Media Colleagues Bid Farewell To A Friend

As many are aware, veteran photojournalist Tamell Simons passed away on Thursday night following a battle with cancer.

Today’s issue of The Royal Gazette contains a heartfelt tribute to the 47-year-old, who worked for the daily newspaper for 20 years capturing countless moments in local history. Those behind the camera often go unnoticed, but there is no doubt Tamell was a quiet giant of our industry.

In addition to his work within the media, Tamell was the creative force behind the ‘A Date With Destiny’ book, volunteered his services for charitable causes and mentored many up and coming photojournalists.

Tamell worked with clients at the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute in a programme titled “PhotoVoice,” and also launched a youth camera club “Through the Lens: See What they See” which was aimed at providing a creative outlet to help keep young people out of trouble.

An award winning photographer, Tamell earned a number of distinctions through his career, and was named to the Queen’s Honours List in 2002. Politicians from both sides of the aisle paid tribute to Tamell yesterday in the House of Assembly, and today’s newspaper contains some of those tributes as well as many from staff that worked alongside Tamell for many years.

In announcing his death on Thursday night, his good friend and fellow Royal Gazette photojournalist Glenn Tucker said, “Tonight Bermuda lost one of its most talented and beloved photographers. He was a teacher, a friend, my close brother. He would give you the shirt off his back, a real photographer’s photographer who believed in charitable works.”

Speaking with us, Glenn recounted the help Tamell gave him in his career, “I took up my apprenticeship with Art Simons and used to develop film. Tamell saw I had an interest in photography, and took me along to photo shoots.

“The very first shoot he took me on was for AS Coopers, he taught me how to hold the reflector and to play with available light. That’s when he became my teacher,” Glenn said. “Every time he would see me after that, he would encourage me to keep up with my photography, and eventually I ended up working with him at the paper in 2004.”

“What really sums up his work, was his charity work,” Glenn said. “Everything he did, he did out of love. That’s the best way to describe Tamell.”

In this industry, regardless of media affiliation, we spend a vast amount of time together at press conferences and covering various events each day.  Tamell was always willing to lend a hand or a word of advice, and was extremely well liked within the media.

Islandstats editor Earl Basden said: “When I received the call to advise me that Tamell had passed, I reflected on the first time I met him and the advice he gave me after starting Islandstats.com.

“Tamell said, “Always keep your head up, never let anyone know if things are not going well, because remember there is always someone else worse off then you are.”

“Tamell gave me small pointers about shooting pictures, pointers that I have been using and will continue to use. Tamell will never be forgotten, I will always remember the times we shared and the advice he was always willing to share.”

ZBM cameraman Arnold Landy, who worked alongside Tamell in the field for many years, said, “He is the only one who kept us grounded, kept us focused and kept it real. We love him and we will miss him.” ZBM finished off their broadcast last night with a tribute to Tamell, which follows below.

VSB and BSN’s Mike Sharpe also paid tribute saying, “Everytime we were out on assignment, he always had a joke, was always happy, always jovial and in good spirits. We would be on a shoot, and Tamell would come in and take over, placing people for the shoot and arranging things.

“He will be a miss, at just 47 years old he had so much to live for…he is gone too soon. We have lost a dear friend, colleague, and dedicated photographer,” said the veteran sports reporter who worked with Tamell in the field for 20 years.

Bermuda Sun editor Tony McWilliam said: “I regularly encountered Tamell at news events when I was a reporter for the Bermuda Sun in the 1990s and had the pleasure of catching up with him many times since.

“He always struck me as a gentle soul; more interested in the quality of his interaction with people than gaining the upper hand over news rivals.

“His body of work shows that he was not only a technically accomplished photographer but also one who connected on a meaningful level with his subjects. His best pictures were candid shots of people.

“Tamell was a gentleman; a thoughtful and intrinsically decent human being with an inquisitive intellect and an abundance of personal charm. He will be missed by many and I offer my sincere condolences to his loved ones.”

Former editor of the Mid-Ocean News Tim Hodgson said, “Tamell Simons had the eye of an artist and the soul of a poet. During the 15 years we worked together, his images of Bermuda and Bermudians never failed to achieve a lyricism which married the likenesses he had captured with deeper, nuanced meanings.

“Essentially he told stories in light and shadow — sometimes far more eloquently and elegantly than the journalists whose words his photography accompanied.

“An artist,’ someone once said, ‘paints not what he sees, but what he thinks about what he sees’. This also applies to photography — provided, of course, the photographer is an artist. And in my experience, Tamell was one of only a handful of local photographers who fully merited this accolade.

“It was a privilege to know and work with him. His rare talents, abounding kindness and indomitable spirit have been taken from us far too early. Thinking about the experiences we shared together can’t help but put me in mind of a remark by his beloved Bob Marley — the good times of today are the sad thoughts of tomorrow.”

This afternoon Patrina “PowerGirl” Paynter played two songs, including a reggae version of Psalms 23, in tribute to Tamell and his family on Power 95. The emotional radio host said Tamell will live on through his photography.

Dwayne Caines, who also worked with Tamell for many years in his capacity as Police Media Manager, said: “Tamell was a giant among men. He always had a positive word, an inspiring quote or real conversation that I always look forward to.

“He was a student of people, a lover of earth, a friend to all and a very humble soul. Very spiritual but not overbearing, very cultural but always embracing of all.

“As a communications professional/photographer we interacted daily for about 10 years and in that time we got to know each other well. I will always remember the debates about culture, politics, and religion and the many times he would call, email, Facebook-me, and drop by my office to see if I was all right.”

Tamell was one of the first to welcome Bernews when we launched, and quickly became a friend and a constant source of advice. Whether it was recommending camera equipment and techniques or imparting some of his media knowledge gained from his 20 years in the industry, he was always a positive force.

When a member of our staff suffered a medical emergency and had to be airlifted abroad, Tamell was one of the first to call us and lend his support, despite being ill himself at that time.

That was Tamell, always quick to help, and quick to uplift. He was a very spiritual man, who always spoke of peace, love and acceptance, something he followed through with actions.

A recent post from Tamell on Facebook shows, in his own words, his outlook: “I have in my own life learned that war needs you to happen. War that comes from a person who lacks love for self is their way of reaching out for love. We personalize such aggression because we have yet to master love for self so in essence we are not far apart from those who wish us pain and suffering.

“May each person in our Bermuda seek to heal their souls on their own yet also be a part of our national healing. Want to heal your soul, want to embrace your higher self… seek the peace, seek love. Let us make a Bermuda that we are all worthy of.”

He was one of those professionals that commanded the respect of other professionals. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, his media colleagues and all his co-workers at The Royal Gazette.

- Photo via Tamell’s Facebook page, photographer unknown. Video carried by permission of ZBM

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