User:Brucejcameron/Jay Mitchell

Jay Mitchell Born 	22 February 1970 (age 44) Frimley, Surrey, United Kingdom Education 	King Alfred Comprehensive, Somerset Occupation 	Photographer; Explorer and Adventurer Spouse(s) 	None Children 	None Parents 	Harry Mitchell, Sylvia Mitchell Jay John Mitchell, (born 22 February 1970), commonly known as Jay Mitchell, is an English photographer, adventurer and author of several (Photographic Journey Books). He has released 7 books since 2008. Jay started out as a chef and travelled the world before finding photography and writing. He has travelled to more than 70 countries with some of these most notably recorded in the books he has released. Travelling across South America for 6 months, documenting his journey along the way was the start for his books and many more adventures and books about his journeys. He has photographed and written books on South America, Cuba, London, The World of Street Art (a fascinating look into how street art has changed in the last 10 years), Cambodia, Kenya and Tanzania and India’s Golden Triangle.

Early life and education Jay was born in Frimley, his father a builder and author himself, Harry W F Mitchell and his mother Sylvia Mitchell who now live in Kent after moving from Hampshire after he was 14 years old, he also has a younger brother. He trained as a chef in his early years and spent the first ten years of his life travelling the world and cooking to make ends meet. It was his journey to South America (2008) and a Photography Exhibition in Camden, London after his journey that started the move from photographing and blogging to writing books on his travels and adventures.

Career Jay has exhibited his photography at several exhibitions and his books are independently published. After moving on as a chef and fitness instructor he has worked in IT for the Health Service for the last 10 years which helps to fund his travels around the world and bring you the books he has written.

Chef: Jay spent 10 years as a chef, working around the world, New Zealand, Australia and all over Europe before returning and beginning a new career in photography and exploring the world.

Adventurer Photographer: In 2008 Jay took time out from working and living in London to take a journey through South America, from Buenos Aires in Argentina to Cartagena in Colombia, it would be 6 months before he reached his goal. He documented his journey through the amazing landscapes, animal life, plant life and outstanding ancient ruins from previous cultures. The severe change in weather from Patagonia in the winter to Colombia in spring, the changing seasons and the many different indigenous (indigenas) cultures, with varying ethnic clothing and foods.

South America - A Photographic Journey Endorsements: ‘A refreshing look at a journey through South America with a blend of beautiful photographs taking you from end to end of South America with unique personal narratives, anecdotes and stories which accompany the images of this journey. Jay has captured the essence of South America and what you are likely see when travelling through this beautiful continent, where cultures, vibrant colours and wildlife become one in his journey.’ Ranulph Fiennes – Explorer

In 2010 Jay travelled across Cuba. This journey took him right across Cuba photographing the colourful buildings, the old American cars, Flamingos in Cayo Coco and landscapes that stretch out across the beautiful island of Cuba. He visited: Havana, Ciénaga de Zapata, Cienfuegos, Camagüey, Playa Santa Lucía, Bayamo, El Cobre, Santiago de Cuba, Baracoa, Guantánamo, Guardalavca, Holguín, Caya Coco, Morón, Trinidad, Santa Clara, Varadero, Pinar del Rio and Vinales.

Cuba - A Photographic Journey Endorsements: ‘Jay Mitchell is that rare combination of born traveller and great photographer. His book on Cuba captures all the excitement and dedication of his journey while providing a multi-faceted portrait of the island, with all its exuberant and decayed architecture, seductive landscapes, passion for life, and love of the bizarre.’ Michael Jacobs - Author

‘A colourful journey with a photographic look at travelling through Cuba. Jay has unique personal narratives, anecdotes and stories which accompany his images of his journey through Cuba. He has captured people living in Cuba and what you are likely see when travelling through this beautiful country with his photos of Cuban life, vibrant colourful buildings, American cars and wildlife become one in his journey.’ Ranulph Fiennes - Explorer

Having lived in London for 20 years Jay embarked on a more localised book about London. London is one of the most visited places in the world, with its iconic architecture and historical sites that fill the skyline. This gives the city one of the most recognisable landscapes, with Big Ben and Parliament along the Thames and The London Eye giving you the chance to see London up high and take in the cosmopolitan, metropolis.

In 2012 Jay produced a book about Street Art showing photographs he had amassed over 10 years from around the world, showing where Street Art has come today. Off of the back of the book he put together a show called ‘Urban & Iconic – The World of Street Art’ held at Hoxton Arches in Londons Shoreditch where he curated, hosted and organised and represented some of the most unique Urban Artists on the scene today, such as: Otto Schade, Max Zorn, Tank Petrol, SF80, James Bourbon, Pins, Cityzenkane, Pegasus, Zabou, Mr Cenz, Tizer One and Pins.

In 2012 Jay embarked on an ancient monument journey to Cambodia with Sambor Pre Kuk and Angkor Wat which are probably the most striking architectural buildings of the medieval ages and wrote another book about his adventures.

In 2013 Jay travelled across Kenya and Tanzania to the countries jaw dropping landscapes and intimate close ups with the wildlife where he was able to interact with the wildlife and create another of his books.

In 2014 Jay Mitchell travelled through India’s Golden Triangle from Amritsar’s Golden Temple, to Delhi’s Red Fort & Jama Masjid, across country to Agra where the architecture is renowned the world over for the stunning Taj Mahal’s white marble mausoleum, through rural villages to The Pink City of Jaipur and then the Heritage Haveli Museum full of paintings and carvings. This would be the sixth ‘Photographic Journey’ book he authored.

Author: Jay’s career as a photographer and author has developed alongside his career as an adventurer: he is the author of 7 books, 6 in the ‘Photographic Journey’ series and another about ‘The World of Street Art’. Since 2008 he has spent time working on his journey like books enticing people to travel and explore the world. He has also had his books endorsed by Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Michael Jacobs who are both notable authors in their own right as well as Sir Ranulph Fiennes being the world’s most notable living explorers of our times.

Media appearances: Jay attends most of the renowned travel shows hosted in the UK and has done several book signings at book stores across the UK.

Personal life: Jay has never married and has no children. Having lived in Australia, Holland and the UK over the last 20 years he has spent a lot of time on the road.

Awards and recognition

None presently.

Works

A Photographic Journey of South America: Documenting and photographing the 6 month journey from Buenos Aires in Argentina to Cartagena in Colombia (2008), ISBN 978-0956401908 A Photographic Journey of Cuba: Documenting the journey across Cuba, meeting the people, exploring the landscapes and photographing his findings. (2010), ISBN 978-0956401915 A Photographic Journey of London: The book visits some of London's most beautiful areas and iconic places that the city is world renowned for. (2012), ISBN 978-0956401922 The World of Street Art: Documenting 10 years of street art from around the world, photographing some unique art from many countries. (2013), ISBN 978-0956401960 A Photographic Journey of Cambodia: Documenting and photographing the ancient monuments from the medieval ages and the Cambodian people on a journey across Cambodian. (2014), ISBN 978-0956401984 A Photographic Journey of Kenya and Tanzania: Documenting and photographing the journey across the savannahs, people and wildlife. (2014), ISBN 978- 0993128707 A Photographic Journey of India’s Golden Triangle: Documenting and photographing the journey through some of India’s amazing architecture and people. (2014), ISBN 978-0993128721

Brucejcameron (talk) 13:30, 8 January 2015 (UTC)