Since the website launched (about a week ago), I’ve attempted a few tweaks and updates that felt beneficial to its overall look and appeal. Most importantly, the official name of the site damionphoto.format.com. While still attempting to replace a few images that feature small watermarked images I didn’t notice while posting. Additionally, there are a few other minor changes I hope to apply. In the meantime. I’m confident in sharing what I hope to be an evolving website that will display and host my skills and passion. Be sure to visit. Thanks.
Month: August 2024
Insight Into the New Website.
For nearly three years now, I’ve navigated a “try, fail, try.” relationship with the idea of hosting a website for my photography work. During that time, I’ve experimented with numerous hosts and a indecisive mindset as to what images to use and what themes to base them on. Often times, scraping projects and nearly giving up on the idea. That was until my recent exploration into the age old practise of street photography. While I never saw myself returning to that art. I found a particular New York photographer whose work and website interested me. The photographers webite host, “Format” was unfamiliar to me. However, I found its templates, and ease in which to navigate and build matched my vision, and worked for me. Within a week. I built the site from scratch. Finding it easy to add pictures, while editing contact as I go. I welcome you all to check it out and tell your friends. Any feedback would be welcome and greatly appreciated, Thanks.
https://portfolio-ubonnke.format.com/gallery
Over the upcoming weeks, I’ll work on the links and other related work while adding and subtracting images as needed.
Man Cave in Progress
Since elementary school, my addiction to music and the culture it involves has consumed much of my life. Which, for all purposes and interests consumes a lot of territory. It came to a boiling point shortly before I got married in 2001, that I sold all my first press hardcore punk records individually and used the money to finance a honeymoon in my wifes’ country of origin Japan. First off. Japan is without a doubt, the most beautiful country I’ve ever traveled. By all means. If you get the chance. Go there. By any means nessacary. Second. Don’t sell your records. Ever. I mean, unless your doctor just diagnosed you with an incurable dicease and given you less then a year to live. Even then, think hard. I mean think really hard.
Lucky for me.Throughout my adult life, I’ve had the space and later rooms to store and enjoy my music. As for that large collection I sold. Well, that two crates of LP’s and two boxes of 7′ EP’s have since been replaced and multiplied by crazy numbers. Even after selling ten boxes to a retailer before moving back east. My collection is a beast. My current home, much like my last four dwellings have had second bedrooms divided to records, cd’s, dvd’s and other monuments to my extended childhood. This one, a nerdist kingdom, if there ever was one.
Adventures in Photography
In 1997, I embarked on taking photographs for my first ever portfolio. With little knowledge and beautiful women from all over the world entering the lair of the east village record store I worked nights at. In the short time I worked there. I met the world and built many lasting friendships. Before long, I had people from nearby universities to visitors from France, Germany, Italy, Croatia and countries in Africa, Asia and South America guaranteeing my portfolio would be deep and diverse. Most of what I shot was in the East Village and my Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. The image below was taken at Pier 84 on the Hudson River. A beautiful woman from the lower east side. I made a lot of mistakes back then and still today. However, I try to learn from them without being so hard on myself.
Along the Way.
While heading to Georgetown Waterfront Park on the Potomac River. I stopped to take this image, as I imagined the potential for moody shadows and depth. There were two birds, one on each side of the columns, that divided the pathway. While I managed to take several images that captured the mood I was going for. The one below, with the bird stood out to me.
Birds on a Wire.
Upon entering Georgetown’s Riverside Park, I noticed this quartet of birds overlooking the Potomac River. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a chance to thank them for posing.
Getting Back to Printing.
On Saturday afternoon, my wife and I ventured into the DC area to visit Blick Art Material. Though Blick was frequented often during our days in Seattle, New York City and New Jersey. Today marked our first visit to the DC branch since moving to the area in 2021. In finding a dependable place to print my enlargements for sale, display and archiving. I’ve found myself ordering and visiting the Arlington branch of District camera, quite frequently. Over time, I had forgotten the rush and the vast difference of looking at your work on a computer screen and holding a physical print in your hands, to experience the depth and dimensions often related to a healthy enlargement. The 11X14 Itoya portfolios and 50% frames I purchased will house, display and protect the prints I’ve recently purchased and will purchase in the future. As a photographer, I urge you to bring your favorite images to life by printing them and purchase the right materials to house, protect and honor your cherished moments. Both Blick Art Materials and District Camera come highly recommended for such.
An Obsession of Sorts
My obsession with photographing people goes back to my teens, when I got my first 110 film camera to take pictures of my two-week trip to Ireland. From that day on, my passion grew. Throughout my teens and early twenties that passion turned into an obsession. My camera was always the magic wand that allowed me to start a conversation with complete strangers and invite them into my world. While I’ve become somewhat as an introvert in recent years. I’ve turned ti carrying a business card that features one or ten of the countless people I’ve worked with. While time has moved me towards landscape and travel photography. Portraiture of any kind is where my heart remains.
Photographing People
Though it’s not always easy to get the right subject to sit in with you. Photographing people has, for me, always been the most rewarding aspect of photography. The eyes, expression, and peeling away the layers that allow the true soul of the person to appear. There’s honestly, nothing like it. While many of the people who I wanted to photograph weren’t confident or comfortable in their own skin. Others, flat out turned down my offer. “No. I hate being in front of a camera.” are words I’ve heard countless times. The hardest part for me was not taking their refusal personally. The times when the reaction was positive and the answer was “Yes”. Put me into this instant happy place.
When meeting the woman above. I was captivated by both her beauty and talent as a musician. It wasn’t long before I realized she was one of the sweetest people I’d ever met. The image above is from our third and final session. The final results were rewarding, as I convinced her to peel away some of her makeup and change into a fun and laid back tee shirt. One of the hardest things for me has always been telling people exactly what I want. My life as a photographer became a lot easier when I learned to better communicate with the people I photographed and express exactly how I envision them.
The Joy of Printing
After a long day of MRIs and X-rays at Baltimore’s John Hopkins University, some lackluster service at a local restaurant, and worse, the unusual bumper to bumper traffic while returning to Virginia. I stopped at New Arlington’s District Camera to pick up several images I had sent in for printing. During the three or so years I’ve been in VA. I’ve depended almost entirely on the camera stores service for all my photography needs. The attention to customer service, detail and quality has been unrivaled since day one.
Upon arriving home, I more carefully, then usual, opened the envelope to view my prints. Thus returning me to the joy associated printing my images. The difference between seeing something on a computer screen and the absolute thrill of holding something in your hands. It’s magic. The colors, detail and depth in Black and white prints . It returns you to the lost beauty that photography always offered. So going forward, I urge you and myself to find a reliable lab, darkroom and/or printer to print your favorite images. I also suggest finding a place to display and share them with others.
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