Meet David-Simon Dayan

Today we’d like to introduce you to David-Simon Dayan.

Thanks for sharing your story with us David-Simon. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Where do I begin? I’ve always been an observer. I consumed films and novels with an insatiable appetite. I spent much of my life peering into the lives of others and naturally found my way into both photography and writing. I was originally interested in pursuing film, which really marries the two. I wasn’t raised in an environment that advocates for creativity or art as a whole, so I’ve really entered into this on my own. It wasn’t until university that I was introduced to the craft of photography and its history. And then slowly, my own practice developed. Regarding my writing, there’s a voyeuristic through line it seems, as with photography. One’s perspective on a character, on seeing another human and documenting them, or a certain part of them at least.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Is anything? Any working artist can attest to the struggle of balancing commercial and personal work. There are lulls, and you have to be prepared for them, and it takes a lot of mental strength to power through them. Everything has its time, and it’s a challenge moving forward, creating work just for the sake of creating, but being careful not to force anything that isn’t ready yet. And my relationship with external feedback is tumultuous to say the least.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
My photography focuses on portraiture. I shoot people, using both digital and analog. The relationship to self and physical being interests me, to self and others, to gender and visual expression. As a member of a community with such brilliant and unique individuals, it’s always a pleasure and honor really, to photograph people, to tell a story with them.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is simultaneously important and impossible to define, especially when no two bodies of work or careers are identical. It’s ever-changing. Right now, success for me is defined by my own take on my work, whether I think it’s the best it could be. If I look at a photo and have to stop in my tracks, or if something I’ve written makes me feel, then I feel I’ve done it justice. Success is often defined by the response of others, which is a curse because then one can find themself caught in this loop of hope and disappointment, desperation and rejection. I’ve been lucky to have a handful of full-circle moments when people I really admired asked me to photograph them, and am grateful for those.

Contact Info:

• Website: sirdavidsimon.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sirdavidsimon/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidsimondayan

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