Category: Damion Photo

Moving Forward

Blogging, Closure, Damion Photo

About a week ago, I received an email regarding the yearly automatic renewal and payment for hosting this blog. Started in early 2009. I posted my photographs, thoughts, and stories weekly without missing a beat. Now, in September 2025. I’ve decided to call it a day. I still have a strong desire to create emotive images and share them with others. However, this form of blogging no longer appeals to me. In the meantime, you can look for me on Facebook “James Damion” or check out my website https://damionphoto.format.com/gallery On another note, I’ve been writing non- fiction for some time now and finally having it professionally edited. I’m looking into various hosts and publishing outlets to share them in the near future. Leave your email at damionphoto@gmail.com or follow me on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/james.damion.3

Going Underground… Again.

abstract, Canon R6 Mark II Mirrorless, Damion Photo, Exploring, Travel, Travel Photography

Another weekend and another trip to Washington, DC. This time to the Smithsonian Museum for two exhibitions within The Natural Museum of American History. Both “Food” Transforming the American Family and “America on the Move”. Examining how transportation—from 1876 to 1999—has shaped our American identity.Were both entertaing and educational. I continually enjoy the beauty of the architecture of the areas subway stations. The shapes and contrast creating moody and textured moments that I can live over and over. Cool beans.

Things to Come

Art, Damion Photo, Marketing, Self Promotion

As I sit here, assuring myself that week two of this unwavering cold will make its final appearance and I’ll be back in the wild, making good with the opportunities thrust upon me, using my self-taught talents to break free from this winter malaise by finding new inspiration to chase down projects that will keep me busy and financially satisfied throughout the remaining winter. In the meantime, I’ve put aside time to sharpen my skills and add a few new tricks to fill my old bag of tools. Although I finally have my new website up and running. There is tons more to do. I’d love to get around to meeting up with art minded folks in Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC. And even find a place or three to exhibit my work. Only time will tell. In the meantime, I’m putting aside time each day to revisit old files and images in order to keep my hard drives from being featured on an episode of Hoarders.

Instagram

Moo

Square Space

Giving Thanks

Beauty, Damion Photo, Expression, Finding your Zen, Happiness, Measuring Success, Memories, Natural Beauty, Portraiture

For all the people I met and those who allowed me to take just a few moments to capture their beauty and individuality. I am forever thankful for their time and patience in indulging in my weirdness and helping me grow as a photographer. Thinking back to those days and looking upon the days when my apartments linen closet was filled with books of negatives, slides and random photo products important to film photographers. It’s hard to believe that, while I was quite occupied with the art. I wasn’t all that serious and wouldn’t bust a gasket when I made a mistake.

Updating the Site

Advertising, Art, Damion Photo, Marketing, New Website

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.

https://damionphoto.format.com/gallery

Insight Into the New Website.

Advertising, Art, Damion Photo, Finding your Zen, New Website, Social Media

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.

Adventures in Photography

Art, Beauty, Damion Photo, Expression, Finding your Zen, Location Shooting, Memories, NYC, Street 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.

One More Year?

Blogging, Damion Photo, Photo Geek, Social Media

Last week, I received an email notifying me that my account with WordPress needed to be renewed. Easy Peazy, right? Just pay the man and continue doing your thing. Only this time, I honestly wasn’t sure I wanted to do so. What started as an attempt to share images and stories with friends and family. Turned into a numbers game and an admittance that I really suck at navigating social media platforms. However, with new business cards ordered just weeks ago with photogeek22 earmarked as the place to find my work. I decided to renew for one more year. Giving myself time to finish that website I’ve been working on for so long. In the year ahead, expect more images and less chit chat. Enjoy.

Refueling For a Day That May Never Come.

Damion Photo, Finding Solutions, Marketing, Studio Photography

Over the last month and far before that. I’ve been working on putting together a new website and photo-included business cards to give out to prospective customers, friends, and whomever I might run into during my excursions to the outside world. Considering my last batch of cards read that I live in Seattle and list a website I long ago lost the password for and a no longer active email account. I’m overdue for an update. Considering I left Seattle in 2021. I can’t help but wonder, wtf was I waiting for? Ultimately, this will all cost me. A monthly fee for a website. Money for new business cards and that studio light set I’ve had my eyes on. All for what? Will people be lining up for studio time? Will I find new faces for an upgrade to my portfolio? Will I lose my often overthinking mind trying to book clients? Who knows. Choosing a few images and a suitable template sounds and probably is easy. But it hasn’t been for me. So with a self-imposed deadline looming. I wonder, will it get done? Wait. Let me overthink this.

Experimenting with Music Photography

Damion Photo, Editorial, Finding your Zen, Indie Rock, Memories, Music Journalism, Rock Photography, Show Photography

It’s safe to say, my interest in photography was born out of necessity. As a teenager in love with hardcore punk and going to Sunday matinees, I started a fanzine which needed pictures to go with my interviews and show reviews. Admittedly, my pictures were terrible. I really knew nothing about composition or camera settings. When I think about it, I didn’t even own a film SLR until I was twenty four. by then I was more interested in documenting my new surroundings in a neighborhood known as Hell’s Kitchen. While I was still going to shows regularly. and taking much better photos, I eventually got bored, which started my focus on experimentation with light and movement. Ultimately, is was within the shadows, movement and darkness, that I found my love. The more I learned about composition and waiting for the right moment, the more my images stood out. While it wasn’t alway pretty, I felt that I was finally capturing the energy, raw emotion, and elements that capture the essence, and intimacy that smaller venues offer.