Caribbean Dialogs

Rafael Barragán
Venezuela

Rafael Barragán was born in Venezuela but always wanted to live near the beach, so the invitation he received in 2015 to work in Aruba fulfilled one of his greatest wishes.

Rafael Barragán is a photographer with more than 10 years of experience who trusts a portrait more than a word.

Rafael Barragán dedicates his life to photography with no other passion than music and reading on the beach with his wife.

Rafael Barragán wants to thank you for reading this.

Damilice Mansur
Aruba

Damilice Mansur is an internationally renowned photographer who calls the sunny island of Aruba her home. She considers herself a citizen of the world, seeking to document global perspectives and natural beauty through her visual imagery and art. (She speaks English, Spanish, Dutch and the local language of Aruba - Papiamento - a mixture of Portuguese, Dutch, West African and Spanish.)

With a specialty focus in nature and wildlife photography, Damilice is an ardent advocate for conserving wildlife, preserving habitats, and protecting global biodiversity - especially in her birthplace of Aruba. She fiercely defends Aruba’s native and natural inheritance, seeking sustainability as an overall solution.

Damilice placed in National Geographic’s Nature Photographer of the Year for both 2014 and 2016, where her images were selected for Editor’s favorites. In 2016, her capture of a male peacock in marital plumage was chosen to illustrate National Geographic’s Photographer of the Year. She also received honorary recognition from the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year when one of her nature photographs made the highly competitive final rounds. The BBC in conjunction with Natural History Museum in London is considered one of the most prestigious photography contests in the world.

Other credits include:
National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest:
2017 Editors Pick for “Up in the Clouds” (Week 4)
National Geographic Top Shot:
Daily Dozen 02 October 2017 awarded for "Up in the Clouds"
National Geographic Photo of the day, 11th December 2018 for a picture of the Red Tailed Comet hummingbird.

Darlin Quiroz
Colombia

I am 23 years old, my mother emigrated from Colombia to Aruba when I was only 1 year old. For all intents and purpose the house we lived in on Aruba is the only house I have known. Coming from another land, speaking a different language at home you struggle with your identity, your history, your place on this small island you inhabit. You feel torn between the heritage of the family you left and the warmth of the family that embraced you. I found my home in photography, from the outside of the lens looking in, this has given my life purpose, this passion drives me to be a better person, to be a better human being.

Fernando Vermeer
Aruba

Studied art at the Gerrit Rietveld Art Academy. Known for his digital arts exhibitions around Aruba.