Conversations with Nicholas Powell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicholas Powell.

Hi Nicholas, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I got started about 4 years ago taking up an old Canon EOS 300D camera my father had. From there I started taking pictures of everything around me and the camera came with me wherever I went. I continued to practice experiment with different things. Then 2024 Christmas, I was gifted the Nikon Z fc (my current camera) from my mothers and it unlocked a lot of new potential experiments I could do and with that I began posting to Instagram and eventually became more creative with my posts. That basically brings you up to speed on how I got started and how I got to where I am today.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would not say It has been a struggle, only that I am a bit stubborn in learning so I never asked anyone to teach me anything, I relied on myself to learn how to do everything purely by experimenting, other than that it has been a smooth road.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a photographer and an amateur filmmaker from Saint Kitts and Nevis working under the name One Golden Lens. My work focuses heavily on storytelling. I’m especially drawn to capturing moments that feel authentic and emotionally grounded rather than overly staged.

A big part of what I do is documenting the energy, culture, and personality of the Caribbean in a way that feels modern and cinematic while still staying true to who we are. Alongside photography, I’ve been expanding into filmmaking because I see film and photography as two parts of the same storytelling language.

What I’m most proud of is building a creative identity and reputation from the ground up while working within a smaller island environment where creative industries are either non-existent or still growing. Every project has been part of learning, experimenting, and pushing myself creatively. I’m also proud of helping contribute to the growth of media, film, and creative culture locally, especially among younger creatives who want to pursue visual storytelling seriously.

What sets me apart is probably the way I approach photography as more than just taking pictures — I approach it like visual storytelling. I’m inspired heavily by cinema, emotion, atmosphere, and real human moments, so I try to create images that feel immersive and alive rather than overly polished or artificial.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I’d just like to encourage people — especially young creatives from smaller communities or islands like Saint Kitts and Nevis — to keep creating, even if the industry around you is still developing or non-existent . A lot of us grow up feeling like opportunities in photography, film, or media only exist elsewhere, but I think there’s so much untapped creative potential in the Caribbean and it only takes one to start making a change.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1goldenlens/
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@OneGoldenLens