♪ [THEME MUSIC] ♪
>>> WELCOME TO "ITALICS,"
TELEVISION FOR THE
ITALIAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.
I'M YOUR HOST, ANTHONY
TAMBURRI.
ON THIS EPISODE, WE CONTINUE OUR
FOCUS ON ITALIAN-AMERICAN
PHOTOGRAPHERS. DONATO
DI CAMILLO JOINS LUCIA GRILLO
HERE IN OUR STUDIO.
>> BORN IN BROOKLYN TO
IMMIGRANTS AND RAISED IN
STATEN ISLAND
DONATO DI CAMILLO'S WORK HAVE
BEEN PRESENTED IN OVER 40
PUBLICATIONS NATIONWIDE.
IN THE PAST YEAR HE TALKED WITH
LUCIA GRILLO ABOUT HIS JOURNEY
TO DISCOVERING HIS TALENT AND
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.
LET'S GO TO LUCIA GRILLO.
♪♪
>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US
ON "ITALICS."
>> GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> YOU MAKE THESE BEAUTIFUL AND
STRIKING AND INTIMATE PHOTOS.
♪♪
>> A LOT OF IT COMES FROM MY
IMAGINATION OR WHAT I INTERPRET
PEOPLE TO BE REAL.
A LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHS WE SEE
TODAY ARE VERY FLUFFY.
AND THEY'RE KIND OF MADE UP AND
PEOPLE YOU KNOW, THE DAYS OF
TAKING SELFIES, EVERYBODY WANTS
TO LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
AND FOR ME I THINK IT'S MORE
IMPORTANT TO JUST REVEAL THE
TRUTH.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ME WHAT
I'M LOOKING FOR WHEN I TAKE
PHOTOGRAPHS.
AND WHAT IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO
IS JUST TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF
THE TRUTH.
HOW PEOPLE REALLY ARE AND WHAT
THEY REALLY DO.
WHAT THEY'RE REALLY LIKE.
AND IT'S A WAY FOR ME TO SPEAK.
BECAUSE FOR A LONG TIME, I LIVED
IN A BIT OF ISOLATION.
YOU KNOW I COME FROM AN ITALIAN
BACKGROUND. AND WE WERE
VERY PRIVATE AT THE HOME.
AND SO I IMAGINED MYSELF, YOU
KNOW, AS AN EXPLORER, AS MANY
KIDS DO.
YOU KNOW EXPLORER, CLIMBING
MOUNTAINS AND PICTURING MYSELF
IN AFRICA.
TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS.
AND YOU KNOW, DEEP SEA FISHING
WITH JACQUES COUSTEAU, THINGS
LIKE THAT SO IT DID DERIVE FROM
THOSE TYPE OF IMAGINATIONS BACK
THEN.
AND SO, YEAH, THE SEED WAS
PLANTED AT AN EARLY AGE.
>> YOUR PARENTS ARE FROM ITALY?
>> YES, THEY'RE FROM ABRUZZO.
THEY COME FROM A SMALL TOWN IN
THE MOUNTAINS OF PART OF ITALY
CALLED LACULA.
A VERY QUAINT, SMALL TOWN, STILL
CHICKENS AND VERY SMALL COTTAGES
ON THE HILLSIDES.
AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
LITTLE OLD LADIES SITTING OUT IN
BLACK, WEARING BLACK.
IT'S BEEN KIND OF FROZEN IN
TIME, IF YOU WILL.
I HAVE FIRST COUSINS STILL IN
THAT TOWN.
AND YOU KNOW, THEY SEND ME
PICTURES OF, OF WHAT IT'S LIKE
NOW.
AND IT'S LIKE THE SAME WAY IT
WAS.
WHEN I WENT THERE WHEN I WAS 14
YEARS OLD.
BUT I DO REALLY DO WANT TO GO
BACK TO PHOTOGRAPH, JUST THE
RICHNESS OF, OF OUR HERITAGE.
IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL.
