DAN-IMALS - Volume I: What they might really be saying...

I love animals. I love them mainly for their innocence, and I love photographing them for many other reasons, such as their beauty, colors, textures, uniqueness, form, etc.; and naturally, for their expressions. Sometimes, If one is very observant, many creatures will display a range of expressions that are very similar to ours. These can be very fleeting, but if your finger is ready on the shutter, and your eye is following their every move, they can be captured for all time. Of course, the human-like expressions come from the apes and monkeys, but just about any of them can convey an attitude, a pose, or a certain look that can well be termed as a ＂communicative moment.＂ Sometimes, their photographs need no comment at all, just their presence is more than enough, even with no discernible expression. But I especially enjoy it when they seem to be saying something, that to me, looks very expressive and funny. At those times, I just can’t help but imagine a caption for my thoughts. I like to think that if they could reason and go along with this, they would certainly love to be in on the game. About Dan Barba, photographer: Originally having practiced as an Engineer, and not finding the work fulfilling, I picked up the photo hobby, or ’bug.’ Eventually, I ended up as a full time pro photographer in South Florida. Soon thereafter I moved to Manhattan, NY with my wife, Olga. There, I worked with the leading Advertising Agencies, corporations and magazines, initially shooting fashion and beauty and later on, large format still life commercials for single ads and/or campaigns. So at one point, after a fruitful career, I retired. But I continue to shoot (for myself only) personal creative work, which is what I originally went into photography for. No more creative constraints now. Anything that strikes my eye is game. This is what really fulfills me, and not only shooting pictures, but hand-holding them all the way to the finished concept through the wonderful medium of today’s digital workflow. Now, I would like to share this small collection with all those with an appreciative eye. No animals have been retouched in this book. All expressions are original and real. Only color correction, dust removal & cropping have been done.