The photographer calls his protagonists, and himself, “people on the fringes of society,” but in his pictures, they’re just people.
Released from prison in 2011, Donato Di Camillo started photography as a way to capture eccentric individuals, diverse characters and personalities. His series of pictures « Beach Body Bingo » translates his desire to document unfamiliar faces and individuals on the outskirts of society.
In 2006, while serving time in prison for a federal crime, Di Camillo became obsessed by the magazines such as National Geographic, or Time, and by the images which allowed him time to learn about the outside world. Sentenced to 36 months at the Petersburg, Virginia, medium-security prison, Di Camillo read about human behavior and psychology, and realized he « had acquired most of this knowledge unknowingly on the streets,» he wrote in an email to The Huffington Post.
After he was released in 2011, Di Camillo spent three additional years on house arrest and probation. During this time, he developed a deep love for photography, learning about the mechanics behind images, and studying tutorials on YouTube. Today, Di Camillo grabs his camera as a therapy, with a need to depict people on the fringes of society, those that often remain unseen or ignored, some with whom he somehow identifies. « I love the amazing differences in people and how beautifully unique we all are." He explains. "Good bad or indifferent; People never cease to amaze me, they often answer many of my own questions. »
Through a hard and direct approach, NYC-based photographer gets exceptionally close to subjects. « The littlest detail, maybe in the eyes or the way someone walks can be the difference of making a photograph, » he says. « My influences come from the many great contemporary photographers. » Part of the fringe, photographing the fringe, Di Camillo’s photographs on Coney Island boardwalk in Brooklyn (NYC) are not only a gathering of life and of personal stories, but also a brief reminder of an evolving society. « Buildings go up, people get older but some cultures never change.»
All Photos ©Donato Di Camillo
Discover more about Donato Di Camillo's work on his website.