>> SO YOU WERE
YOU A CREATIVE CHILD, WHEN
DID YOU ACTUALLY DISCOVER YOUR
PASSION AND YOUR TALENT FOR
PHOTOGRAPHY?
>> THE SEED WAS PLANTED WHEN I
WAS A CHILD.
BUT LATER ON, IT WOULD
UNFORTUNATELY HAPPEN WHILE I WAS
IN PRISON.
FOR A LONG TIME I STRUGGLED WITH
A LOT OF ADVERSITIES, MADE A LOT
OF STUPID DECISIONS, GROWING UP.
AND GOT CAUGHT UP IN YOU KNOW,
SOME GANG ACTIVITIES AND
VIOLENCE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO AS THE YEARS WENT ON I WOULD
FIND MYSELF IN AND OUT OF
BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION HOMES.
AND SOON ENOUGH I WOUND UP IN
PRISON.
BUT LATER ON IN THE YEARS WHEN I
WAS OLDER, AND I WASN'T OUT OF
THE ORDINARY FOR THAT AREA,
WHERE I GREW UP IN.
YOU KNOW TO BE INVOLVED IN ANY
TYPE OF YOU KNOW CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY.
IT WAS JUST THAT TYPE OF AREA.
I MEAN YOU KNOW, THE NEWS MEDIA,
SOMETIMES THEY ENFLAT THE STORY.
BUT IT WAS STILL A GOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S JUST THAT I MADE A FEW BAD
DECISIONS AND WOUND UP IN
PRISON.
AND THERE IT WAS PROBABLY THE
BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME.
BECAUSE IT MADE ME REFLECT ON
WHAT I REALLY LOVE TO DO AND
WHAT I LOVE TO DO IS CREATE
PHOTOGRAPHS AND PUSH MYSELF,
TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS, HOW I TAKE
PHOTOGRAPHS IS VERY DIFFICULT.
TO APPROACH PEOPLE
PEOPLE WITHIN A FOOT, TWO FEET
AND GRAB A PHOTOGRAPH SOMETIMES,
IT'S, IT WORKS ON YOUR NERVES.
AND SO OVERCOMING THESE
CHALLENGES FOR ME, IT HELPS ME
IN OTHER ASPECTS IN LIFE.
BECAUSE IT KIND OF TRICKLES DOWN
IN BUSINESS AND IN
RELATIONSHIPS.
IT HELPED ME KIND OF SHAPE WHO I
AM TODAY.
BECAUSE IT TAUGHT ME HOW TO
COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE MORE ON
A MORE INTIMATE LEVEL.
♪♪
>> SO THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT I
TAKE MOST OF THE TIMES ARE VERY
CLOSE.
AND A LOT OF TIMES I FIND OUT A
LOT ABOUT PEOPLE AND I'M VERY
INTERESTED IN PEOPLE.
BECAUSE I COME FROM AN ITALIAN
BACKGROUND, AND WE HAD THIS
CULTURE THAT WAS WE EAT PASTA ON
SUNDAYS, BIG, BIG FAMILY DINNERS
AND CHRISTMAS PARTIES.
AND SO I REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS
LIKE ON THE OTHER SIDE AND HOW
PEOPLE LIVED OUT IN AFRICA OR,
YOU KNOW, IN ASIA.
MANY PLACES LIKE THAT.
SO IT'S ALWAYS, I WAS ALWAYS
CURIOUS ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND
ME, ALWAYS.
>> IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU CAN
LITERALLY HIDE BEHIND THE
CAMERA, SNAP THE PHOTO AND GO.
YOU TALK TO YOUR SUBJECTS, THEN?
>> SOMETIMES I DO.
AND SOMETIMES I DON'T.
IF I FEEL THAT IT'S BORDERLINE,
MAYBE INAPPROPRIATE, AND MAYBE
IT'S QUESTIONABLE, BUT I DO FIND
IT INTRIGUING.
I'LL SPARK UP A CONVERSATION.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF INCIDENCES
WHERE I FOUND IT TO BE TOTALLY
OPPOSITE OF WHAT I WAS THINKING
IN MY MIND.
