Speaking in Tongues

[Damaso]

I just thought I'd share some images that were just featured on the Leica Blog this week!

http://blog.leica-camera.com/photographers/guest-blog-posts/damaso-reyes-speaking-in-tongues/

In 2012 Damaso Reyes was awarded a Knight Luce Fellowship for Reporting on Global Religion from the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Over the course of several months he traveled to Spain, England and Ukraine to explore the spread of Pentecostal Christianity in these nations. In addition to the images featured here, he also created a multimedia piece from images and audio recorded in Pentacostal churches in Spain. A feature article written by Damaso about this work was published last spring in World Policy Journal.

 

[paulfish4570]

lovely, stunning work, damaso.
i do believe these worshipers know your heart-felt, non-judgmental interest, and this is the true key to the intimacy ...

 

[Damaso]

Thanks for having a look!

 

[FrankS]

I thought this thread was going to be about artist statements again.

😉

 

[v_roma]

Great images. Thanks for sharing.

 

[robert blu]

Grande, forte!
robert

 

[charjohncarter]

I have often wondered about this phenomenon, it is certainly a photographic opportunity. I have never done it though, but I remember some events that would have been great chances. The Sufi in Turkey, the Navajos in the US, the Mayans in Guatemala, Elvis in Portland, Oregon in 1957, and also when I took my young daughter to see Andy Gibb in Oakland, CA, plus the Carnival in Panama'. And some I haven't witnessed, the people circling in Mecca, Voodoo in Haiti, the flagellations in Iran, also some on TV; Africans in trances. So we have a global photographic project, but I won't participate (too old).

 

[Damaso]

Thank you very much!

IMO, perhaps your best work to date, many are truly stunning.

 

[Damaso]

If you can still shoot you're not too old! In fact age might give you a unique perspective on the topic. If you're interested you should think about working on something locally. The more persepctives we have the better informed we are.

So we have a global photographic project, but I won't participate (too old).

 

[Damaso]

Next time 😛

I thought this thread was going to be about artist statements again.

😉

 

[Photog9000]

Saw this originally on the Leica blog thread. Good interview, Damaso!

 

[Sparrow]

I thought this thread was going to be about artist statements again.

😉

... you are trivialising a serious subject there Frank ...


... well done sir!

 

[charjohncarter]

If you can still shoot you're not too old! In fact age might give you a unique perspective on the topic. If you're interested you should think about working on something locally. The more persepctives we have the better informed we are.

You are right, I'm sure there is something going on around here. I'm tired of my present project of photographing every building in my town.

 

[bonatto]

Congrats, Damaso! Really fine work

 

[Damaso]

One of mine too!

This is my favorite... http://media.blog.leica-camera.com/images/Pentecostal_01.jpg

 

[Damaso]

While I love spaces my feeling has always been that the photographer and viewer are missing something if the spaces aren't contextualized by the people who inhabit and use them. Given the trend in contemporary photography is the opposite I know it's an outsider's view but I do think that over time the images that have become so popular will lose much of their appeal, not to mention power...

You are right, I'm sure there is something going on around here. I'm tired of my present project of photographing every building in my town.

 

[Damaso]

Thanks!!!!!!

Congrats, Damaso! Really fine work

 

[ZeissFan]

Damaso, congratulations on your fellowship. That is quite an honor and very deserving, from looking at your work.

 

[gb hill]

Very good work Damaso. You certainly captured the emotion of prayer & worship.

 

[charjohncarter]

While I love spaces my feeling has always been that the photographer and viewer are missing something if the spaces aren't contextualized by the people who inhabit and use them. Given the trend in contemporary photography is the opposite I know it's an outsider's view but I do think that over time the images that have become so popular will lose much of their appeal, not to mention power...

Oh, I agree, I used to not want people or cars in my photos, because it dated them. But years later those old clothes and older cars add a texture to a photo that an empty space doesn't achieve.

Where I live people are not crazy about having their photo taken so it is hard to balance. If you ask someone if you can take their photo, the image is already ruined.