The ‘Story of our Lives’, a historic art show by philosophical photographer Adrian McDonald, drew many admirers into its focus at its launch last Friday at Toyota Jamaica in St Andrew.

According to 30-year-old McDonald, his photography is a representation of the Jamaican lifestyle, spirituality and concept.

“There is something here that speaks to everyone from varying capacities. It ranges from spirituality, to lifestyle, to every day regular things that we see happen in life every day — and I make a conscious effort to depict these in my art,” McDonald said.

The pieces illustrate various themes surrounding females in their natural element with their kinky hair loose, children playing in the countryside, and lovers in admiration of each other.

The photographer had an entire wall depicting lifestyle, another for spirituality, and conceptual pieces.

McDonald expressed that the conceptual pieces were his favourite.

“The conceptual pieces are most dear to me because it involves thinking deeply about what you are seeing. It reflects, not what I am trying to say, but the type of person who is observing and what it means to them,” he said.

McDonald hails from the parish of Westmoreland where he attended Manning’s School, and later on moved to Kingston for more exposure.

“It’s a lot more progressive here. Back in the country, I was confined in terms of the art that I was able to create. A lot of my images with kids and lifestyle were taken in the rural parts of the island, but then I wanted to do stuff on a broader spectrum so I branched out and moved to Kingston,” he told the Jamaica Observer on Friday.

McDonald also attended the Media Technology Institute, where he studied film and later went on to become a teacher. But while being in the education system, he discovered that his true passion was photography.

He began by photographing his students, is now the founder of Lexon Productions, and has been doing photography for the past six years.

Friday’s opening of the art exhibition was the first of many to come, McDonald said, as he will continue to have exhibitions through to May 3.

He does business through travel, as well as local photography for weddings.

McDonald primarily sells his art through Rex Features and Shutterstock. He displays his pieces on both foam and canvas and hopes to expand this business in the future, as he is now working on films as well.

Although declining to disclose the details about his next exhibition, McDonald was able to share that he expects to have an official art gallery exhibition in November of this year.