FOR EXAMPLE, I SAY WELL THIS
PERSON IS NOT GOING TO WANT TO
TAKE A PHOTO.
I'M NOT GOING TO ASK, I'M JUST
GOING TO TAKE THE PHOTO AND JUST
NOT ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION.
BUT THEN AGAIN, SHE LOOKED SO,
SHE LOOKS VERY INTERESTING AND I
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HER.
SO THAT'S WHERE I'LL TAKE THE
SHOT AND I'LL ASK HER, NOT THE
SHOT, LITERALLY, BUT I'LL TAKE
THE SHOT IN ASKING HER.
AND OR HIM.
AND I'LL FIND OUT A WHOLE BUNCH
OF THINGS THAT I WAS IMAGINING
IN MY HEAD TO BE TRUE.
FIND OUT IT'S COMPLETELY
OPPOSITE.
AND THIS, IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW
WE PERCEIVE LIFE IN A WAY.
PICTURES SPEAK A MILLION WORDS.
BUT SOMETIMES WHAT YOU SEE IS
NOT REALLY WHAT, WHAT'S THERE.
AND SO I GET ATTRACTED TO THINGS
THAT, TO ESPECIALLY SUBJECTS
THAT KIND OF FOOL PEOPLE
ESTHETICALLY.
BECAUSE THEY WIND UP BEING
REALLY, REALLY INTELLIGENT.
AND VERY, REALLY SHARP PEOPLE.
JUST FASCINATING AMOUNT OF
PEOPLE THAT I MEET DOING WHAT I
DO.
I LOVE IT.
>> YOUR PHOTOS ARE JUST STRIKING
TO LOOK AT BECAUSE YOU BRING
HUMANITY SO CLOSE TO US.
YOU BRING US CLOSE TO HUMANITY.
YOUR WORK IS VERY IS STRIKING,
BECAUSE IT'S UP CLOSE AND YOUR
SUBJECTS ARE NOT ALWAYS HUMAN
BEINGS THAT WOULD BE
CONVENTIONALLY PRETTY.
YOU BRING OUT A DIGNITY IN THESE
PEOPLE.
HOW DO YOU FIND THAT BEAUTY?
>> WELL FIRST IT COMES FROM
INSIDE OF ME.
EVERY TIME WE PHOTOGRAPH
SOMEBODY, I RELATE TO THEM, IN
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
WE ALL HAVE A COMMON GROUND.
IT'S JUST THAT WE DON'T
REALLY -- AND I'LL SPEAK FOR
MYSELF.
BUT I THINK PEOPLE FAIL TO SEE
THAT WE ALL HAVE A COMMON THREAD
AND BY COMMON THREAD, YOU KNOW,
IS WHAT MAKES UP OUR HUMAN RACE
AND OUR SIMILARITIES.
AND OUR DIFFERENCES.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT TO ME, I
THINK IS WHAT I REALLY SEARCH
FOR.
I SEARCH FOR WHAT SPEAKS TO ME.
AND WHAT I FEEL.
SO A LOT OF TIMES I SEE A PERSON
AND I FEEL APATHY TOWARDS A
PERSON.
OR IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL A
CERTAIN WAY.
AND IT'S PROBABLY NINE OUT OF
TEN TIMES THAT I'VE FELT THAT
WAY OR MAYBE IF I SEE SOMEBODY
THAT'S KIND OF DISSHELVED AND
LOOKS LIKE HE'S HAVING A TOUGH
TIME.
FELT THAT WAY.
WHETHER OR NOT I LOOKED ON THE
OUTSIDE, I LOOKED THAT WAY.
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
BUT INSIDE, AS FAR AS FEELINGS
ARE CONCERNED, I CAN IDENTIFY
WITH THESE PEOPLE MOST OF THE
TIMES.
NINE OUT OF TEN TIMES I IDENTIFY
WITH EVERYBODY I TAKE
PHOTOGRAPHS OF.
