Behind the Prints is an ongoing interview series with the artists and photographers behind the Young Hero fundraising initiative Prints For Action.
Next up is Luis Santana. Julia Khoroshilov had a conversation with the artist where he explained the meaning behind his prints.
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Selected Organization: The Jamee Johnson Fund
Tell us a little bit about yourself: where you're from / you & your family's background.
New York born & raised, my father is of Dominican/Uruguayan decent & my mother African American. I’m a second generation photographer; my mother a midwife & nurse.
Can you elaborate on the photographs you took: The story behind them / when and where they were taken? Personally, what do these two photographs symbolize to you?
Tomorrow Belongs to the Bold was taken on the steps of The Brooklyn public Library where protestors congregated & gathered for a speech. Shooting film gives you a selective amount of exposure to work with & as I saw this man, the sun was in front of him which casted a silhouette of his figure. I knew if I angled my camera where the sun was directly behind his white sign it’ll illuminate the text & also more shape + detail in his body. The lighting was beautiful against his black skin & I couldn’t help but to be drawn to his statement.
George Floyd was taken during the protest marching to the Brooklyn public library along prospect park. I was drawn to the scale of the sign, knowing people worked on this the day prior + organizing the right people to hold up this sign throughout the day was so beautiful to witness.
I don’t think these photos symbolize anything directly but are rather literal statements to the sheer impact & out cry of injustice in America. We’re fed up. It’s time to take matters in our own hands & that’s the exact result of these images.
What does the organization you chose mean to you and why that specific one? Why do you feel others should be aware of it & supporting it as well?
The Jamee Johnson fund stood out to me because we live in a world where Black Death is normalized to an extent that it’s so difficult to keep track of all our brothers & sisters who were wrongfully taken from us. I wanted to educate myself about a fund I wasn’t as familiar with & bring more awareness to.
Luis’ Prints for Action
Sunset photo shot by: @helveticafont