Cover of Mayflies by Darren Smith on a coffee table
The Book

Mayflies

by Darren Smith — A luxury fine art photography book exploring identity, ritual, and the power of temporary communities. 208 pages, over 100 portraits, seven years in the making.

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Portrait from the Mayflies project by Darren Smith
Portrait from the Mayflies project by Darren Smith
Portrait from the Mayflies project by Darren Smith
The Series

Portraits of self-expression

Mayflies brings together a vivid body of studio portraits made in the temporary worlds of festivals, carnivals, nightlife and cultural gatherings.

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A luxury fine art photography book

Inspired by ephemeral mayflies, Darren Smith captures the rare moments when ritual, identity, and presence converge.  


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First edition · 2024Mayflies by Darren Smith open on a coffee table as a hand turns the page
The book

Fine book linen, silver hot foil, and 208 pages printed in Italy.

Portraits celebrating radical self-expression, and the profound moments where fantasy meets reality — now available in a coffee table photo book. With an essay by Justin Shaffer.

  • CoverFine book linen hardcover, metallic silver hot foil stamping
  • Dimensions360 × 280 mm
  • Pages208 pages on premium matte coated paper
  • PortraitsOver 100 portrait photographs · 34 events and festivals from 12 countries
  • BindingSmyth-sewn with woven headbands
  • PublisherPrinted in Italy, published by Lecturis · ISBN 978-9462265332
From €88excl. VAT Shop the bookSpecial editions
From the series

Where true originality reveals itself

Step into their stories
Portrait of a costumed attendee at the Mystic Ball, vogue ballroom scene, photographed by Darren Smith.
Nº 001
Portrait of a costumed attendee at Montevideo Carnaval, photographed by Darren Smith.
Nº 012
Portrait of a costumed attendee at Wasteland Weekend, photographed by Darren Smith.
Nº 071
Portrait of a costumed attendee at Dziady Halloween ball, vogue ballroom scene, photographed by Darren Smith.
Nº 006
Portrait of a costumed attendee at Torture Garden, photographed by Darren Smith.
Nº 030
Portrait of a costumed attendee at Village Halloween Parade, photographed by Darren Smith.
Nº 115
Portrait of a costumed attendee at MCM Comic Con, photographed by Darren Smith.
Nº 104
Portrait of a costumed attendee at the Utopia Ball Pt IV, vote ballroom scene photographed by Darren Smith.
Nº 034
In the press

Not party snapshots, but portraits in a monumental tradition

In an age dominated by digital homogenisation, Mayflies reminds us of the irreplaceable value of shared ritual, physical contact, and the freedom to reinvent ourselves.
Panorama · Nº 42 2026Italy
Deliciously decadent, wonderfully roaring, inviting us to plunge into a revealing, effervescent bath in which colors play a score as improbable as it is intoxicating.
Compétence Photo · Nº 110France
Each page is a true delight. The diversity of our human species is something to be celebrated and enjoyed — and there's a beautiful cross-section of it on display here.
Amateur Photographer MagazineUnited Kingdom
The portraits have a powerful presence. These are not party snapshots, but photos in a long tradition of respectful, perhaps even monumental portraits.
FD Persoonlijk · Jeroen BosNetherlands
All press & reviews
Self Portrait of photographer Darren Smith
From the author

“I call this body of work Mayflies, after the tiny insects that, for one brief but consequential moment, hatch, meet, mate, and then they're gone. They embrace a lifetime within a single day. It seems an appropriate metaphor for the sort of people I was looking for.”

Darren Smith (b. 1984, Virginia, USA) is an Amsterdam-based photographer whose work explores the intersection of identity, ritual, and social environments. His practice is grounded in long-term observation and direct engagement, focusing on how individuals construct and perform presence within collective contexts.

Meet the photographer
7
Years in the making
208
Pages
120
Portraits chosen
34
Gatherings
12
Countries
Book tour

Meet the Mayflies in person

All dates & stockists
  • 27–30 Oct 2026
    Convergence: The Future of Imaging
    Abuja Photo Festival, Abuja, NG
    Exhibition & residency
  • 25-27 Sept 2026
    FSVTL
    Base Camp, Amsterdam, NL
    Artist-in-residence
  • 5–6 Sep 2026
    Buitenbeeld
    Nieuw & Meer, Amsterdam, NL
    Group show
  • 23 May 2026
    Fotoboekenfestival
    Pennings Foundation · Lecturis, Eindhoven, NL
    Book market
  • 27–29 Mar 2026
    Unseen Photo Fair
    Lecturis publishers, Rotterdam, NL
    Book market

More to be confirmed soon