By Claudienne Peterson
~ With Cameron Hyman ~
Dedicated to his photography and to Crossfit, this humble young man had a demeanour that quickly put me at ease for this interview. What I love about this story is that Cameron is a “late bloomer” in finding his passion, but that hasn’t slowed him down from being one of Sint Maarten’s top photography sensations!
How long have you been into photography?
A little over three years.
What sparked your interest in photography?
When I was studying in New York, a church friend of mine got a camera and let me use it; that’s when I got intophotography. It was fun at first. There were other seasoned photographers around me who helped me out with learning more about cameras.
How old are you?
I am 27 years old.
Is photography your full-time job?
Yes. It has been since January 2016.
What did you study in college?
Accounting and finance.
Was it scary to make the transition into photography?
Yes. I worked part-time in that field when I first returned to Sint Maarten.
What was studying in New York like?
Well, there’s winter – it’s very different than here for sure. I think that anywhere you go to study will open your mind; but New York was just a different experience.
You are also into Crossfit. Growing up, were you always into fitness?
I was always into sports. Basketball was most accessible, and I played flag football every Sunday, but now I’m also fulltime with Crossfit and have been training on a professional level for a year. I train four to six hours a day on average.
Why did you start Crossfit?
I needed some means to stay fit, and playing football on Sundays wasn’t cutting it. When I came back home from college and saw there was the BOX – that’s what we call the Crossfit gym – here, I joined.
Who introduced you to Crossfit?
I learned of it from watching TV. It’s not really like mainstream sport, but it’s big in the US, so I was glad for the opportunity to start it here.
What within Crossfit is your strong point?
What a lot of people would say that I’m good at is burpees; and what I think I’m good at is anything that involves leg endurance.
What’s your eating regimen like?
No carbs at night. I try to eat as close to Paleo as possible – some days are harder than others. I don’t drink alcohol period!
What foods are hard to resist?
Pizza – thin crust with mushrooms.
Do you cook?
Yes. I’ve been recently into sweet potato with some sort of grilled meat – chicken or steak usually.
What supplements do you take to support your competitive training?
Multivitamins, fish oil, amino acids and whey protein.
What’s your favourite protein shake flavour?
My favourite flavour is peanut butter chocolate.
What do you think people on Sint Maarten struggle with in terms of fitness?
I guess it is where to go to get information. I don’t think a lot of people know the right way to go about getting healthy. For instance, I hear various conversations in the gym; I hear women talking about eating very healthy but their focus is usually on eating lots of fruits. What they don’t know is that when you are trying to lose weight, you should avoid fruits, because fruits are sugar too, and that sugar will be converted into fat and then you are in the same place.
Have you done any Crossfit events or competitions?
I just came back from Curaçao with my training partner and friend, Alan Schet. We are the only two who really train on such a competitive level, so we went to Curaçao to train with others there on a highly competitive level. I participated in a competition last year and came out 11th out of 30 participants. Recently, in Trinidad, I came out 9th out of 35; and at Fittest on the Rock, I won six medals – silver and bronze.
Back to photography now: What makes you approach someone for a shoot? What attracts you to them?
If I know them, then personality plays a big part. Otherwise, somebody may just have a face that I really like.
How do you de-stress?
Being at the BOX is a stress relief! Also, I have certain models I do shoots with; those shoots help me de-stress.
What are your top three subjects to shoot?
First, dancers – they bring a lot of emotion to the shoots. Second, faces – faces with lines, freckles and any distinct features that draw my attention. Third, fashion – and concerning fashion on Sint Maarten, it’s easier to shoot females. I guess a lot of guys here are still into the mindset that modelling is for girls. If I could add a fourth favourite subject to shoot, it would be weddings!
Do you ever worry that you’ll run out of things or ideas to shoot?
No. I guess I have an advantage because not only do I have my own ideas; but I also work with Stacy Ann Taylor, and I don’t think she ever runs out of ideas! So between her and me, I always have something fresh to shoot.
Do you consider yourself a fashionista?
I’m a fashionista when I have to be. Some days I just prefer joggers and a T-shirt. But if I have to, I can dress up.
Tell us about your blog!
My blog is all about photography.
By the way, do you have a beauty routine?
Not really. My beard is the only thing I try to maintain where beauty is concerned.
Can you give those of us who are uncomfortable on camera some advice on how to look our best on camera?
Be yourself! That works eight out of 10 times for me. I do not order my models to pose; I let them do whatever they want and then I direct them.
Name some goals you have for yourself!
Combining both photography and fitness, I hope to eventually get the opportunity to coach at the BOX, and would like to hold photography workshops by the first half of this year.
How do you keep yourself motivated in the gym?
Having goals and seeing results really help me to stay motivated.
What would you say to people who are struggling to achieve results despite working hard at the gym and having the proper eating regimen?
There has to be something wrong with the equation. If you feel like you are eating right and you are also training enough but are not getting the right results, then there’s something wrong in the equation. Some people’s bodies respond to a high volume of exercise, and some respond to less. You need to know what works for you. My nutritionist is Antonio Gummels and he’s been a big help to me in showing me what to work on. I’m not sure what my body fat percentage was when I started, but when I checked last summer I was at 21% and now I should be at about 16%. Seeing my progress helps me stay motivated.
Why do you do Crossfit? Is it for the look? To be stronger? For your physical health? Or to be able to compete?
When I first started, it was about looking fit and being fit. But now it’s about getting better overall as an athlete.
If you could go back in time and give a younger Cameron some advice, what would you say?
I would tell him to find out what he’s passionate about sooner. I don’t think that I have wasted time or done anything that I’ve regretted, but there are some things that I would have gone about differently. For example, I wouldn’t have gone to study accounting and finance.
What made you choose that study in the first place?
I studied accounting in college because it was fun in high school, and it was also simplified. In college, I decided to also study financing as well to make it more interesting.
Describe yourself in three words.
This is the toughest question yet. My first word is humble because I’d like to think that I’m humble. My second word is creative. And if there’s a word for “not caring what others have to say about me”, then that word would be my third word.
Cameron credits his friend Ardwell Irion for giving him lots of good advice on building his personal brand. Check out Cameron’s blog at www.blueskiesimages.com; visit him on Facebook: Blue Skies Images; Instagram: @blueskies_412; Snapchat: @camxera; and where his work is concerned, expect to see a fresh new Cameron soon!
