The Protests in L.A., Seen Through the Eyes of a Commercial Director
Sam Ciaramitaro's portraits of grief and defiance
Photography and photojournalism have always been a passion for me, and I’ve been shooting street photography since April 2013.
I have shot all over the world. The U.S., Spain, Italy, France, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, to name a few. I am drawn to it because it is a single solitary thing for me. As a director or producer, I work with large teams. With street photography, I make all the creative decisions myself and in a split second.
This type of street photography helps me focus on what is really happening around me. It gives me an opportunity to connect with my subjects. I’m interested in all people and their experiences, feelings and emotions.
I’m also new to L.A. The year before the pandemic was one of the hardest of my life … divorce, cross-country move, getting myself back. So on some level, I am in a raw state.
I have been coming to L.A. for 20 years for work, and so I am very familiar with it, but now I see it in a way I never did before and it’s powerful to me.
I just want to experience and share with people what’s going on and this is the only way I can do it. I am watching, listening and ALWAYS learning.
Below is a selection of Ciaramitaro’s photos from recent days.