“We are all just searching for connection. Photography can create space to really do that.”
Sabrina’s favorite spot in New York is the WIlliamsburg Bridge. A lot of the time we have spent together has been on that bridge. Raving about the colors, shapes, and the environment of the bridge. It has some of the best people watching you can find in New York. We lay on the ground smoking cigarettes feeling the train pass just a few feet away.
Sabrina Santiago is a photographer based in Brooklyn, New York with a focus on photo journalism, street photography, and environmental portraiture. She is a consistent contributor to the New York Times and is known for her work with Polaroid, Ryan McGinely, GUCCI, i-D magazine and other major publications. Sabrina’s has a collection of photo series both continuous and completed that encapsulate how truly special her perspective is. Her Roof series photographing women of all denominations and looks on her roof gleams with intimacy and understanding. Giving the viewer a sense of comfort, involvement, and immediate reverence of the subject. Similarly to her Hair series exploring Afro-Carribean hair culture in Brooklyn her approach is obviously special through the expressions and depictions of her subjects. Sabrina curates the subjects and premises of her series through her appreciation and acute understanding of the human spirit. Her point of view, way of thinking, and deep understanding of what aspects make human connections substantive set her apart from her peers.
The first time Sabrina discovered her obsession with photography was looking at the photos her father had taken of her mother. She remembers looking at their photo albums and admired them as treasures. All of the images were printed and she reflects on the intimacy of both the contents of the photos but also the joy of being tactile with such a meaningful time capsule of her background. Sabrina could feel the deep connection and intimacy transmuted through those images. Looking at those photos transported her to a time and a place and she craved to do the same which inspires her approach and practice. Her father gave her her first camera at the age of 10 and credits him with giving her the gift of photography. The first photo she took was in Arizona of a landscape and she decided that this is what she wanted to do. She found her roots taking photos of friends. When she began taking photos of other people her practice began to form. Switching to film at the age of 14 was transformative for her and deepened her connection to photography. When she took a darkroom class her connection to photography deepened further. Seeing her mentors practice their mediums for 25 years inspires her to strive for the same.
Sabrina began her professional career interning for a stylist for 2 years. Every time she was on set she was more interested in the photographer's practice. Sabrina watched many photographers on set and that helped form her initial approach. With her first experiences on set being in the studio, after formulating her own approach Sabrina now feels more connected to the streets. Everything she photographs is an extension of herself. Her work communicates her subjects in an environment where the viewers can imagine more deeply. Sabrina says, “When you put people in an environment where they can feel themselves, I feel like that is really what hits home for me.” She asks, why would she shoot in a room with a blank background when we are in the most interesting city in the world.