Tell us a little about yourself? Where you’re from, where you’re based now?

Proudly born and raised in the Bronx, NY. Been an east coast lover living on the west end since 2018, I currently reside in Oakland, CA.

Tell us a little about yourself beyond the what/where and bio info?

Well, I’m expecting my first child in July 2021!

How long have you been shooting for?

I first picked up a Pentax K1000 35mm film camera when I was 17 years old. I was accepted into a scholarship program at the International Center of Photography. It was the school that taught me everything about dark room and documentary photography. I taught there for a few years in exchange for free darkroom hours. The school inspired me to go to a liberal arts college and pursue documentary photography for my graduate degree. Although I left the conservatory of art once accepted at SUNY Purchase, and studied Cultural Anthropology instead.

How has your photography evolved since when you first started?

In so many ways. I remember thinking I had to be just like Helen Levitt, Robert Frank, or Vivian Maier. That my street documentary had to have a certain composition and mystic behind it. In college I was tucked away in the woods for the first time in my life, most of my classmates shot trees and animal skulls. I couldn't get down with any of it. I missed the Bronx, it pushed me to seek out community in the BX while I was away at school, and that's when I met fellow photographer Sunny Cheeba, hanging with her changed the way I took photos. We inspired one another to have fun, shoot mini series, and work on projects just for the hell of it. Cultural Anthropology classes also showed me how white a lens we studied the world from. It pushed me to create narratives of my people and my hood. I made it a point to always make extremely personal portrait studies and short documentaries that focused on the intimate documentation of folks from the BX.

Any specific moment stands out where you knew you wanted to pursue photography?

One of my favorite things is watching people look at my photos or read the works statements at art shows. Most of the time they have no idea I am the photographer. It's always been such a beautifully intimate and meditative way for me to silently observe people's reflections. 

What came first, photography, writing or illustrating? Do you think they complement one another?

I believe they all came at once, but I like to say writing was my first love. It was my coping mechanism in a broken home. I had tons of diaries. I remember in middle school my english teacher shot my dreams down, she said, “Demi with this spelling and grammar, you’ll never be a writer!” I remember feeling like I wasn’t good enough. I think that's why I love poetry. No one can tell you that your grammar or punctuation isn’t right, it's all seen as purposeful or intentional. Our major languages are all tongues of colonizers, what the hell do I care if I don’t abide by their rules, what matters is I got soul, and a story. The poetry in me is my Taino ancestors performing dance pieces, communicating through our universal language of love. 

As far as drawing, when I was 8 years old I had my first surgical procedure, I remember being in the ER and coloring in all my Barbie coloring books, I would go home and make characters on Paint and spend hours coloring them in. And of course, I was extremely into Anime in my preteens. I used to make drawings of Inuyasha characters and make my own creations. I thought it was so cool, I cringe at that folder now, and for some reason my dad holds on to it! 

My father also used to buy me 35mm point and shoot cameras when I was in elementary school. I have very little recollection of this, but apparently I loved them. So much so that I’d give all the photos away once he developed them, he said after a while he would just give me an empty point and shoot and pretend to have them developed. I think all of these forms of creations have helped shape me into who I am. I truly mean it when I say I am not me without art. It is my first love, when I return to it, I return to myself.

Where do you draw inspiration from while creating?

Mostly my experiences with humans. Our individual lived experiences fascinate me. I enjoy my ability to observe life through this vessel.

Are you a self taught photographer? Do you have any advice for beginners?

Although I was enrolled in a program, all you really need is a quick 15 min run down on how to use manual settings on a film camera. I’ve taught tons of my friends how to use film cameras, and am impressed by how quickly they groove with it. It's all about the eye, that stuff you can't teach. If you have a vision, pursue it, and don't get caught up in the idea that you need fancy equipment. I sold all my Canon lenses and cameras, I spent more time on Ebay buying used camcorders and film cameras. Get experimental, and have fun with it! Shoot everything, before it makes sense, my best projects evolve on their own. Just like my baby brewing in my belly now, you can't plan your greatest creations, they just unfold.