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR ME TO
IDENTIFY WITH THESE PEOPLE AT
ALL.
>> JUST BECAUSE OF YOU AS A
HUMAN BEING TO ANOTHER.
>> I MEAN HOW ELSE CAN YOU
APPROACH A HUMAN BEING, BESIDES
BEING YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY
DESERVE THE DIGNITY AND THE
RESPECT RATHER THAN HAVING STEAL
PHOTOGRAPHS AND NOT KNOWING
ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR
LIVES.
FOR ME, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO KIND OF FILTER THAT.
WITH FILTER IT IN TO MY
PHOTOGRAPHS.
KIND OF USE IT AS, IT'S A WAY
FOR ME TO COMMUNICATE.
IT'S A WAY FOR ME TO FIND OUT
MORE ABOUT PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW MAYBE IT'S A SELFISH
WAY FOR ME TO FIND OUT MORE
ABOUT PEOPLE.
BUT IT'S NOT HURTING THEM.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I TRULY LOVE
TO DO.
BECAUSE I DO TRULY LOVE PEOPLE.
A LOT OF MY FRIENDS SAY I'M
SOFT, BUT -- DONATO, WHAT
HAPPENED TO YOU?
>> THEY JUST FIRSTLY, I HAVE TO
SAY YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY FIRST, A
FEW OF MY OLD FRIENDS SEE ME
WITH A CAMERA, SAY WALKING ON
CONEY ISLAND, BECAUSE CONEY
ISLAND IS MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD,
THEY'LL BE LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING WITH THAT CAMERA?
TAKING, I HEARD YOU'RE TAKING
PICTURES OF PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST, THEY
DON'T UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE I'M
MORE ARTISTICALLY INCLINED,
BECAUSE THERE'S ART IN MY FAMILY
FOR A LONG TIME. MY UNCLE
DOMINICK WAS AN ART DIRECTOR SO
I USED TO WATCH HIM PAINT THESE
BEAUTIFUL RENAISSANCE PERIOD
PIECES.
AND I USED TO NOTICE HOW THE
LIGHT WOULD FALL ON HIS
REMBRANDT TYPE PAINTINGS.
THESE LITTLE SEEDS WERE PLANTED
IN MY MIND FOR SUCH A LONG TIME
AND IT STOOD WITH ME.
♪♪
>>> IT'S ONLY BEEN A FEW YEARS I
COULD SAY TWO YEARS I'VE BEEN
PHOTOGRAPHING SERIOUSLY, YOU
KNOW, IT'S ALL COMING TO AN,
LIKE IT'S ALL I'M KIND OF
GETTING IT NOW.
WHERE IT'S ALL COMING FROM.
AND IT'S KIND OF ALL MAKING
SENSE TO ME NOW, YOU KNOW.
>> WHAT AND WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR
INFLUENCES?
>> THERE'S SO MANY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO NAME THEM
ALL.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THEY DO
DESERVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR
THEIR WORK.
BUT DIANE ARBUS, SHE'S PASSED
AWAY, TRAGICALLY.
SHE HAD KILLED HERSELF.
I MEAN THIS WAS A WOMAN WHO
STRUGGLED.
AS WE ALL DO.
BUT I FELT LIKE IF I COULD TALK
TO HER TODAY, THAT I WOULD
PROBABLY BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE
TO HER ON A MORE UNDERSTANDING
LEVEL.
I THINK WE WOULD UNDERSTAND EACH
OTHER.
BECAUSE HER PHOTOGRAPHS REVEALED
A SIDE OF PEOPLE WHICH PEOPLE
KIND OF CAST AWAY AND PUSHED TO
THE SIDE.
AND WOULD NEGLECT OR REJECT IN
SOCIETY.
THESE ARE PEOPLE, THEY WERE
PEOPLE LIKE US, THAT HAD
FEELINGS AND DESERVE THE SAME
ATTENTION AS YOU KNOW, A
BEAUTIFUL MODEL ON THE COVER OF
"VOGUE."
