Luna Sweetheart: Daniella Almona’s vibrant and colorful photography showcases words that can't be conveyed
COLOR IS THE BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE TO REALITY- When we see color in photography it makes us feel as if we were actually part of that moment in time. Color evokes different emotions and sparks a reaction in us. Another factor that helps us to connect to photography is when we see individuals who look like us. People who share our experiences, our struggles and people who may share our self-love journey. Having positive representations of black and brown individuals in any aspect is very uplifting and something that should be seen more often. Daniella Almona is a Nigerian-born, Atlanta-based photographer who works in both film and digital photography. Almona specializes in capturing photos of the people in her community through vibrant and colorful portraits as well as black and white portraits which spotlights black and brown individuals.
Photography has become the medium in which Almona can express what she has no words for. Almona has mastered her craft for photography; she’s developed slow and methodical ways of shooting film photography and has found that digital photos allow her to experiment more with color and lights. Getting behind the lens has created a way for her to love herself; as she now has the means to see herself expressed in the photos she creates.
Read below to get to know Almona and what inspires her photography.
LUNA: Hey Daniella! Let's start off with a general question: How are you doing?
ALMONA: I can’t complain really. February threw me for a loop mental health wise but it’s Pisces season, it’s starting to warm up a little bit and I have been creating a lot more lately.
LUNA: How did you start your photography journey?
ALMONA: I had just moved to a new school in South Africa and [I was] at that stage where I had to figure out what was next, what I wanted to study in college, my interests, all of that. I was in multiple math and science classes and was so sure I was going to become a veterinary doctor. I had a friend who owned a camera because she was on the school’s media team and I asked to borrow it. I remember my dad having little cameras in the house growing up but I never messed around with them so I dragged another friend and we spent the whole afternoon taking photos of the most mundane things (laughs). It felt like night came so quickly but I knew I was going to ask for that camera the next day. Photography became the medium through which I could communicate the things I felt but had no words for as well as a key element in learning to love myself.
LUNA: How would you explain your work to someone who hasn't seen it?
ALMONA: In the simplest way I would say I take vibrant and colorful portraits of people in my community. [Black and brown individuals specifically].
LUNA: That’s honestly a beautiful and straight forward way to put it. I love to hear it. Overtime, how has your creative style developed?
ALMONA: I went from strictly shooting outdoors with natural light to being comfortable experimenting with lights and colors in the studio. I also went from shooting all sorts of things from events and sports to falling deeper in love with portraits, and getting close and personal with the people I photograph.
LUNA: You shoot both film and digital, depending on the shoot, do you find yourself approaching your work differently?
ALMONA: I am definitely more thoughtful, slow, and intentional when shooting on film. I know I have 10 shots and I need to make each one count. I also have to trust myself more and remember to breathe in between. That might sound silly but I noticed that when I shoot digitally I tend to rush through things and I am constantly pressing the shutter. On the other hand, because I have shot with a digital camera most of my photography journey, I am more comfortable when it comes to experimenting with colors and lights.
LUNA: I can totally relate when it comes to digital photography. It’s so easy to get lost in pressing the shutter release and film is definitely a reminder for us to take a step back and be more intentional with our work— What feeling do you want people to feel when seeing your photos?
ALMONA: I want the people I photograph and the people that see my photos to feel happy, empowered, and represented. I want them to feel beautiful because they are absolutely beautiful beings! I love photography so much because growing up a dark skinned black girl, I did not see a lot of people like me represented in positive ways. I want to create images that younger me would have loved to see and maybe she would have started loving herself earlier.
LUNA: What advice would you give to anyone starting photography?
ALMONA: Don’t forget to love the process of making images. It is really easy to get caught up in social media, engagements, going viral and the adrenalin and/or stress of it all, I still do. But I am learning to enjoy the little steps that come before that final photo and that is why I fell in love with film photography. From taking the photograph, to developing the rolls, scanning, and printing, I found more joy in these tactile processes and in turn deepened my love for my craft.
LUNA: That is such good advice and so important! Any upcoming plans for 2023?
ALMONA: I recently applied to grad school as the next step in my photography career. This year I want to read a lot more to inform my work but also because it’s pretty fun to live in these alternate realities; I do not beat the pisces dreamer allegations (laughs). I am also really excited to keep meeting and collaborating with other artists and just getting out of my shell.
LUNA: That’s exciting to hear! Can’t wait to see what this year has in store for you. Question for fun: If there was only one film brand left on earth, what brand is it and why?
ALMONA: I know there’s a lot of conversation around the price hikes but Kodak has my heart and unfortunately my wallet too. I love the versatility, the colors and the different options they have. Kodak Portra 400 was also the first color film roll I ever shot with and Tri-X 400 was the first B&W roll and where it all started.
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