Donna Ferrato Photography

08/11/2026

Part 11; I Spy With My Little Eyes
Whoever is interested in my little sagas just know that I will only give you the truth, my truth, without embellishment.
Suddenly the groovy vibe was gone. No more music. People lost the momentary cool mojo down Leonard street. what? WHY I cried. Then I spied her the woman in all white standing in front of the hut talking at the young men in black tee shirts and whove served the needs of a voraciously starving bunch of Tribecans for 10 decades saying something they say something too. No problem Mam’. And that’s how the music ended. Now you get it? I’ve given you more than an eyeful. Keep your eyes peeled for the deeper truths about yourself my friends.

08/11/2026

Yesterday there was a mellow vibe on Leonard st created by the men who work at the Square Diner. It was the beat they created that made the street feel alive like a warm breathing animal when out of nowhere almost suddenly the vibe was over. The reason was too bad.

07/29/2026

I miss my mom. Its been seven years today and it hurts more than ever. In my head she’s still as vibrant as she was in our last days as book ends. This portrait shows she was a corker. I was damn lucky to have her in my life for 70 years strong. We were made for each other. Neither of us were easy. We struggled to hold on to our own identities.

I was her first born. Then came brother Pete. Followed by Lou 15 years later. She was a nurse trained at Bellevue hospital, a worker and true believer. She stood by us through hard scrabble times. It’s the silence on the end of the line that gets me down in the night. I just want to lie with her and feel her head on my shoulder one more time.

In the last months of her life my mom, Ann, wore the face of Groucho everywhere because people smiled when they saw her coming which made her feel good I guess. I really got her better than the others. I was born lucky to have her with me for 70 amazing years. Just like this amazing photograph made by her granddaughter, F***y O’Malley, Avon Lake Ohio 2019. Gonna love you forever my beautiful mama.

07/28/2026

Watching raw passion explode is exciting.
Last night hosted a Mexican molé dinner party overlooking the old city in Marseille and my old friend from Damascus circa 2009 gave a spontaneous show for a room of hungry artists. Karam wielded his bow over the body of his instrument like he was channeling Zeus.

Years ago when he was a very young man he had no idea how music would become his ticket to freedom. When the war engulfed Syria, it was his ticket out. He is now a celebrated artist across Europe and living the dream. I could have never imagined that 17 years later, I would be so lucky to see him perform a private concert among new friends. It was hypnotizing to witness Karam transform the living room into a performance hall. You could feel everything he’s lived through and perfected as a musician flow out of him.

07/23/2026

Every day is like this. No commotion. No bellicose disruption. Marseille honors the flow of the sea. It’s a revelation on the practice of harmony..

07/17/2026

T’was the night of reckoning. Every seat was warmly filled in the VII Foundation at Arles, France. I figured if people came to hear La Donna Quixote’s truth they needed to take it between the eyes. Looking into a room of friendly faces embolden me to jump on the 3rd rail. Merci Gary Knight for having the guts to invite me. I still can’t tell you why but thanks for a green light to come out swinging at the windmills. I ran with a bat to expose why I am a photographer who fights for the rights of others. My eye is trained on the range of being human: love, s*x, violence, pain and pleasure. I hunt the predators, the abusers, the colluders. It felt good to say it in that space which felt a mat room with passionate seers, serious editors and hungry young photographers. I shared my fury with a blasphemous world which disrespects the sacred rights of women and harms the trusting nature of children. I demonstrated what makes my head heavy under the weight of the greedy patriarchy.

Here in la belle France where photographers are prohibited from taking pictures ala Cartier Bresson style (without permission) I say I am proud be one working through time and space taking no prisoners.

Holy are the protectors, the vulnerable, the truth seekers, and the photographers who stay vigilant.

People have the power!

07/16/2026

Vallon Des Auffes 8 PM Marseille Taken by the light.

07/13/2026

I thought i knew why I was going to Arles before I went… to rattle the cage and speak about how heavy the patriarchy sits on my head. One night architect Alfredo Jaar made me feel light and alive. Merci Alfredo Jaar. My Arles companion was Minneapolis filmmaker Keri Pickett at Prix Pictet event where a street wise NYC Photographer was caught Nina Welch King Nina Welch-Kling spritzing the divine red head while ICP Creative Director @ davidcampany photobombed ladies applying lipstick. The night ended with a heavy heart seeing the profound selection of images by Darcy Padilla and others from the series . Merci to . ❤️

06/13/2026

que pasa

04/22/2026