Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Carnahan.
Hi Donna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Photography comes naturally to me ever since my aunt gave me a vintage camera when I was a child growing up in Houston. Having traveled to over 20 countries, I curated thousands of images digitally and decided I wanted to share my favorite landscape photos with my hometown. In 2018, I began exhibiting my photography collection in a fashion boutique, followed by showings in wine bars, hotels, event spaces, cultural centers, decorative centers, furniture stores, country clubs, and health clubs throughout the greater Houston area. When the pandemic shut businesses down in 2020, I decided to take a leap of faith and open my own studio in Arts District Houston to display my fine art photography that I had been creating on canvas, aluminum metal, and metallic paper. It was during that time when I couldn’t travel that I focused on my photography career and got featured in Forbes magazine and then LandEscape Art Review out of Europe, with an interview and 25-page spread, including 14 of my images. I participated virtually in FotoFest Biennial by having my portfolio reviewed by curators, gallery owners, art advisors and collectors from all over the world. I also joined Visual Arts Alliance and 2 of my pieces were chosen for a juried exhibit. As I built a name for myself in the art world, my limited edition fine art photographs began to sell. Following my studio opening, I was chosen by the international curatorial board of the XIII Florence Biennale Art + Design exhibition in 2021. Delighted to be able to travel back to Italy and exhibit along with 400 artists from over 70 countries. I worked for 8 days and my art was seen by 10,000 people from around the world. Currently, I am featured on Artsper.com, an online art gallery out of Paris, as well as my own website ladonnafoto.com.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Life always unveils struggles, so that we can strive to overcome them, and I feel that I learn and hopefully improve from them. Living in an electronic world has always presented challenges for me as a photographer. Everything from losing files or having corrupted files, to having one of my cameras stolen before backing up the beautiful images I shot on the coast of Amalfi. I cannot go back and recreate a photograph the exact same way, because the lighting, the atmosphere, the landscape, and architecture are constantly changing. Some of the most beautiful flowers bloom in early spring and I must capture the image as soon as I witness the natural beauty. Otherwise, it will be gone the next time I try to find it,
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am known for and specialize in Italian landscape photographs from 10 different regions. My pentaptych, 5 piece canvas, of a Tuscan vineyard in the summertime was chosen by Forbes magazine for its unique display of photography. I typically capture my images while on foot, taking life at a slower pace when I am traveling, so as not to miss any details found along my journey. I studied the Italian language, art, history, and culture to gain a better understanding. This opened doors for me to discover the hidden gems that only the natives can point me to.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I am celebrating the 4-year anniversary of La Donna Foto, my collection of international landscapes, with 4 upcoming exhibits in Houston. On June 30, 2022, I will be exhibiting in the iconic Marathon Oil Tower. I was invited by a renowned artist to participate in a group exhibit in the Arts District, on July 9th, followed by a solo exhibit at Circa Real Estate office in the Heights during White Linen Night on August 6th. FotoFest Biennial ’22 accepted my art exhibit for Participating Spaces, sponsored by Czech Center Museum during Czech heritage month. I hope to see you at one or all of my Houston exhibits!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ladonnafoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladonnafoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fotoladonna
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl88hel3Py3nlMqH7Xb2_7A
Image Credits
Donna Carnahan
