GUYANA is an exceedingly enthralling country, with vigorous waterfalls cascading down rugged mountains that rear majestically in sprawling savannahs or amidst dense, almost pristine jungles.

Its flora and fauna are rare treasures that evoke a vortex of spiralling amazement, before realization besets the viewer that he/she is beholding sights that constitute one of the best kept secrets from the universe of the concrete jungle.

That, of course, is minus the garbage so ubiquitous in what is supposed to be the Garden City of Georgetown, and generally along the Low Coastal Plain.

There are indeed a number of very talented and aggressive individuals who, from time to time, would travel from distant lands to explore our tropical paradise, before returning to their climes to tell the story of Guyana’s unmatched beauty.

Not so long ago, I was fortunate to bump into an international photographer from England, who was telling brilliant stories of majestic Guyana through beautiful postcards he creates, each depicting captivating Guyana in one way or another.
Taking a look at his work, I was totally blown away by his creativity and the intricate manner in which he finished his product. I looked with great admiration at postcards showcasing the Kaieteur Falls, the Brickdam Cathedral, and aspects of our rich flora and fauna.

Ian Charles Brierley travels around the world, creating magic with his cameras and selling Guyana to the universe through his postcards. Into photography in Yorkshire, England from the early age of sixteen, Ian attended an art school and, luckily, one of the subjects on the school’s curriculum was photography.

Although a lover of the fine arts, Ian nevertheless thinks that clicking a button is the quicker and more accurate way to create an unforgettable picture.

Upon acquiring his degree in photography, Ian ventured into the field of tourism in the late 1990s, working with the British Airways doing in-flight magazines.

Ian loves his job, and is completely dedicated to it, despite the challenges it can bring at times. “My job brings me ultimate satisfaction. Taking a good photograph is rewarding, especially if it makes people happy and they buy it,” he said.

Ian’s work has taken him to Africa, Europe, USA, the Middle East, and around the Caribbean; but he has certainly taken a liking to Guyana’s compellingly alluring beauty. “I have visited many places around the globe, but I am certainly smitten by Guyana’s rich, pristine jungle; majestic mountains, and many historical landmarks,” he disclosed.

Describing himself as a photographer/adventurer, Ian said Guyana’s terrain provides him with a natural habitat to fuel and unleash his adventurous side. And he says Guyana is quite a tourist attraction, with its happy people and colourful culture.

This talented photographer attended the Percival Whitley College of Arts in Halifax, Yorkshire, England, where he did a two-year foundation course in art design. He developed on that foundation to become the celebrated photographer he is today.

In his profession, it’s always important to understand the camera and have the camera always ready, since one cannot reset a scene.
He advises aspiring photographers not to play around with the angles, but instead to get the shot first and capture the essence of the scene.

There is one little bugbear plaguing Ian: it’s very difficult for him to sell his postcards here; and, as such, he is appealing to Corporate Guyana to assist him in having his work showcased in offices and in the lobbies of banks and other commercial edifices.