The Photographer from Panama
A note for Dominique: Sir, you are just an entire mood and vibe. Your photography and the way you can capture something so simple to remind the world of the beauty in the small things, is a talent that speaks volumes. I will go as far to say it shows the type of character you have as well. Not everyone can see the beauty in the small things. But, when you find someone that can, you keep them around. All of your work is beautiful and breathtaking and I am so thankful that I had the chance to know you in high school, and now. You're one of a kind Dominique and I hope for nothing but the best for you and your career. Continue to keep the beautiful aura that you have about you and change for no one. I hope to have a few of your prints in my home one day. Now let's get into this interview!
Where are you from and where did you grow up?
I am originally from Panama, but I grew up here in the U.S. I have spent most of life in Houston Texas and that’s where I am still based today.
How old were you when you first took an interest into photography?
I bought my first camera my freshmen year of college when I was 19 years old, but I didn’t really start taking pictures seriously until I was about 21. In the beginning I would just go to car meets with some friends and I would take photos of the cars for fun. I later then met some photographers from my school, and they took me to a local photography meet up that was happening in downtown. At the meet I realized that there was a whole community of photographers that I never knew about. I would then go onto social media and see the photos people were creating and I went from being extremely impressed to inspired.
What is your favorite childhood memory that involves art? It could be in the sense of photography or one of the other forms of art.
Growing up I played a lot of video games and watched films. I was always drawn to the story telling and the art design that these both forms had.
What inspired you to become a photographer? Think back to that very first time you picked up a camera with the intent to photograph a still moment in time. What inspired that very moment?
When I just started college, I was watching a lot of films and YouTube videos about movies. So, for some reason I became interested in cameras. In the beginning I never thought about being a photographer I just liked taking pictures of things that I thought were cool or moments that caught my attention. Over time what started to inspire me was having the ability to capture moments that almost felt surreal to me.
What is your favorite part of photography? What is the part of this art that gives you goosebumps every time?
There’s something about seeing a moment and thinking ”Is this really happening right now?” and taking a photo of THAT. People sometimes look at my photos and can’t believe that I was able to capture certain moments, and I sometimes can’t believe it myself. I’m just happy I was there to witness it. That’s what I love the most, just being there and being able to capture those surreal moments out of everyday life.
Think back to your first time you were booked or asked to do a professional shoot. What was that time like for you? Were you nervous or did you have any struggles with it? If so, how did you overcome those feelings?
I don’t remember the exact first time, but I do remember when those requests started to come in. So, I did what I always did, I ran straight to google and YouTube. I started to look up “How to take pictures of people using a DSLR camera”. I was nervous at first because whenever I would take bad photos I only had to deal with my own self disappointment, but now there’s was a chance that I could disappoint others. Especially when they were paying me. The way I overcame these nerves was focusing on the important things that I could control when taking photos of people. I thought to myself “As long as the person was centered in the frame and the photo was sharp and not blurry, I was going to be ok”. After that I just continued to practice different techniques every time I had the opportunity to shoot with someone.
How has your confidence grown since your first professional shoot until now?
I now have a lot of trust within myself knowing that I will walk away from every shoot with some solid photos. That’s primarily because I have the fundamentals mastered when it comes down to knowing how to create good-looking photos of someone that are pleasing to the eye. So, my self confidence comes from that self-trust that I built overtime. I just know what I’m doing now.
I’ve checked out your website and I’m going to say, I am incredibly impressed with your work. Your cityscapes have to be my favorite. It’s something about the city that draws me in so much and to see your beautiful work, it’s truly breathtaking. City and street photography are my absolute favorite! I could not choose one favorite but if I had to pick two, the “abandoned truck under the setting sun” and “a foggy morning in Houston” would be my two favorites so far that you’ve done. What was your favorite city to photograph and why?
Thanks, I really appreciate that. The “Abandoned truck under the setting sun” and “A foggy morning in Houston” are two of my personally favorites as well. And if I had to pick my favorite city to shoot it would have to be Chicago. There’s something about that city that always draws me in every time that I visit. The buildings, the trains, the sounds, the colors, and the people all come together to create this energy that feels so cinematic to me. I was just there this past February with some friends to shoot in the snow and that whole experience was amazing. The snow added this silent element to the city and I hope my pictures did good job expressing how it felt to be out there.
