Dowmut's Nostalgia
Day of a Million Champions, a series by Dana on Instagram (@dowmut).
I first scrolled through Dana's Instagram feed when she sent a submission, and her style grabbed enough attention for me to stop what I was doing and let the details sink in. I felt a wave of foreign, dreamy nostalgia. With a style that combines both haziness and luster, Dana will make you travel to a 35mm indie island that radiates a hazy sunshine. I interviewed Dana to talk about her creative process, what inspires her, and where she stems her photos from.
JOOD ALTHUKAIR: Why did you choose photography and not any other form of art to express yourself?
DANA: I often have that ‘is-this-a-suppressed-memory-or-a-dream?’ type of moment. At some point in my life, memory loss was a recurring agony. Sometimes, I don’t remember what I ate for lunch, or which year I’m in. I felt this obligation to give all the memories who made me who I am a channel to manifest themselves in. Photography gave them their right back without having to categorize them chronologically. The same channel has allowed me to feed a hungry nostalgia. I’m visiting my grandmother in her youth, births of civilizations, and anything deriving from warmth.
What sets you apart from other photographers?
I have something to say with empathy. I document the peripheries of alternate realities through an expressed interest in my region in a non-orientalist way. To the best of my abilities, I try to express the surreal symbolism recurring in my life. Everything should have a chance to see an image of itself, even trees. It is important to reflect positively. I believe things look most beautiful when their true form and the photographer's benevolence coincide.
What got you into photography?
I was eight. My brother always wanted pictures of him to flex on his Facebook friends. I was like, hey, this is kind of fun and timeless.
Describe the process of taking a photo? What are some of the things (apart from the technical ones) that you do in order to get the perfect photo?
At times I’m graced with the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon, I feel it urges me to document that overlap or frequency of things. Sometimes, I’d see the same tree surviving in my parent’s childhood into my adulthood. I’ll experiment with life forms while living in every timeline simultaneously. I weave the two alternate realities together in one immortal frame.
Tell us about the first photo that you’ve ever taken.
I don't remember, it was probably good, though. ◆
Jood is the founder of this site. Find her on her Instagram here.