Luca Khouri's gold-medal-winning photograph, 'Everybody chooses their own path'.

If you were to pass him on the street, you'd probably think he was just your average, run-of-the-mill 14-year-old. And he is, to most people. But in the eyes of photography buffs, Luca Khouri could just be the next big thing.

And, he couldn't have hoped for a better start. Last Sunday, Luca won three medals at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's (JCDC) visual arts competition. He had entered three photographs in the 12-14-year-olds category and was awarded gold, silver and bronze medals for his efforts. He was also named most outstanding youth entrant of the competition. Not bad for a guy who still isn't old enough to drive.

So, as we sat on an outside balcony at his home in St Andrew, on Thursday, Luca started talking about his love for taking pictures. He smiled wide, exposing, in one grin, his retainers, and his age.

"I just really like it. I started with my sister's camera when I was about 10. Since then, I've just been reading more about it and trying to learn as much as I can," he said.

small potatoes

Luca entered the JCDC competition for the first time, last year, and was encouraged by the two certificates of participation he received. Of course, having walked away with three medals and three trophies this year, those certificates must now seem like small potatoes. He smiled wide at the suggestion, but chose not to admit it.

"I was just happy about winning. The certificates I got made me want to enter again," he said.

Those certificates, it seems, helped develop Luca's already burgeoning passion for photography. At the time, he had been using a small, point-and-shoot camera, but, after doing some reading on the Internet, he decided he needed better equipment. The camera he wanted though, a Nikon D-90, was quite pricey. So, like any self-respecting teenage boy, Luca entered into intense negotiations with his parents. The deal they struck would allow him to get the camera, if he was able to come up with half the cost. A tall order for a 14-year-old, but Luca had a plan. First, he sold the camera he already had. That gave him almost half the amount he needed. Then, he started selling copies of his favourite shots to friends of his family. He's particularly proud that one of the photographs he sold is now hanging in the lobby of St Andrew's Spanish Court Hotel.

"It made me feel better to help pay for the camera myself. I know it was expensive, so I felt good to help my parents," he said.

Soon, Luca came up with half the cost of the camera, thereby fulfilling his end of the bargain. His parents, then fulfilled theirs.

"I was really happy when I got the new camera. I knew I could do so much more with it and try new things."

Now, for most parents, placing expensive camera equipment into the hands of a wide-eyed 14-year-old is a masochistic folly akin to refusing anaesthetics during gall bladder surgery, but Luca's mom, Alessandra, had a good feeling about the situation.

"We could see his passion for photography from very early. He picked it up at the photography club at his school (Hillel Academy) and since then, he has just really been into it," she said, gleefully.

"We encouraged him to enter the competition last year and were really pleased with the certificates. We were ecstatic when we found out how well he did this year. We couldn't be more proud of him."

Luca too, is proud, though you have to prod him to talk about it. You'll hear no bragging from this soft-spoken shutterbug, but you do see great pride in his eyes. He's quick to point out to anyone who congratulates him, that his friend Victoria McKenzie, won gold in the 15-18-year-olds category of the contest. "I think her picture was really wonderful," he said.

So, as Luca silently enjoys his near sweep of the competition this year, he is already planning on coming back for more, next year. And, by the looks of things, all other potential contestants will have a fight on their hands. "I don't know what my entry will be yet, but I know it will have to be good!"

Photo by Robert Lalahrobert.lalah@gleanerjm.com