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHOW
THAT ALL PEOPLE MATTER AND ALL
PEOPLE COUNT.
SO FOR THAT, DIANE ARBUS WAS ONE
OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT I
REALLY TRULY FOUND A REAL
PROFOUND CONNECTION WITH.
YOU KNOW, ARTISTICALLY, WITH HER
VISION.
IN HER YEARS SHE WAS THE FREAK
PHOTOGRAPHER.
AND THEY KIND OF, THEY KIND OF
DISMISSED HER WORK.
AND NOW THESE DAYS, THEY CALL
HER ONE OF THE YOU KNOW, THE
PIONEERS OF YOU KNOW,
DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY.
AND WHAT NOT.
BUT IT HAD TO TAKE HER, HER
SUICIDE AND HER LIFE TO BE TAKEN
AWAY, FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.
OF COURSE THERE'S OTHER
INFLUENCES, THERE'S MARTIN PARR
AND SO MANY GREAT PHOTOGRAPHERS.
I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO RATTLE
THEM OFF.
IT WOULD TAKE UP ALL DAY.
BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE YOU KNOW,
INFLUENCED ME.
>> ONE AFTER ANOTHER OF YOUR
IMAGES, I JUST SIT AND REALLY
LOOK.
BUT THERE'S ONE, YOU WERE SAYING
THAT WE'RE ALL HUMAN BEINGS THAT
NEED OR DESERVE THE SAME
ATTENTION AS A MODEL IN A
FASHION MAGAZINE.
THERE'S A PHOTO OF AN ELDERLY
MAN ON THE BEACH WHO IS LOUNGING
KIND OF LIKE HE'S POSING.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS
INTENTIONAL, JUST LOUNGING ON
THE BEACH.
AND I WAS THINKING WHAT WOULD A
DONATO FASHION PHOTO LOOK LIKE?
>> I'M TOYING WITH THE IDEA OF,
OF CREATING A BODY OF WORK,
WHICH IS MY INTERPRETATION OF
FASHION.
AND HOW FASHION SHOULD BE
PORTRAYED.
TO TO MAINSTREAM.
I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING.
I THINK IT WOULD BE AN
INTERESTING AND CHALLENGING
ASSIGNMENT FOR ME.
YEAH, SO I THINK I WILL BE DOING
THAT VERY SOON.
>> 2016 WAS A BIG YEAR FOR ME.
PROBABLY I WAS IN OVER 40
PUBLICATIONS, AND ABC NEWS AND
CBC.
AND "WASHINGTON POST."
"HUFFINGTON POST."
I COULD NAME, DOZENS OF --
>> DID YOU EXPECT IT?
>> NO, I DIDN'T EXPECT IT AT
ALL.
I WASN'T DOING IT FOR ATTENTION
OR INSTAGRAM LIKES AND FACEBOOK
LIKES.
AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
I WAS DOING IT AS AN OUTLET FOR
MYSELF.
IT WAS PSYCHOLOGICALLY, I NEEDED
SOME TYPE OF THERAPEUTIC WAY OF
CHANNELING MY FEELINGS, MY
FRUSTRATIONS AND EVERYTHING
ELSE.
IT'S A WAY, IT'S A THERAPEUTIC
WAY FOR ME TO NAVIGATE THROUGH
LIFE, IF YOU WILL.
♪♪
>> I DON'T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT
MY CAMERA.
I DON'T.
I GO EVERYWHERE-
>> YOU DID WALK INTO --
>> I LEFT IT ON, I HOPE NOBODY
WALKED AWAY WITH IT.
BUT -- JUST KIDDING, I'M JUST
KIDDING.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU DOING IF YOU
WEREN'T PHOTOGRAPHING?
>> I WAS WORKING CONSTRUCTION.
I WAS A UNION GUY FOR A LITTLE
BIT.
WHEN I CAME HOME FROM PRISON IN
2011.
AND IT'S JUST A LOT OF THINGS
HAPPENED SO FAST.
