Damaso Reyes Photography » Musings

Not Even Close to Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

Damaso — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:14:49 +0000

In the spirit of full disclosure, here are some more links that will help you understand both my photography and my current project, The Europeans.

All About Me…

Damaso — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:13:31 +0000

Sometimes when you blog you assume once you’ve posted something everyone has seen it. Well of course that’s not true so I thought I’d post some links about me and my work…

This Time Next Year

Damaso — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:42:41 +0000

This time last year I was up to my neck in snow in New York City, dreaming of being back in sunny Barcelona.

Snow bound and down. January 27th 2011. New York City.

A year later here I am…

And next year? I can honestly say I don’t know where I’ll be. And for me that’s the point. I don’t get two weeks of freedom each year, the rest of my time beholden to someone else. Of course I don’t get two regular paychecks a month either. It’s a trade off I’ve been happy to make for some time now. The idea that this time next year I might be in Florence or Prague or St. Petersburg is hard to resist and one I’m not sure I can live without. Once you start actually following your dreams it’s not unlike a drug. It’s hard to stop. It’s even harder to come up with reasons why you should…

The Dream Goes On

Damaso — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:29:50 +0000

Dreams happen quickly but realizing them takes much, much longer. Remember that as you continue down your own road. Remember how brave men and women throughout history have sought out the impossible and prevailed, most often after many failures….

If you haven’t listened to The Speech lately I highly recommend taking a moment to get yourself inspired…

“We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.”

Everyone Loves a Parade Except Me

Damaso — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:16:25 +0000

It’s true I’m not a huge fan of parades. Growing up as a press photographer in New York City you cover a lot of parades and they all tend to suck. They come in two flavors: boiling hot (Puerto Rican Day Parade, Fourth of July for example) or blisteringly cold (I’m talking about you Thanksgiving Day Parade). Or they are drunken ( St. Patrick’s Day or Halloween). Parades are crowded (at least till you get past the spectators and onto the actual parade route) and once you’ve been to one or two or fifteen there is little new to capture. But this year in Barcelona I went to the Three Kings Day Parade and was pleasantly surprised.

Three Kings Day Parade, Barcelona 2012

First off it’s a parade named after me (in Spanish it’s El Día de los Reyes)! So already we are off to a good start. Here in Barcelona the parade is incredibly artistic and multicultural. Plus they literally throw tons of candy on the spectators. It wasn’t freezing, there weren’t any drunken frat boys and the costumes, floats and interpretive dance were all top notch. Perhaps I’ve regained my youthful innocence and joy when it comes to photographing parades? In any event this week will feature some images from the parade…

Last of the First

Damaso — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:01:57 +0000

So how was your first week of 2012? For me it sure seemed a lot like 2011 I have to say. But the days are getting longer so there’s that…

Public Festival, Barcelona January 2012

Two New Postcards!

Damaso — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:07:20 +0000

I know it has been a good long while since you saw some new postcards from me but the long wait is now over!

Groundbreaking, Barcelona

You know the drill. Or maybe you don’t. So here it is: the first ten folks to send me an email with their mailing address gets a limited edition (only 100 are made) card. You don’t get to pick which one, this is all about luck baby!

Train, Bratislava

This or That

Damaso — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:34:28 +0000

Sometimes I just can’t decide….

Good thing I don’t have to…

To the Moon

Damaso — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:31:33 +0000

Just like everyone else, sometimes I just want to make pretty pictures. Who cares if they are art or not?

Tree of Life

Damaso — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:56:57 +0000

No matter how many photographs I take I still marvel that I can still be surprised by what light does. I guess that’s why I still take pictures. I like being surprised.

Barcelona, December 2011

End of the Year

Damaso — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:56:01 +0000

The end of the year is always a slow time. Hardly anyone emails, hardly anyone responds. I always think I’m going to use this week between Christmas and New Year’s to reflect and get some uninterrupted work done. But I rarely do.

Barcelona, December 2011

Happy

Damaso — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 12:45:47 +0000

If you celebrate Christmas I hope you had a good one. If you don’t I hope you had a good day off!

Back in BCN

Damaso — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:25:10 +0000

I’m baaaaaaaaaack!

New York, December 15, 2011

I saw this sticker on the subway the day I was leaving. Clearly it is a sign and a good one at that. It has taken me a bit longer than expected to return to Barcelona but here I am, ready to continue work and discover new realities.

Barcelona December 20, 2011

Having a dream and realizing it are two completely different things. Many people also think that realizing a dream should be easy which is the exact opposite of the truth: by definition achieving a dream is one of the hardest things you can do. Time after time I talk to people, especially photographers who know what their dream is but find excuses for not pursing it. They ask me for solutions. I tell them I have none. Coming up with answers is easier than you think. Coming up with reasons not to follow your heart is even easier….

Looking Down

Damaso — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:38:35 +0000

Sometimes we spend so much time looking forward and up we forget to look down…

Some People

Damaso — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:34:53 +0000

Don’t like to be photographed

And others don’t mind at all.