You have experience with curating art shows. Can you tell us a little bit about that as far as what inspired you? What was your goal?

I spoke a bit about this earlier. I started curating when I was 20. It stemmed from a trip I took with my artys friends, as Badu would say. We are all BX born and bred, and during a dinner at our homies Coz’s house decided to buy tickets to Miami Art Basel. Being out there we were like, “Yo, why don’t we do this for the Bronx?” Thus stemmed Inspiration in The Cut. We all played integral roles in the formation of it. My life had a new purpose, everywhere we went we asked venues to host, beers to sponsor us, people to join our shows. This vibrational energy had manifested us into lots of spaces in NYC already doing phenomenal work, like the Heath Gallery in Harlem. Our weebs began connecting and we branched into community for 3 years. It was a truly inspiring time. Our goal was to shed light on the artist in our community, to provide a space for inspiration. I went on to host a handful of shows solo after, I would usually be focused on a theme and then post that theme online and see who else was creating work around the same subject matter. And boom! You got yourself a show! What kept bringing me back to curating was creating platforms for artists, giving people and myself a reason to make and be seen.

Do you plan on curating shows in California?  

I have worked with collectives in Oakland, CA already. I helped co-curate about 2 shows, and took on a vending event in downtown Oakland that hosted Black and Brown creatives.

What's one thing that you want to do with photography that you haven't done yet?

Mmmm, I dunno. I’d like to get back into the dark room and experiment more with chemical dying and collaging negatives.

You started an intimate project called Bed Series can you tell us the vision behind that? Can we expect more?

The series sprung after a tremendous heart break. I think I mostly broke my own heart, and was perhaps stuck in a pattern of codependency. The series sprung from my want for love that was transformed into a passion for witnessing love outside of me. I like how intimately forward I can be with my subjects. I’ve always had a way of making people feel like they were ready to bare all in front of me, to me it feels like I make people feel SEEN. I’ve always honored that trait. The series was a way for me to push that further, to become so invisible while SO present in someone extremely personal space, and capture their essence of love and safety. The series does not just focus on romantic intimacy but intimacy amongst all relationships. I believe who we share our mornings with is a huge deal. How you choose to start your days says alot about a person, and choosing someone to start it with is such a delicate way of saying “Hey, thanks for letting me be me around you.”

On Set…

What camera would you want to be your last?

I'm very very into my Vivitar XT10. It's a digital camera that feels like a film camera. I’ve had it for well over 6 years and although it’s given me two repair issues, I could never trade it in.

Candid or posed? Flash or no flash? Why?

Always candid, documentary is my preferred photography. That's why it’s always been hard for me to “make money” from portrait work. I love a good flash at night. But my preferred shooting is, on film, sun light, candid, and especially when I can shoot someone who I’ve been shooting for years, someone who can stare into the camera like they do into my eyes. All I am trying to do with photography is show you how beautiful I think you are with your guard down. I am seeking an expression of the soul.

What mood/vibe do you like to create on set? And how do you do it?

During a shoot, I like to be extremely personable. I like to have tea or water beforehand and chat it up. I want my subjects to feel as comfortable as possible. Sometimes it's a bit intimidating, but everytime I leave a shoot I feel more accomplished.

During the selection process what makes the final cut? What details do you usually look for in the images..

Rules of threes is one of my favorites. I love when an image has a good odd numbered composition. Great light, and effortless expressions.

When it comes to photography what moves you to shoot?

My love for people.

Is there any particular element of shooting you’d like to tackle or explore that you haven’t?

Not off the top of my head.

What would you like people to take away from your work?

I'd like people to see my work and remember how beautiful the mundane moments are. To not take for granted the way a body moves, or a water perspires, or a heart can ache through our eyes. To move slowly throughout our days, and to remember the individual's unique and delicate existence outside of our own. 

Interview by 35s & 45s

04.01.21