Visions of Community and Family Photo Exhibition Features Photographer: Jay Edokpayi

By Isabelle Veloz

Visions of Community and Family, a photo exhibition featuring photographs by Purchase Photo Club members, was recently showcased in the Visual Arts Building. One participant is an immigrant from Nigeria who is determined to make waves as an aspiring talent agent and photo company owner.

Edokpayi poses with his photograph. (Photo by Isabelle Veloz)

"There was a theme, and it was community," said Jay Edokpayi, a junior arts management major. "But for me, I don't think [a] community has to be a bunch of people. I think it can be just you and that person, like your person."

Edokpayi's photograph at the exhibition. (Photo by Isabelle Veloz)

Edokpayi added, "I like this one the most because I felt like the way he's resting his head on her chest and she's looking at the camera, but he's not, and the background is beautiful."

When asked about his start in photography, Edokpayi said, "I started photography in my senior year of high school, but freshman year of college, I got better at taking photos. It's been about two, maybe three, years."

Edokpayi continued, "I struggle with going up to people and asking them for photo shoots because I'm not very social sometimes, but I was like, 'I can't miss this chance.' I walked back and asked them to shoot."

Photos displayed at the exhibition. (Photo by Isabelle Veloz)

Edokpayi shared the story of what led him to this exhibition, after teaching himself photography and chasing his passion.

"I was born and raised in Nigeria. I moved here when I was about 11 or 12, and photography wasn't something I could do in Nigeria," he continued, "coming here and into high school, I had no friends, and I had a speaking problem which I still struggle with."

Edokpayi's brother plays a significant role in his success: "I could not be where I am without him. My brother talked to my parents and convinced them to let me come here since my parents really do not like what I'm doing, but seeing these exhibitions changed their minds a bit."

"I've been working with Jay since freshman year. I think I've always been inspired by Jay's work," said Aidan Mitchell, a theatre and performance major. "He's done a lot of good work with posing people. Working with him, he'll tell me to do things, and they'll just work. Even when I find it awkward, he'll take the photo, and it'll look sick. If I were there, Jay would probably tell me to do this. I'd be like 'no, this is awkward,' but then he'll take the photo, and it would look beautiful."

"It's not just because it's my friends," said Chris Villella, a junior theater and performance major, "I feel like when I look at the image, you can tell there's that touch of comfort that I think Jay executed really well."

Villella continued, "As I was walking around, I was really blown away because I feel like I'm reminded every day, while I'm a student here, of how talented the students are."

"Sometimes I doubt my photography skills, but my friends or my brother, they all push me to keep going," Edokpayi expressed. "For a while, I struggled with what I wanted to do in life and just struggled being out there, but with photography, I can let my talent speak for itself."