Mayflies

Over seven years, Amsterdam-based photographer Darren Smith travelled across three continents to capture moments of radical self-expression and human connection at festivals, spectacles, and cultural gatherings. His completed work, Mayflies, presents 122 studio portraits of individuals transformed into unique personas, stripped of background to focus on their moment of total self-expression.

Inspired by the brief but brilliant life of the mayfly, Smith’s portraits celebrate those who embrace their alter egos with intensity and ephemerality. From the swirling dust of the Mojave Desert to the underground vogue ballrooms of Paris, these images showcase real people captured in spaces where self-expression, creativity, and passion are celebrated. Each photograph represents a fleeting moment, removed from the surrounding festivities, where each individual stands before the camera in a temporary studio setting. By isolating his subjects in this way, Smith draws attention to their bold authenticity, vulnerability, and the innate human desire to be seen, valued, and connected.

This book reveals the diversity within subcultures and the remarkable creativity that flourishes within them. More than just a collection of portraits, it is a powerful tribute to community, individuality, and the artistry of human expression.