Mayflies: The Art of Living for One Day

Photographer Darren Smith explores how masks, costumes, and fleeting rituals reveal identity and belonging across cultures.

What can temporary rituals teach us about identity and belonging?

Photographer Darren Smith takes us inside Mayflies — a portrait project that began in Amsterdam’s nightlife and grew into a global exploration of festivals, rituals, and fleeting communities. Over three continents and more than 1,000 portraits later, he asks:

• How do temporary rituals shape our understanding of self?
• What role do masks, costumes, and celebration play in constructing identity?
• How can photography preserve moments that disappear in an instant?

From Burning Man to Día de los Muertos, Mayflies reveals the cultural power of gatherings where creativity, freedom, and community collide. Now collected in a 208-page photo book (Lecturis, 2024), Darren shares the stories behind the images and reflects on how these fleeting encounters shape our sense of culture and belonging.

 

Darren Smith (1984, Virginia, USA) is a portrait and advertising photographer based in Amsterdam. Known for his bold, vibrant style, his work explores identity, self-expression, and belonging. Raised in the Appalachian Mountains, Darren developed a deep respect for those who defy convention — a perspective that defines his photographic voice.

His debut monograph, Mayflies, was published by Lecturis in 2024 and is distributed internationally by IDEA Books.