BEHIND THE LENS

by Joselyn Rivera

Donjai (b. Joseph Gilmore New York, NY, 1986) has been photographing since International Center of Photography at The Point was conceived in 1997 at the age of 10. Besides being featured on PBS City Arts at the age of 11, this experience has given “The World’s Flyest Photograher” the opportunity to photograph for Wild Life Conservation Society, J.M Kapland Fund, and Ford Fashion Week, among others. An abundance of this early work has been recognized for 3200 film grain. In recent years he’s assisting Ondrea Barbe and building a progressive portfolio candidly documenting lifestyle; producing images conveying Hip-Hop as a tool for social change.

Although some of his claim to fame in his archive consist of Naomi Campbell’s or Mayor Bloomberg’s discrete visit to The Bronx, paparazzi never motivated him for he has earned respect and built relationships to grace the stages and behind the curtains with top acts in the music industry to maintain exclusive performance images and personal photo shoots documentary style. He currently returns the gift of conventional photography he has been taught as a Teacher Assistant at ICP and furthers his education via the Jocelyne Bezekin (JB) Fellowship still considering himself a student of the arts completing a 360-degree circle from student to freelancer to teacher and now employer overseeing Rockpaperscissors.com media giving talented artist a chance to say shoot! in video production, his new found love. Capitalizing off of his reputation enables him to host events through out NYC and has opened doors for galleries, movies and social initiatives throughout his past and with in the near future.