I am originally from Panama, but I grew up here in the U.S. I have spent most of life in Houston Texas and that’s where I am still based today.
How old were you when you first took an interest into photography?
I bought my first camera my freshmen year of college when I was 19 years old, but I didn’t really start taking pictures seriously until I was about 21. In the beginning I would just go to car meets with some friends and I would take photos of the cars for fun. I later then met some photographers from my school, and they took me to a local photography meet up that was happening in downtown. At the meet I realized that there was a whole community of photographers that I never knew about. I would then go onto social media and see the photos people were creating and I went from being extremely impressed to inspired.
What is your favorite childhood memory that involves art? It could be in the sense of photography or one of the other forms of art.
Growing up I played a lot of video games and watched films. I was always drawn to the story telling and the art design that these both forms had.
What inspired you to become a photographer? Think back to that very first time you picked up a camera with the intent to photograph a still moment in time. What inspired that very moment?
When I just started college, I was watching a lot of films and YouTube videos about movies. So, for some reason I became interested in cameras. In the beginning I never thought about being a photographer I just liked taking pictures of things that I thought were cool or moments that caught my attention. Over time what started to inspire me was having the ability to capture moments that almost felt surreal to me.
What is your favorite part of photography? What is the part of this art that gives you goosebumps every time?
There’s something about seeing a moment and thinking ”Is this really happening right now?” and taking a photo of THAT. People sometimes look at my photos and can’t believe that I was able to capture certain moments, and I sometimes can’t believe it myself. I’m just happy I was there to witness it. That’s what I love the most, just being there and being able to capture those surreal moments out of everyday life.
Think back to your first time you were booked or asked to do a professional shoot. What was that time like for you? Were you nervous or did you have any struggles with it? If so, how did you overcome those feelings?
I don’t remember the exact first time, but I do remember when those requests started to come in. So, I did what I always did, I ran straight to google and YouTube. I started to look up “How to take pictures of people using a DSLR camera”. I was nervous at first because whenever I would take bad photos I only had to deal with my own self disappointment, but now there’s was a chance that I could disappoint others. Especially when they were paying me. The way I overcame these nerves was focusing on the important things that I could control when taking photos of people. I thought to myself “As long as the person was centered in the frame and the photo was sharp and not blurry, I was going to be ok”. After that I just continued to practice different techniques every time I had the opportunity to shoot with someone.
How has your confidence grown since your first professional shoot until now?
I now have a lot of trust within myself knowing that I will walk away from every shoot with some solid photos. That’s primarily because I have the fundamentals mastered when it comes down to knowing how to create good-looking photos of someone that are pleasing to the eye. So, my self confidence comes from that self-trust that I built overtime. I just know what I’m doing now.
I’ve checked out your website and I’m going to say, I am incredibly impressed with your work. Your cityscapes have to be my favorite. It’s something about the city that draws me in so much and to see your beautiful work, it’s truly breathtaking. City and street photography are my absolute favorite! I could not choose one favorite but if I had to pick two, the “abandoned truck under the setting sun” and “a foggy morning in Houston” would be my two favorites so far that you’ve done. What was your favorite city to photograph and why?
Thanks, I really appreciate that. The “Abandoned truck under the setting sun” and “A foggy morning in Houston” are two of my personally favorites as well. And if I had to pick my favorite city to shoot it would have to be Chicago. There’s something about that city that always draws me in every time that I visit. The buildings, the trains, the sounds, the colors, and the people all come together to create this energy that feels so cinematic to me. I was just there this past February with some friends to shoot in the snow and that whole experience was amazing. The snow added this silent element to the city and I hope my pictures did good job expressing how it felt to be out there.
