We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jason and Amanda Ray. Check out our conversation below.
Jason and Amanda, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
We are so proud to announce that we have been sponsored by the Arts Council England and the UK Government for Tier 1 Global Talent Sponsorship for our global contributions to fine art and culture. We now reside in the United Kingdom full time, and we couldn’t be more proud and/or thankful for this wonderful honor!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
We (Amanda and Jason Ray) are a husband-and-wife fine art photography duo whose evocative, dream-laden work emerges from the intersection of memory, decay, and haunting beauty. Operating under the name Double Negative Photography, we are internationally recognized for our mastery of traditional film techniques, especially medium format, and our commitment to a poetic, cinematic aesthetic.
At its heart, our work is a visual meditation on trauma, healing, ruin, and renewal. Our images often unfold in natural light within decaying or overgrown environments—abandoned buildings, overrun forests, silent cemeteries—where human figures (if present) are obscured or partially concealed. This intentional ambiguity invites viewers to bring their own stories into the frame.
We describe our work as existing “between ruin and renewal, between the haunted and the healed.” We are drawn to motifs of silence and melancholy—not as ends in themselves, but as doorways to quiet introspection. Our personal inspirations are as rich as our imagery: travel, thunderstorms, poetry, fairies, and ghosts all find resonance in our team’s creative life. We spend most of our time in cemeteries and deep in the forest, communing with kindred spirits.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Having both shared childhood trauma and loss, we both had tendencies in our youth to be quite self destructive. We took risks as children, teenagers, and young adults that were not only dangerous to our futures, but also dangerous to ourselves. Through our growth as individuals (both together and alone), and through our art, we have realized that trauma can only lead to two things: destruction or creation. We have left the destructive, inward focused approach to dealing with trauma behind us. In its place, we’ve begun using our negative life experiences as fuel to our creative fires.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely! There were countless times we almost threw in the towel! For the first couple of years while we were developing our craft (and film – pun intended), we would view our film negatives to find photographs we’d worked tirelessly on that were unusable. Some were under developed, others were over developed, even others had unusable composition. It felt incredibly discouraging to spend countless hours and more money/time than we’d care to think about producing art, only to fail.
We’ve certainly shed our share of tears and even been at the brink of a couple of nervous breakdowns. But all in all, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Through our fellowship granted by the Mississippi Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, we were able to purchase a high quality light meter, which substantially improved our photographic exposure. Moreover, failure is the most important aspect of personal and creative development. Without failure, there is no room for growth. Through trial and error, we’ve discovered what works for us, and what doesn’t. So now, when we get our film negatives back, we are much happier and more confident with the results.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
We feel (and know from personal experience) that the industry standard of high budget art projects is completely unnecessary. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to create meaningful art. You don’t have to buy the fanciest camera with an array of lenses and attachments. You don’t necessarily need a stylist, a makeup and/or hair artist, fancy jewelry, professional lighting rigs, and world class locations. All you really need is the passion and desire to tell a story.
In fact, limitation can be extremely creatively stimulating! Let’s say all you have lying around is your dad’s old 35mm camera from the ’90s and a roll of yarn – then you’re set! Thinking within those limitations, you could wrap your own arm in yarn, step outside, find yourself a beam of sunlight, snap a photo of your arm and voila! You’ve just created something both interesting and unique – all from having limitations.
There are many artists who purposefully impose limitations on themselves to improve their art. There are painters who sometimes paint with only two colors in order to challenge themselves and create a distinctively unique work of art. There have been filmmakers who have won awards at Sundance Film Festival with nothing more than an iPhone, a couple of friends, and a tape recorder.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to be successful in the arts. You just have to use your imagination and work with what you have.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. We do this every day. In fact, for the first many years we created art, our families didn’t understand our photography at all. They may have thought it was “cute that we had a hobby”, but they didn’t understand what we were trying to achieve.
Our art is dark, macabre, thought provoking, evocative, strange, melancholy, and bizarre. In fact, we suppose our art made our family and friends more confused (and maybe even uncomfortable) than anything.
We feel it’s important for artists to keep in mind that they may never receive praise for their art. True art isn’t created for the sake of validation or receiving verbal support. True art is created as a form of self expression – no matter what the outcome – no matter if no one ever likes it or even sees it. Art should be created for the pleasure of the artist, not necessarily the viewer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.doublenegativephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doublenegativephotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doublenegativephoto
- Other: Vogue: https://www.vogue.com/photovogue/photographers/221035
Image Credits
Jason Ray & Amanda Ray – Double Negative Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
