about Darren Smith is an Amsterdam-based photographer whose work explores the intersection of identity, ritual, and social environments, focusing on how individuals construct and perform presence within collective contexts.
Since 2016, his work Mayflies is a photographic series that continues to evolve on temporary communities, ritual time, and the construction of identity. The project is regularly expanded. instagram | email
Cases
Advertising & Key Art
WILDCARDS
Key Art and Character Portraits
Client: BLacklight Director: Wes Miller Producer: Andrew van Houten Design: Small Dog Canada
Contrasting jurors debate evidence intensely as deliberations unfold. An enigmatic Wildcard witness emerges, claiming truth about the night, sparking turmoil. Her ties to the accused raise questions of bias and justice.
Shot on location in Orlando, Florida.
[In Progress]
BLACK HEAT
Key Art and Character Portraits
Client: BLacklight, Dark Star Films Director: Wes Miller Producer: Andrew van Houten Design: Small Dog Canada
One night, two parents, out of options, infiltrate a top level drug dealer/pimp's apartment complex to rescue their teenage daughter.
Client: BLacklight / BET+ Director: Wes Miller Producer: Andrew van Houten Design: Small Dog Canada
After the courthouse is hijacked by Black Caesar, brother of Sean Samuels, who has just been sentenced, Judge Jaeda King must rely on her strength and skills to find a way to end the standoff, save the hostages, and make her escape.
Client: Dranquilo, Ministry of Health & Sport Agency: ROORDA Creative: Barry Bol & Joris Bellemakers
Retouch: Leonard van Vliet
A public awareness initiative launched in the Netherlands by the Ministry of Health. It aims to reduce social pressure to drink alcohol by normalizing the choice to drink less or not at all in social settings.
A series of moving photographs for digital displays in public spaces across the Netherlands.
Client: TOTO KONING Agency: TBWA / NEBOKO Art Director: Billy Witbraad, Laura Bording
Retouch: Leonard van Vliet
Rapper Maradonnie and football legend Sjaak Swart in the iconic KING TOTO advertising campaign. In these commercials, which significantly increased brand awareness, they challenged each other and dethroned one antother as King ‘Toto’.
Client: Minsitry of Defense Agency: Steam Talmark Art Director: Laura Bording Design: Martin van Triest Retouch: Leonard van Vliet
Portraits of real soldiers from different backgrounds, from the 4 different branches of Dutch military. Displayed on digital screens, and Out of Home on historic ‘pepperpot’ panels across the Netherlands.
Client: Westknits
Art Direction: Stephen West & Darren Smith
Graphic design: Stefan Gunnasch
Hiberknitting Number 1 is a warm and woolly mini-collection of knits perfect for cold nights by Stephen West, the Amsterdam based designer. Hiberknitting Number 1 was published in 2019 and features six patterns to inspire and comfort knitters.
Client: Ministry of Infrastructure and Waterstaat
Agency: ROORDA
The "Knalplanga" campaign was a 2018 Dutch government initiative featuring rapper Donnie (Maradonnie) to encourage young people to wear protective firework glasses during New Year's Eve. It transformed the uncool safety glasses into a trendy fashion accessory through a catchy music video and track.
Shot on location in attachment with the music video.