I FOUND OUT THAT I HAD CANCER IN
MY BLADDER, AND THAT KIND OF
THREW ME FOR A LOOP AND I GOT
DEPRESSED.
AND I TOOK TO KIND OF I STARTED
ISOLATING A LITTLE BIT.
BECAUSE I WAS WAITING FOR THE
RESULTS AND IT WAS DRIVING ME
CRAZY.
BUT THANK GOD, KNOCK ON WOOD,
YOU KNOW, IT WAS SUPERFICIAL BUT
THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT I CRUSHED
MY FOOT ON THE JOB.
SO IT WAS LIKE VERY GRUELING
YEAR OF LIKE TRIALS AND THAT
WAS, IT GAVE ME TIME TO
ACTUALLY, I USE EVERYTHING,
EVERY NEGATIVE TO MY ADVANTAGE.
SO IF I BREAK MY FOOT AND I GET
CANCER, I'M ON THE COMPUTER,
FIGURING OUT WAYS AND DIFFERENT
COMPOSITIONS AND LOOKING AT
WORK.
AND TRYING TO, TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT WAYS ON HOW I'M GOING TO
MAKE IT IN LIFE.
BECAUSE LET'S KEEP IT REAL HERE.
YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN IN PRISON AND
I HAVE A RECORD.
THAT INCLUDES PROBABLY THREE
FELONIES.
SO IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT REALLY,
IT'S NOT TOO EASY FOR ME TO GO
IN WITH, YOU KNOW, A RESUMÉ IN
THE END TO A COMPANY.
ESPECIALLY WITH THAT WORK
HISTORY.
YOU KNOW I'M A CONSTRUCTION
WORKER.
I'M NOT A, A WORKHORSE, SO --
BUT I'M DONE WITH THAT.
I'M A LOT SMARTER THAN THAT.
AND I FEEL I DESERVE BETTER THAN
THAT.
NOT THAT I'M NOT TAKING AWAY
FROM THAT KIND OF WORK.
I JUST -- KNOW THAT MY BRAIN
WORKS DIFFERENTLY.
AND I THINK I HAVE A LOT MORE TO
OFFER THAN YOU KNOW, THAN JUST
DOING THAT RIGHT NOW.
AGAIN, I'M NOT SAYING IT IS YOU
KNOW, MY FATHER WORKED MANY
YEARS AS A LONG SHOREMAN, AS A
LABORER, AS A LONG SHOREMAN, I'M
NOT SAYING IT'S ANY, ANY KIND OF
WORK IS GOOD WORK.
BUT I JUST FEEL THAT
INTELLECTUALLY, IT'S NOT
STIMULATING ENOUGH FOR ME.
AND I'M THE TYPE OF GUY THAT
WON'T SLEEP.
I WON'T SLEEP UNLESS I FEEL THAT
I'M DOING SOMETHING CREATIVE,
AND SO THAT'S WHY I CHOSE THIS,
UNFORTUNATELY IT'S TOUGH BEING
IN THIS FIELD WITH SUCH FIERCE
COMPETITION OUT THERE.
BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL GOOD.
SO I LIKE COMPETITION.
SO IT'S GOOD.
>> YOU SEEM LIKE YOU LIKE A
CHALLENGE.
>> YEAH, I DO.
>> AND IT'S GOOD YOU HAVE THIS
OPTIMISTIC ATTITUDE, THIS ACT OF
TURNING THINGS AROUND.
DID YOU LEARN THAT?
OR IS THAT INNATE?
>> PEOPLE ACTUALLY FREAK OUT
BECAUSE I'M SO IN TUNE WITH
PEOPLE AND SO -- I'M VERY
INSIGHTFUL.
AND EVEN WHEN I WAS IN PROGRAMS,
THEY ASKED ME TO BECOME
COUNSELORS AND BECAUSE I WORK SO
WELL WITH PEOPLE.
I'M ABLE TO KIND OF LEAD PEOPLE
IN A REAL PRO FOUND AND REAL
DEEP WAY.
I KIND OF, IT WORKS FOR ME VERY
WELL.
