Damaso Reyes Photography » Photography

The Spirit Lives

Damaso — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:07:57 +0000

A world of wonder

Pentecost 2012 in London

Feeling the spirit.

Lifting her voice

Two Sides of the Same Coin

Damaso — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:04:52 +0000

Celebrating Pentecost 2012

There are so many ways to express faith…

Kneeling in prayer

Giving it Away

Damaso — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:03:19 +0000

I recently got an email form an amateur photographer celebrating the fact that a photograph he took of a famous writer was published on a trade magazine’s website. On congratulated him and asked, already suspecting what the answer would be, how much they paid. His answer was that they published his photograph in return for a photo credit. This is how I replied:

“Hear me very clearly.

You are part of a community. Whether you believe it or not you took food out of someone else’s mouth. When you work for free or give your work away for free you damage those of us who don’t have the benefit of a staff job not related to photography.

When you complain about not getting recognition; when you are sad that you don’t get what you feel you deserve please remember each and every time you gave away your work. There was someone else trying to make a dollar. And even if there was not?

You just lowered the bar.

You are smart enough to understand that. If you truly want to be a photographer you should play be the same rules as the rest of us instead of undermining us. If that sounds harsh I’m sorry but ask any professional photographer you claim to respect if this is a good approach to building and supporting the community you claim to be a part of.”

Rwanda, ten years after the genocide. This image was not crowdsourced.

As a professional, and one who struggles to make ends meet, I care deeply about this issue. There are lots of hobbyists out there who are happy to let massive multinational corporations use their work for free. Heck there are lots of professionals who do the same and it has sadly become something of a rite of passage for young photographers to trade their images for “exposure.” I know because I’ve been there too. I have sinned as well. Today major magazine and websites are now sourcing some of their photographs from Flickr users who don’t ask to be paid. Ten years ago how many contract photographers did Time Magazine have? How many do they have today?

Crowdsourcing may let editors cover many things but here are places camera phones can’t, and won’t go. If we think that long form documentary work and independent photojournalism is important then we as a community need say enough is enough. Non professionals need to accept that yes, they are part of the community too, and need to be responsible members of it. When you give away that image just to see your name in lights it is a problem…

This little rant won’t change anything but I feel like it is important to put the idea that images have value out there when so many people are telling us exactly the opposite.

The Perfect Man

Damaso — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:21:32 +0000

Street scene, London 2012

Along the Thames

Most Foul

Damaso — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:34:29 +0000

A London landscape.

Brixton, London 2012

Are We There Yet?

Damaso — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:46:39 +0000

Everyone seems to be looking for a shortcut. Is there a single place where I can find every grant I want to apply for? Are there five things that I can do to become a successful photographer in the next six months? Is there a way to get food in my belly without all the cooking and chewing?

This Marine knows you have to crawl before you can walk. Parris Island, S.C.

While no one has actually asked me that third question the first two, or variations thereof, I have heard countless times. Photography, like life, is a process, why try to rush it? You have to take the bad pictures to get to the good ones there’s no way around that. You have to get lost in order to figure out where you want to go, why not enjoy the ride? Sure sometimes it’s bumpy. Sometimes you feel like you are falling off a cliff but what is the alternative? A life so measured and ordered that there are no surprises?

It’s called photography not photograph. The photograph is just a symbol, a representation of all that went before and after that moment but the experiences around the photograph are what make up photography. These experiences are vastly more important than the relic they leave behind. Sure we all want to make great images and that is how we communicate our experiences but why try to short change the act?

You have to put the time in. There is always a temptation to find a faster way, an easier way. But that is not always or perhaps ever, the better way. I’m the sum total of my experiences not of my photographs. Every misplaced step, every wrong turn, every blunder and error are part of me. Why would I give that up?

Mirror of Our Lives

Damaso — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:27:41 +0000

Brixton, London 2012

The Europeans Featured on the New York Times

Damaso — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:39:34 +0000

What nice image to wake up to!

Yesterday images from my project, The Europeans, were featured on the New York Times Lens Blog. Needless to say I’m pretty excited that my work is reaching a larger audience. I’ve been working on this project for the past seven years and there have been many times where I felt I was toiling in obscurity to say the least. Getting a little recognition every now and then feels good.

And then you go back to work. Photographing in small churches, walking down lonely lanes and living the same life you did before. I’ve always felt I was incredibly lucky to be able to do this work on my own terms. I’m going to continue being lucky as long as I can…

Return Engagement

Damaso — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:51:59 +0000

After a seven year absence I am back in London. When I began The Europeans my hope was not simply to capture Europe as it is but also as it changes over time. This week I returned to Parliament Square where I first met anti-war activist Brian Haw.

Brian Haw. London 2005

Sadly last year Brian died after more than ten years of spreading his message. I returned to the spot where I first met him and was pleasantly surprised to find that the movement has outlived the man.

Often I meet and photograph people having no idea of how important they are or will be to me or others. This project has been a real journey of discovery for me and perhaps more than anything has forced me to realize just how interconnected we are and the impact we have on each other’s lives.

London Calling

Damaso — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:14:07 +0000

Yes ladies an gentlemen I am here in the Queen’s land for the next month working on The Europeans!

Stay tuned for images…

Heathrow Airport. May 2012

Occupy the Streets

Damaso — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:25:53 +0000

Demonstrators take to the streets of Lower Manhattan as drivers look on.

May Day

Damaso — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:24:09 +0000

Just another day in the City….

May 1st, 2012 New York City

Working Hard For Tomorrow

Damaso — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:18:16 +0000

It has been quiet here on the blog lately but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy! I’m heading to London soon to get to work on documenting the spread of Pentecostalism in Europe but I have also been preparing for my upcoming show in Barcelona this June. Stay tuned for more information as we get closer!

Looking at test prints

Never Forget

Damaso — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:41:02 +0000

Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe. Berlin 2007.

Four New Postcards

Damaso — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:43:11 +0000

It’s been quite a while since I created a new postcard. Well I’m making up for lost time by putting four different designs out there!

Some of you are already on my mailing list and will be getting card in the coming days, weeks and months.

But for those of you who are new send me your mailing address and I will send you a limited edition, hand signed postcard!

I will send out just ten of each design to those who email me (the rest are reserved) so act fast!