This post is in response to 's original contest posting seen here and associated photo post corresponding with the contest. There was some awesome participation in this irie contest, so much thanks and BIG ups to the entire ReggaeSteem community for their efforts on this one.
The winners post will be drafted and posted tomorrow upon post payout after the JAHM has been distributed to each of the ten (10) contestants. All of the stories were JAHMin in their own unique way and it was interesting to see how one photo could have such a variation in perspectives and viewpoints.
Now, here is the real story and photo from this Contest:
Conradsuperb, Scuba Steve, Jon-O, Jermaine, the 7-mile, Negril, Jamaica, 2014
The story goes like this. Scuba Steve (my best friend) and I were on a vacation with my dad . He took us to Negril, Jamaica as a graduation present. We had just graduated high school, and it was the summer before I went off to college and Steve went off to join the United States Navy. We were seriously enjoying our time, especially Steve since this was his first time being out of the United States. We showed him the ropes - how to talk to people, interact, and engage with the locals; how to bargain, makes irie deals, and show respect, as the locals always do.
We were walking the beach, just Steve and I, when we saw two Jamaican breddaz kicking around the futbol up by the Sandals resort. Both Steve and I had played soccer in HS and we just loved the game. The game loved us, too, and it was a great way for us to connect with the Jamaicans that happened to be playing that very day on the 7-mile. We went up to them and asked if we could join.
"Of course, yes mon, let's play!"
We kicked it around and juggled in a circle, getting it going around the horn 15-20-25 times without the ball even touching the sand. It was a cool scene. We played around for a bit, talked, and got to know the Jamaicans. They were brothers, their names Jon-O and Jermaine, and they worked for the water sports department on the beach, renting ski doos out to tourists and other water sports activities on the seven-mile. This was their living.
Scuba Steve startin' the juggle
Down the beach came strutting along with his cool, irie walk. He had his rasta belt on that the Brain Doctor had made him earlier this trip, his camera in hand snapping pics of faces and characters left and right, as he dodged from palm tree to palm tree catching quick glimpses of shade. He blended in with the locals even though you could tell he was a tourist by the color of his skin. He took this very picture of us. The picture that was used in this contest as a means of personal expression. Who would have thought this photo would have ended up on ReggaeSteem? Certainly not I,
, Scuba Steve, or the Jamaican breddaz for that matter.
Original Contest Photo
The next day we were having breakfast at our favorite restaurant, Coletta's. You can almost guarantee that 95% of of the people in Coletta's at one time will be of Jamaican descent. It's a local joint. Steve, myself, and were sitting there talking, and guess who happened to walk in the door. You guessed it.
It was our Jamaican friends from yesterday's irie scene on the beach. We told them to come take a seat with us and enjoy breakfast. It was on . He's pretty much always good for that. We sat there, talked, and enjoyed our breakfast with our new Jamaican friends, all because Steve and I had a love for the game, and we were able to share this onelove with Jon-O and Jermaine.
Jon-O and Jermaine
I hope you all enjoyed this real, true story of the photo that was used for this irie contest, courtesy of