Look closely at Daydrielane Osorio’s work and a beautiful duality begins to emerge: the scenes depict fragile, fleeting moments in life, but the rare medium — known as carbon transfer printing — is a time-intensive process that produces prints that last for centuries.
“In terms of subject matter, I’m focused on portraits and people,” says Osorio, “because that’s my way of communicating and connecting with the world: through people. Not necessarily elaborate portraits, but the little nuances of a simple, uncluttered, everyday life.”
Osorio was born in Jamaica, where her father ran a photography studio. She studied graphic design, painting, printmaking and photography in her home country before honing her craft — and spending hours in the darkroom — at Bennington College in Vermont.
“There, I learned about historical processes and photographic techniques from the 1800s, and I was blown away,” says Osorio, who moved to Greenville nine years ago, where she met renowned master photographer and Clemson University professor Samuel “Sandy” King.
“He [Sandy] introduced me to the carbon-transfer process,” says Osorio. “It’s just perfection in photography as far as I’m concerned. Once you know how to take the photograph and master the printing process, it results in these beautiful, permanent archival prints.”
For Osorio, the magic is in the moment that all of her hard work is revealed.
“It’s a very tedious process with a rich history, and I’m still learning. It’s funny, I hated chemistry in school, but this is very chemistry-based. If you don’t get the right substance together under the right circumstances, you could spend hours working on one print and ruin it in five seconds,” Osorio laughs. “But every time I peel [the print] back and reveal the final piece, I get goosebumps. It’s so exciting.”
The artist’s subjects naturally reflect the communities where she spends her time: with other Black and Jamaican individuals, as well as with children — she is a mother and former preschool teacher.
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“I think what draws people to my work is how I see the world, which comes from my background being born and bred on a tiny island,” reflects Osorio. “I had a very simple life, but it was rich in terms of the environment, the people and the culture. I’m big on authenticity, and that’s what I love about having a camera and capturing a real moment permanently on paper — because once you see that singular moment [unfold], you know it will never come again.”
Browse Osorio’s prints or commission a portrait at daydreamlanephotography.com, or follow the artist @daydream_lane.