- Abandoned truck under the setting sun (Photo on the left)
- A foggy morning in Houston (Photo in the middle)
- Still In a Chicago Snowstorm (Photo on the Right
I saw your beautiful trip to Switzerland on Instagram and it was like heaven to see. I’ve always wanted to visit that beautiful country! Tell us about your time and experience there. I know you took some photos as well! What was your absolute favorite photo you took while there?
Switzerland was amazing and I definitely want to go back and spend more time there. We were only there for about a day and a half, so I didn’t get a chance to really dive deep into the place. However, my favorite picture that I took was on the first and last morning there. I was up early right as the sun began to rise and as I looked out the window, I saw huge waves of fog coming down from the sky. I grab my camera and ran straight outside. It was cold but not freezing so the weather was really nice. We stayed in this small-town called Ulrichen and it was early so it was very quiet outside. My friends and I began to walk around the town, and we came across this small fenced area with cows. I took a few pictures but this one below is my favorite one. The trees on the mountain being surrounded by the fog in the background just creates this eerie feeling. Overall, it was great and the people were friendly. The locals were waving and saying “Guten Morgen” which is good morning in German.
Switzerland was amazing and I definitely want to go back and spend more time there. We were only there for about a day and a half, so I didn’t get a chance to really dive deep into the place. However, my favorite picture that I took was on the first and last morning there. I was up early right as the sun began to rise and as I looked out the window, I saw huge waves of fog coming down from the sky. I grab my camera and ran straight outside. It was cold but not freezing so the weather was really nice. We stayed in this small-town called Ulrichen and it was early so it was very quiet outside. My friends and I began to walk around the town, and we came across this small fenced area with cows. I took a few pictures but this one below is my favorite one. The trees on the mountain being surrounded by the fog in the background just creates this eerie feeling. Overall, it was great and the people were friendly. The locals were waving and saying “Guten Morgen” which is good morning in German.
I can see that you travel a lot which is such an amazing thing to be able to do especially at our age. What was your favorite trip that you’ve taken so far either for leisure or for work? Tell us some good memories from that trip.
My favorite trip has to be the trip to Panama that I took during the summer of 2018. I was about 22 years old, and I hadn’t been back there since I was 13. And since I was a photographer this time my eyes were extremely wide open to everything. My favorite memory while I was there was going back to the small town of Rio Abajo. This town is where my grandma lived and where family would spend a lot of time in. As I walked through the town with my dad, I began to remember things from back when I was a kid. Which was amazing because these were memories that I made when I was about three or four years old. I then took one of my favorite pictures ever while there, which I will leave down below here. It was a group of kids interacting with a police officer. Being there for this moment made me think about the times I would be running around there as kid. I felt connected to that place in way I can’t really describe.
My favorite trip has to be the trip to Panama that I took during the summer of 2018. I was about 22 years old, and I hadn’t been back there since I was 13. And since I was a photographer this time my eyes were extremely wide open to everything. My favorite memory while I was there was going back to the small town of Rio Abajo. This town is where my grandma lived and where family would spend a lot of time in. As I walked through the town with my dad, I began to remember things from back when I was a kid. Which was amazing because these were memories that I made when I was about three or four years old. I then took one of my favorite pictures ever while there, which I will leave down below here. It was a group of kids interacting with a police officer. Being there for this moment made me think about the times I would be running around there as kid. I felt connected to that place in way I can’t really describe.
When you hit creative blocks, what helps you get those creative juices flowing again?
I honestly just put my camera down and do other things. I hit the gym, I read books, listen to music, and I watch films.
When you’re not feeling your best mentally, emotionally, spiritually, do you run to photography to help with that? If so, what would you say is your “therapy work”? In other words, what things do you like to photograph that helps you feel better when you’re dealing with tough times?
Photography has helped me deal with my own anxiety and stress. Especially when I was in school and working, it honestly kept me sane all throughout college. The things I like to take photos of during tough times are just the most mundane things. I grab my camera and just drive out or even ride my bike around while listening to music. I photograph simple things. Like the way the light hits a tree or bush, sidewalks leading up to an interesting looking house, broken down structures, old and abandoned cars, curtains behind windows, overgrown grass completely wrapping itself around something. I can go on but just things that we often overlook in our day to day lives. Photography has shown me that there’s beauty in these things and shooting this type of stuff helps me relax and helps me appreciate the little things.
