A little about me
I’m a Paris-based photographer, writer, and lifelong observer of things that most people walk past.
I was born in San Francisco, grew up in Manila, and have called Paris home since 2016.
I’ve spent years exploring photography in its many forms, from street and architectural photography to portraiture, travel, still life, and experimental work. I shoot both film and digital.
My photographic journey has taken me from documenting concerts, to photographing streets, landscapes, and people across different countries. I’ve spent an arguably unreasonable amount of time thinking about light.
Outside photography, a heavy metal enthusiast, and a lover of long walks. I’m an introvert who enjoys photographing strangers. I love experimenting with cameras, breaking photographic conventions, and finding unexpected beauty in ordinary places.
Photography remains a source of curiosity and joy, not another productivity contest. I’m not here to tell you there’s only one right way to make a photograph. I’m here to explore the many wonderful ways we can see.
Welcome. I’m glad you’re here.
Field Notes on Seeing is a photography and creativity publication about learning to see the world a little differently. It’s a space for photographers, artists, curious observers, and anyone who believes that ordinary things deserve a second look.
I write about photography not just as a technical craft, but as a way of thinking, remembering, creating, and understanding the world around us.
Expect a mix of:
Long-form essays on photography, art, creativity, and the human experience
Personal camera reviews, analog and digital experiments, and practical insights
Photo essays and behind-the-scenes stories from my own work
Short observations, photographs, and occasional creative provocations through Substack Notes
Publishing schedule: I aim to share a new feature approximately once a week, alongside shorter Notes and photos throughout the week. Sometimes creativity follows a schedule. Sometimes it takes a detour.
Subscription: You can read and subscribe for free. Paid subscriptions are an optional way to support my independent photography and writing, with additional content and subscriber benefits.
No algorithms deciding what you should see. Just photographs, words, and the occasional existential crisis about whether I really need another camera.
Why subscribe?
Because photography is more enjoyable when we have people to share our curiosity with.
Whether you’re an experienced photographer, someone picking up a camera for the first time, or simply a person who enjoys looking at beautiful and interesting things, you’re welcome here.
Free subscribers receive
New public essays and photo stories delivered directly to their inbox.
Camera discussions, creative reflections, and practical photography insights.
Access to my public Substack Notes and conversations.
A place to exchange ideas, ask questions, and connect with other curious photographers.
Paid subscribers help keep this publication independent
Your support helps me continue writing, photographing, experimenting with film and digital cameras, and sharing the process behind my work.
Paid membership is intended to offer a little more of what happens behind the photographs, including:
Exclusive essays and more personal reflections on the creative process
Behind-the-scenes breakdowns of selected photographs, including lighting, equipment, and creative decisions
Early access to selected photography projects and works in progress
Occasional subscriber-only photo journals and creative experiments
Think of a paid subscription as buying me a coffee. Except there’s a reasonable chance I’ll spend it on film.
Free or paid, I’m grateful you’re here. The most important thing is building a community of people who love photography for the act of seeing, not just the pursuit of likes, awards, or recognition.
Find me elsewhere
I tend to leave photographs scattered across the internet. Here are a few places you can find more of my work:
Portfolio: HeyDoranne.com
Instagram: @HeyDoranne
My camera gear, favorite accessories, and how I print photos at home
Shoot First. Overthink Later.
A photo club for people who’d rather take the shot than overthink it.
Unpublished frames, behind-the-scenes chaos, camera obsessions, creative experiments, and occasional questionable decisions.
Digital, analog, imperfect, experimental… everyone’s welcome.
Less perfection. More photography.
Join by scanning the QR code below with your phone, or clicking here if you are reading this page with your phone.
One last thought
I don’t believe every photograph needs to tell an important story.
Some photographs exist because something caught our attention for half a second. Some become precious years later. Others simply remind us that, for one brief moment, we were paying attention.
And perhaps that’s enough.
Thank you for being here. I hope Field Notes on Seeing encourages you to look a little longer, notice a little more, and keep shooting, even when nobody is watching.
— Doranne
