Dante DiGiovanni
Born and raised in Upstate New York. It all began with a camera and a life of journeys to be captured. My line of work revolves around Commercial and Lifestyle Photographer & Videographer with a strong passion for capturing stories, all being outdoors where I thrive as a creator. I've been capturing photographs & exploring over the past 6 years, and my passion has led me to where I am today. When I’m out thriving in my journeys through life capturing every moment, you kind of find me amongst the wilderness, doing crazy fun things with friends and family, along with meeting new people, exploring new places, and making new memories as life goes on. I always like to say “Life is one big picture” - Upstate New York is where I was born and raised. I've been immersed in the region's beautiful landscapes for as long as I can remember. What keeps me always coming back from where I'm from is my family and friends, the beautiful destinations and landscape to explore, and the amazing places to meet and eat. For parts of the year I'm away from home in the New England area for college and work in my photography field, so any chance I get to come back home, I pack up all my gear and head home for weekend getaways.
What is your favorite place to visit in Upstate?
Anytime I'm back in Upstate New York I always can find myself going back to one of my favorite places in the region and that's Kaarskill Falls. No matter how many times I travel to this place it still brings me joy, and I can always find myself making new memories and meeting new people and other photographers in the area. Just being able to come to a destination to just explore and photograph makes me so happy, along with being able to do so with people close to me while also meeting new people and making new connections with the locals in my area.
What is your absolute favorite food / bar / coffee spot in Upstate NY?
All-time favorite place to kick back and relax and enjoy some good food and drinks is The Circle W in Palenville NY. It's a small town I pay through most on my journeys especially going up to Kaaterskill Falls. It's a small general store with a rustic look, making great homemade meals and drinks, along with selling local creators' goods along with their own.
What inspired your interest in photography?
All my interest in photography comes from the lifestyle. Being able to capture my journeys throughout life through a lens gives me a chance to look back and relive those amazing moments in my life. I believe that life is one big picture, and it's a statement I live by to this day. Being able to capture not just my life, but others along the way throughout my journeys brings me so much joy. Being photography inspires me to live my life through my camera and where it brings me through life, I wouldn't be where I am today and get to experience the things I have so far in life and meet the people I've met throughout my journeys.
What are your favorite elements of life to shoot?
My favorite element of life to shoot is my journeys and the people who are with me through them. Capturing the moments that we all get to share together within the places were in. I couldn't ask for anything better in life than what I do now with the people around me that I care about. It's the lifestyle shooting for me. From the times out exploring the wilderness with good people, to kicking back and relaxing with some good food and people sharing our memories throughout life.
What’s your favorite part of your job/hobby?
My favorite part of my job/hobby is where its brought me in life and who the people I've meant throughout it. Making memories and enjoying new experiences and capturing it all through my lens.
Do you draw any inspiration from pop culture that helps with creativity like a favorite book or movie?
Any inspiration throughout culture that inspires my photography and journeys would be the people who live the "granola lifestyle" I've always loved seeing and hearing about people living this style of life, from the places they've been and the memories they've made. The Granola culture is inextricably bound to the notion of being outdoorsy, which means that those in this category are eager to experience all that our planet has to offer. Likewise, granola folk tend to live life to the fullest and just love life. This is the kinda lifestyle that I've grown to love and see throughout life. All inspection comes from the people.
If you could think of one song that encapsulates your style of photography what would it be?
Hands day the song that encapsulates my style and photography would be Coastline by Hollow Coves. All its relation to big plans and having great dreams and moving on through life. That's all I'm about, a big dreamer with big plans, and not stopping for anything, it's all about bettering my life throughout it all. Living life to the fullest and capturing my journeys through a lens, experiencing amazing moments by myself and with others.
What advice would you give anyone who is interested in getting into photography?
Any advice I can give to the people in this vast community of creators is to never stop believing and pushing yourself throughout your way of creating. Live every moment like it's your last, live through your work, and make amazing memories through it all to look back on. Take risks, go with your gut, do that thing you've always wanted to do. The is past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it. Do what you love so you can look back on it through any means possible. Life is one big picture.
Visit them online or follow them to see all their amazing work and to learn more:
Website: www.dantesjourneys.com
Instagram: @dantesjourney
Facebook Page: Danté DiGiovanni Photography