How would you describe your style of photography and what do you think sets you apart from other photographers?
I describe my photography as expressive, moody and surreal. And I think what sets me apart from other photographers is my versatility. I shoot cityscapes, portraits, candid street photography, mundane photography etc. I try to never limit myself to one genre. Many photographers try to master one style and stick to it. I aim to become a master in all forms of photography. There’s a saying that goes “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” That’s how I see my personal approach to my work.
What message are you trying to send through your beautiful still moments?
Life is most beautiful in the simplest moments.
Who is your favorite artist, dead or alive?
I can never respond to this question with just one answer so I’ll just name a few from different mediums.
Favorite Filmmaker – Quintin Tarantino
Favorite Painter – Wayne Thiebaud
Favorite Photographer – Gregory Crewdson
What are you most thankful for in your life right now?
I am most thankful for my friends. I am lucky to have great people around me that share the same values and drive when it comes to life.
Do you have any other passions/hobbies? If so what are they?
I like to write sometimes. Mostly journaling but sometimes I write my own short stories.
What is the end all goal for your life personally and professionally? What will be the catalyst in your life that will make you say, damn, I have finally made it?
As long as I am able to have the freedom to do what I want and the ability to support my friends and family in whichever way they may need me then all is well. I feel much closer to this than ever before so I know I must continue to work and make progress.
Are there any special people you’d like to recognize or give thanks to?
Yea I would give a big thanks to my mother. She has always been there for me. She gave me the support, guidance and space that I needed to become the person that I am today.
I honestly just put my camera down and do other things. I hit the gym, I read books, listen to music, and I watch films.
When you’re not feeling your best mentally, emotionally, spiritually, do you run to photography to help with that? If so, what would you say is your “therapy work”? In other words, what things do you like to photograph that helps you feel better when you’re dealing with tough times?
Photography has helped me deal with my own anxiety and stress. Especially when I was in school and working, it honestly kept me sane all throughout college. The things I like to take photos of during tough times are just the most mundane things. I grab my camera and just drive out or even ride my bike around while listening to music. I photograph simple things. Like the way the light hits a tree or bush, sidewalks leading up to an interesting looking house, broken down structures, old and abandoned cars, curtains behind windows, overgrown grass completely wrapping itself around something. I can go on but just things that we often overlook in our day to day lives. Photography has shown me that there’s beauty in these things and shooting this type of stuff helps me relax and helps me appreciate the little things.
How would you describe your style of photography and what do you think sets you apart from other photographers?
I describe my photography as expressive, moody and surreal. And I think what sets me apart from other photographers is my versatility. I shoot cityscapes, portraits, candid street photography, mundane photography etc. I try to never limit myself to one genre. Many photographers try to master one style and stick to it. I aim to become a master in all forms of photography. There’s a saying that goes “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” That’s how I see my personal approach to my work.
What message are you trying to send through your beautiful still moments?
Life is most beautiful in the simplest moments.
Who is your favorite artist, dead or alive?
I can never respond to this question with just one answer so I’ll just name a few from different mediums.
Favorite Filmmaker – Quintin Tarantino
Favorite Painter – Wayne Thiebaud
Favorite Photographer – Gregory Crewdson
What are you most thankful for in your life right now?
I am most thankful for my friends. I am lucky to have great people around me that share the same values and drive when it comes to life.
Do you have any other passions/hobbies? If so what are they?
I like to write sometimes. Mostly journaling but sometimes I write my own short stories.
What is the end all goal for your life personally and professionally? What will be the catalyst in your life that will make you say, damn, I have finally made it?
As long as I am able to have the freedom to do what I want and the ability to support my friends and family in whichever way they may need me then all is well. I feel much closer to this than ever before so I know I must continue to work and make progress.
Are there any special people you’d like to recognize or give thanks to?
Yea I would give a big thanks to my mother. She has always been there for me. She gave me the support, guidance and space that I needed to become the person that I am today.