyphotography@gmail.com.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com