Dear Editor,
With all respect to Ms. Ashma John, I have to disagree with most of her review of Carpe Diem `Carpe Diem? Maybe not…’, as published in Saturday’s Stabroek News. I am the photographer whose photos are featured in the article, and it should be noted that they were taken without expectation of payment or reward. My love of the unique designs and vibrant colours that are the trademark of this designer led me on bended knees to beg permission to cover Carpe Diem, and the show certainly did not disappoint.
The creativity, energy, planning, and choreography that went into the show were evident from the start, when even the persistent passing showers decided that it was time to hold up and have a look.
The designs showcased included new, fresh pieces for all age groups and body types, and except for one spectacularly revealing piece, could all be worn by real people. Not many designers can make this claim.
Even though I had the self-assigned task of photographing the more than 160 pieces on display within the fifty-minute time frame, I was one of those who wished for even more, and this was evident also by the crowd reaction.
The on-line reaction to the photos has been overwhelming, with hundreds of “likes” and views from across the globe, and not one negative comment. Why not view more photos from the show and decide for yourself whether the collection is lacking youthfulness? Link here: http://tinyurl.com/qj7rvcx. Rather than make disparaging remarks about the venue, it would be better to appreciate the beauty of the historical architecture, its central location with easy access, and to commend the models, many of whom are not professionals in the field, for their ability to negotiate the paving stones, even though I do concur that they may not be the most ideal runway surface.
I will not touch on any of the other comments in the article, as I am not sure that we were at the same fashion event. Maybe the writer failed to secure a good vantage point, or was wearing the wrong sight enhancing eyewear, but it is pretty clear by the article that she did not “Carpe vision” which may or may not mean “Seize the Vision” – but then again, I didn’t check the urban dictionary.
Yours faithfully,
Amanda Richards
