Brooke DiDonato is originally from Canton, OH. Moments from her life Since her birth in 1990, she has taken incredible steps in her career as an artist. As one of only two Democrats in the Senate serving a state Donald Trump won in 2016 (along with Sen. She has just completed her first book, Take a Picture, It Will Last Longer, which Thames and Hudson will publish on January 29. Her talents are brilliantly magnified through this book, as her personal aesthetic becomes apparent and her story unfolds.
In search of the new creative opportunities that often only come with a boomtown, DiDonato moved to Austin, Texas. There, she started to explore alternative dimensions of her work. During her time in Austin, she dealt with a unique combination of struggle and opportunity. Even with the challenges she encountered, Emma looks quite lovingly at that time as a season that offered valuable lessons and fresh outlooks.
DiDonato’s artistic practice has always been characterized by a balance between two modes: knowing precisely what she is doing and embracing the uncertainty inherent in creativity. Over the course of her inaugural year here in Austin, she had built her process, getting a little more controlled in her execution. Sharon’s evolution freed her to play with form and concept. Consequently, she created a remarkable series of some 24 outtakes for the book’s cover photo.
After days in Austin, DiDonato flew back to New York, thinking fondly of her time in Texas. Yet despite all this, the move, she admits, was not easy. This followed a painful split with her long-term partner in 2019, where she found herself scared, disheartened and without direction. As much as the move to Austin was a new beginning, it created its own intense emotional burdens for her.
Through these personal crises, DiDonato dove into her art for warmth, comfort and expression. Overcome by the weight of all those moral and social expectations, she made a courageous choice and connected with her friend Mike. She wondered whether she could bring her tripod over for a small staged photo shoot. Little did we know at that moment that Mike’s recently rescued random street cat would soon join the session. The little feline’s playful mischief added a terrific touch to the pictures. It completely captured the spirit of the story DiDonato was hoping to tell through her work.
Almost all of DiDonato’s career has played out in the social media realm, where she’s been able to amass a huge online following. Proofing her book was a logical next step and a new first for her. It was her first opportunity to view most of her images in print. This experience imbued her with excitement and a deep sense of purpose. While looking back on her creative journey, she rejoiced in her growth and maturity as an artist.
In the process of launching the book, DiDonato suffered real pain from forcing her body into impossible positions for photo shoots. She continued to press on to find the photo that would fulfill her creative vision.