Meet Darrah Reese | Photographer and Sound Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Darrah Reese and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Darrah, how do you think about risk?
In my opinion, risk taking can be a controversial topic. It’s a trial and error type of thing and I believe taking risks requires a large amount of determination. It seems that when we’re young, we’re encouraged to take risks and the older we get, we become discouraged. After all, you have to be prepared for any consequences that come after whether it be positive or negative. In my experience, my determination and tenacity has allowed me to do things in my life that I would have never accomplished if I had been afraid to take that extra step. For a long time I felt intimidated by other photographers due to my lack of experience compared to others. However, lately I’ve been taking more risks and building my confidence which has resulted in opportunities to showcase my work.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Breaking into any type of creative industry can feel intimidating and my biggest challenge was overcoming my lack of confidence. I personally consider myself an artist and I like to view my work (both sound and photography) as a work of art. Since overcoming my self-doubt and anxiety I’ve noticed how many opportunities I had let slip away from me in the past. While things can feel intense at times, I understand now how important it is to trust my abilities and take advantage of the opportunities life hands me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’ve lived in San Marcos, TX for about 4 years now and I would say my favorite part about the area is living between San Antonio and Austin. Over the years I’ve gotten involved in the local music scene, which has been a great experience in and of itself. The energy you get attending local house shows is definitely something I think music lovers should experience at some point in their life. In addition to attending a local concert, I would say incorporating an interactive art museum into the itinerary is a must.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In “The Laughing Heart” by Charles Bukowski, he states “Your life is your life. Don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission”. I was about 20 when I first read this and I like to think of it as my personal wake up call. I feel like the older I get the harder it is to keep from falling in line with society’s expectations. At the time, I was in college and I felt like I was being pulled in many directions but they were all directions I didn’t wish to pursue. I was afraid of feeling like a disappointment or a failure for deciding to take a path that most people see no future in. Therefore, I had this idea that doing what I thought was best for me would be the wrong thing to do even after coming to the conclusion that it would make me happiest. It’s Charles Bukowski’s “The Laughing Heart” that continues to help me realize the importance of staying true to myself and to recognize that my life is mine and only mine.

Website: dreeseprints.squarespace.com

Instagram: @itsree2e