Culture is a rich combination of sights, sounds, feelings, stories and events that people categorize, measure, document, and celebrate. 

To me, culture is made up of people and their stories. These stories are composed of life experiences, relationships, failures, and triumphs.

In today's social media-driven culture, we are programmed to appreciate false realities, disconnecting us from real people and their stories. We are so concerned with self-image for a simple pat on the back while amazing things are occurring in the present culture.

Culture is a rich combination of sights, sounds, feelings, stories, and events that people categorize, measure, document, and celebrate. The Bahamas has stories that need to be told to the masses. These stories are valuable and captivating, and we must maintain them, or we will lose our identity if the present generation does not preserve them.

WE WILL LOSE OUR IDENTITY AND CULTURE IF THE PRESENT GENERATION DOES NOT PRESERVE THEM.

SCHARAD LIGHTBOURNE

THIS BOOK WILL CONTAIN PORTRAITS FEATURING INCREDIBLE BAHAMIANS WITH EXTRODINARY STORIES. 

This project is dedicated to documenting Bahamians from diverse backgrounds through my unique approach to portrait photography. The individuals selected for this project will share their life stories, which I will interpret, translate, and transform into captivating portrait concepts.

I believe it’s essential to give the audience insight into the artist’s creative process. Therefore, the entire project will be documented through videos and photos, capturing every stage of the journey. These will be compiled into a final documentary that showcases the project from start to finish.

The participants in this book reside in various parts of the US, Canada, the Caribbean, and The Bahamas. The goal is not to photograph everyone in The Bahamas but to capture them in their current environments, utilizing local resources to achieve the high quality expected.

This comprehensive coffee table book will not only feature their portraits and stories but also offer a unique perspective on the creative process behind each concept. The blend of these elements will create a dynamic, creative, and intriguing experience for the reader.

Steven Gardiner, Bahamian Olympian

SUBMIT INDIVIDUALS FOR THE ARCHIPELAGO SERIES

Photographer Scharad Lightbourne is asking for the submission of memorable, iconic, engaging, influential, and thought-provoking persons. The persons can be of any sex, age, race, or background and live in or outside The Bahamas. See additional criteria here.

BRENFORD HALL. Celebrity Chef (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

BRENFORD HALL. Celebrity Chef

CHRYSTAL BETHEL. Actor (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

CHRYSTAL BETHEL. Actor

Craig Flowers: Businessman (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

CRAIG FLOWERS: Businessman

COURTNEY DAMES. Ballerina (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

COURTNEY DAMES. Ballerina

SEAN FERGUSON. Celebrity DJ (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

SEAN FERGUSON. Celebrity DJ

REXY ROLLE. Businesswoman (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

REXY ROLLE. Businesswoman

STEVEN GARDINER. Olympian (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

STEVEN GARDINER. Olympian

FRANCINE RUSSELL. Historian (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

FRANCINE RUSSELL. Historian

NIGEL BOWER. Entrepreneur (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

NIGEL BOWER. Entrepreneur

AISHA BOWE. Aerospace Engineer (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

AISHA BOWE. Aerospace Engineer

ALLAN WALLACE. Artist (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

ALLAN WALLACE. Artist

LORETTA BUTLER - TURNER. Politics (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

LORETTA BUTLER - TURNER. Politics

ANDRE MUSGROVE: Underwater Photographer (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

ANDRE MUSGROVE: Underwater Photographer

MYLES MUNROE: Religion (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

MYLES MUNROE: Religion

THEO SEALY: Fashion Designer (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

THEO SEALY: Fashion Designer