Published on November 3, 2021 at 7:28 pm
Introduction by Matthew Shaw | Photographs and captions by Michael Rakim
The first time I saw the work of Wesley Michael Rakim Edwards — who publishes his photography under the name Michael Rakim — I could tell he was a people person. I’d engage with Rakim’s imagery in the way most of us view photography these days — mostly on Instagram, his handle (@rakimism) footnoting countless captions below portraits and press photos of emerging Northeast Florida artists.
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Humble and reserved in conversation, and an admitted introvert, the 28-year-old commercial and freelance photographer doesn’t exhibit the qualities of a social butterfly, but his work reveals him to be a deft communicator capable of telling a novel-length narrative in a single image.
“[Photography] is my natural way of communicating,” Rakim told me. “I’m not the loudest person in the room or the one that’s going to be comfortable going around and introducing myself. But I try to tune into people’s energy, their style.”
If Rakim’s photos had a sonic quality, it would be a wash of pleasant ambience, the internal soundtrack of someone hyper-aware and in-tune with his surroundings.
For his Jacksonville Today photo essay, Rakim says he sought out “familiar places of solitude” around the city.
Here’s Michael:
“With a new frame of mind and focal-length — literally, since I used my Sony A7 III and 24mm-wide lens, a setup I rarely use — I wanted to create some images that really captured the atmosphere of Jacksonville Beach. By pure kismet, I ran into saxophonist Cordell Carmichael, who happened to be playing down on the beach. I listened to his set, and after I snapped a few photos, I got to listen to him tell some stories.
Experiences like that are why I love photography. It’s such a blessing to capture memories around Jacksonville.”
And now, some bonus snaps from Michael Rakim’s portfolio. (These were just too good not to show you.)