WHEN I'M ON THE STREET
PHOTOGRAPHING.
BECAUSE I CAN WALK OVER TO A
TOTAL STRANGER AND KIND OF TALK
TO THEM FOR A MINUTE AND KIND OF
FEEL OUT IF THIS IS GOING TO
WORK OUT OR NOT.
AND SO, YEAH, THAT QUALITY, I DO
HAVE.
AND WHICH IS, PEOPLE FREAK, THEY
GET FREAKED OUT ABOUT IT.
THEY'RE LIKE GEEZ, HOW DO YOU
THAT?
HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
MY GIRLFRIEND, LIKE SHE FREAKS
ABOUT IT SHE THINKS LIKE I'M
WEIRD.
HOW THE HELL DO YOU KNOW THAT
THAT GUY WAS GOING TO SAY NO?
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THAT -- YOU
KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
JUST LIKE, SIGNS I PICK UP FROM
BEING ON THE STREET.
YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DEAL
WITH PEOPLE.
SO I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT
PSYCHOLOGY.
UNKNOWINGLY, I LEARNED ABOUT
PSYCHOLOGY OF PEOPLE.
>> HAVE YOU EVER HAD CONCERNS
ABOUT YOUR WORK, HOLDING BACK
FROM TAKING A RISK?
OR YOU KNOW, BEING AFRAID THAT
YOU MIGHT HAVE PUSHED TOO FAR?
>> YEAH, I ACTUALLY JUST AVOIDED
THE WHOLE YOU KNOW, SERIES OF
WORK SOMETIMES, BECAUSE I FELT
THAT IT WAS, AT THE TIME I
THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA.
AND THEN WHEN I TOOK A DEEP
THOUGHT AND INTRO SPEKTED MORE
DEEPLY.
I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BENEFIT
ME OR ANYBODY ELSE.
I DID WORK ON DRUG ABUSE AND
IT'S IMPORTANT, IT'S IMPORTANT.
BUT THE WAY I, IT WAS TOO
GRAPHIC FOR, I MEAN I WAS, IT
WAS GUYS AND A LOT OF IT WAS
TAPED ON FILM.
IT WAS IT WAS KIND OF LIKE
UNDERCOVER.
BUT NOT, I HAD TOTAL
PERMISSION,
BUT IT WAS GOING INTO PROJECT
HALLWAYS AND SHOOTING GALLERIES
AND PEOPLE SHOOTING HEROIN.
MY MISSION WAS TO BRING
ATTENTION TO, IN FIVE MINUTES I
GOT TEN BAGS OF HEROIN ON THE
STREET WITHOUT KNOWING A PERSON
ON THAT STREET.
OKAY.
SO FOR ME, IT WAS, I WANTED TO
USE IT AS A PLATFORM.
LIKE AS, I'M NOT A NEWS GUY.
BUT I KIND OF WANT TO PUT IT OUT
THERE AND SAY, AND SHOW PEOPLE.
LOOK HOW EASY IT IS.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS INFESTED WITH
HEROIN, OPIATES, OXYCONTIN, ALL
THESE PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS THAT
ARE KILLING KIDS.
AND I CAN'T TELL YOU THE
STAGGERING AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT
ARE DYING.
FOR ME IT WAS TOO GRAPHIC,
SO I ABORTED THE MISSION ON THAT
THAT WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT I
REALLY FELT THAT IT WAS TOO
MUCH, TOO MUCH SHOWING.
YOU KNOW.
>> WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO
GET FROM YOUR PHOTOS?
BOTH YOUR SUBJECTS, THE PEOPLE
THAT YOU PHOTOGRAPH, AND YOUR
AUDIENCE?
>> I WANT THEM TO SEE THE TRUTH.
I WANT THEM TO SEE, I WANT THEM
TO SEE MY SIDE OF HOW I SEE.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE MY WAY OF
SPEAKING.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE I'VE SHOT IN
THE PAST.
