A contest with a twist is making waves on social media.

Photographer Ameer Hosein has put his own spin on a photography challenge. The original challenge is to photograph a model on location in five minutes with no preparation time.

Hosein has taken it a step further, as he incorporates budding photographers and uses locations across TT.

He said, “I wanted to put my own local flavour on the challenge, while giving up-and-coming-photographers an opportunity for exposure.”

Hosein, 28, lives in Las Lomas. The eldest of his mother’s three children, he grew up with his grandmother, as his mother, who made Carnival costumes, travelled frequently. His father died when he was ten.

He attended the Las Lomas RC Primary School, then ASJA Boys’ College in Charlieville.“After that I never went back to school again. As a creative person, a classroom ties me down.”

Instead, Hosein did a photography course taught by Gary Jordan.

His uncle Ecliff Elie, a local clothing designer who specialises in men’s suits, saw an ad for the course. He offered to pay for Hosein to do it. In the end they both did it, “which has helped both him and me get to where we are now.

[caption id="attachment_948204" align="alignnone" width="684"] Terincya Owen, Ameer Hosein’s model from the first episode of his photo challenge series, at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain. Photo courtesy Ameer Hosein[/caption]

“After I finished school I bought myself a camera. I’m not good with my hands, but it just so happened that my artistic and creative talent is photography.”

Hosein has now been a professional photographer for ten years.“I don’t even like cricket or sports, but the first job I had was to shoot a cricket match for lime.tt.”

While he says he can photograph anything, he has a passion for fashion photography.

“You can tell a story with clothing and emotion. That is what I like to capture.

“As a photographer I always say, ‘I don’t shoot pictures; I shoot emotions, I don’t sell pictures; I sell an experience,’”

Hosein has worked with personalities and brands such as Elie, Destra Garcia, Keshorn Walcott and Desha Rambajan. His pictures are used in commercials, websites and publicity campaigns.

He has over 11,000 followers on Instagram and his photo challenge series has exceeded 3,000 views per episode. While there is no prize for being featured in his series, photographers gain experience, exposure and job opportunities.

[caption id="attachment_948207" align="alignnone" width="819"] Ameer Hosein's photograph of Kess the Illusionist with a white dove. Photo courtesy Ameer Hosein[/caption]

Asked what he does to get ready for a photo shoot, he said, “I have anxiety. Before any shoot I take a very hot or cold shower, which sort of gets me into character.”

Hosein said he becomes a different person behind the camera.“There is a difference between Ameer, and Ameer Hosein. Ameer Hosein has a bunch of energy, he could put on a s