WHETHER THEY'RE ON THE BEACH OR
NOT, ARE PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE WALK
BY AND THEY KIND OF DON'T PAY
ATTENTION TO THEM.
AND I FIND THEM GREAT.
I FIND THEM COLORFUL AND FUNNY
AND SOME THAT, SOME OF THEM ARE
AND SOME ARE SAD.
BUT THEY'RE STILL PEOPLE AND
THEY'RE NEIGHBORS AND THEIR
SISTERS AND BROTHERS, THESE
PEOPLE, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT
LIKE FREAKS.
YOU KNOW?
SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, I GUESS
BECAUSE OF FEELING, FEELING LIKE
YOU KNOW, AN OUTSIDER, FOR SO
MANY YEARS.
I THINK THAT THAT'S MY WAY OF
KIND OF LIKE PAYING LIKE YOU
KNOW, KIND OF PAYING BACK, LIKE
KIND OF SHOWING PEOPLE THAT YOU
KNOW, PEOPLE DESERVE ATTENTION.
I WAS AN OUTSIDER, BECAUSE I
FELT I WAS BEING JUDGED.
BECAUSE OF MY MAYBE, WHAT I DID,
YOU KNOW, I MESSED WITH DRUGS
AND I DID THIS.
AND KIND OF PEOPLE KIND OF LIKE
YOU KNOW, CATEGORIZED ME.
SO I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO
BE CATEGORIZED AND PUSHED TO A
CERTAIN YOU KNOW KIND OF PUT IN
THAT CATEGORY.
AND SHELVED AND LABELED THAT
TYPE OF PERSON.
I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE YOU
KNOW, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE
SHOULD BE LABELED LIKE THAT I
THINK PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE.
AND YOU KNOW, MY NEIGHBORS YOU
KNOW, I HAVE NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE
KIDS THAT, THAT THEY COME TO ME,
MY SON IS ADDICTED TO HEROIN,
FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, WHERE DID
THIS COME FROM?
IT IS WHAT IT IS, MAN.
THAT'S ALL, IT'S ALL JUST THE
TRUTH.
YOU KNOW?
>> YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY COULD CHANGE
ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE
THAT TO BE?
>> IF IT COULD CHANGE ANYTHING?
I THINK I WOULD WANT TO CHANGE
THE WAY PEOPLE SEE PEOPLE.
I THINK PEOPLE DESERVE A FAIR
SHOT.
YOU KNOW.
I JUST WANT TO BRING JOY.
I WANT TO BRING -- THERE'S A LOT
OF THINGS I WANT TO DO WITH MY
PHOTOGRAPHY.
I'M NOT A ONE-WAY KIND OF GUY.
LIKE YOU KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF
DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I WANT TO
TELL PEOPLE ABOUT MY
PHOTOGRAPHY.
I WANT TO SHOW THEM MY
PHOTOGRAPHY.
SO TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, IT
WOULD HAVE TO BE JUST THE TRUTH
ALL IN ONE.
JUST THE TRUTH ABOUT SOCIETY AND
PEOPLE, REALLY.
THERE'S REALLY NO BETTER WAY TO
PUT IT THAN JUST THE TRUTH ABOUT
PEOPLE.
>> AND WHERE CAN PEOPLE SEE YOUR
WORK AND PURCHASE YOUR WORK?
>> I HAVE A WEBSITE, IT'S UP,
IT'S DONATODICAMILLO.COM.
AND ON INSTAGRAM IT'S DONATO DI
CAMILLO, BUT STAY TUNED FOR SOME
OF THE BETTER WORK THAT'S COMING
OUT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NEW STUFF
COMING OUT.
>> YOU'VE ALREADY GOT GOOD STUFF
OUT.
>> YEAH, I HOPE TO BE PUTTING
OUT REALLY, REALLY GOOD STUFF.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> IT WAS MY PLEASURE, I LOVED
BEING HERE, IT WAS GREAT.
♪♪
>> THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS
EPISODE OF "ITALICS," I'M
ANTHONY TAMBURRI.
♪ [THEME MUSIC] ♪
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét