The video below showcases Perry Hall living and documenting the streets of Rome, Italy.

 
 

ABOUT ME.

Perry Hall's life is a stirring testament to the triumph of resilience and determination in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Born into a world of outlaw biker parents on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Perry faced formidable obstacles. Growing up in a broken home situation, he was plagued by a series of difficulties that led him in and out of juvenile detention centers and on probation from the tender age of 11 until he was 17. Despite being stigmatized as a delinquent by society, he refused to surrender to the bleak circumstances that threatened to engulf him.

At 18, Perry embarked on a journey of homelessness that took him across the United States numerous times, subsisting through a grueling cycle of hitchhiking, squatting, and sleeping outside in a relentless struggle for survival. Yet, in the face of these severe challenges, he refused to succumb to despair or allow his spirit to be crushed.

Perry's passion for skateboarding and street life eventually led him to discover his true calling in photography. In 2014, he picked up a camera that his friend had gifted him before moving to Rome, Italy, and began a journey of self-teaching and creative exploration. With a suitcase full of clothes, a couple of hundred euros, a skateboard, a Canon AE-1 camera, and a few rolls of film, Perry embarked on a mission to develop his photographic skills and build his unique artistic vision.

Over the next nine years, Perry made Rome his home base, embarking on a series of creative projects that allowed him to refine his aesthetic sensibility and develop his voice as an artist. His works, including "When In Rome" and "Street Skateboarding: The Act of Resistance," allowed him to immerse himself in the Sampietrini streets' distinctive energy and hone his unique photographic style. Perry's quest for adventure continued as he traveled annually to Sardinia, seeking inspiration for his ambitious project, "Where The Wild Roses Grow," all while maintaining a constant connection to his roots in the United States through his "devil lived" project.

Through his diverse creative endeavors, Perry never lost sight of his love for skateboarding, fascination with street life, and thirst for exploration. His passions ultimately led him to settle in Austin, Texas, where he now teaches street photography workshops and continues to work on new and current projects. He is also a co-owner and co-founder of Daylight School, a bilingual English and Italian Photography School in Rome, Italy, specializing in street and documentary photography genres. Daylight School plays a critical role in preserving and promoting these essential genres of photography in Rome, Italy, and contributes significantly to the medium's future.

Perry Hall's story is a stirring example of how perseverance, passion, and creativity can overcome even the most daunting obstacles. Despite the many challenges he faced along the way, he refused to let his circumstances define him or to give up on his dreams. His journey from a homeless teenager to an accomplished photographer and educator is a testament to the transformative power of the human spirit and a source of inspiration to all who seek to overcome adversity and pursue their passions.

 

EXHIBITIONS

All Roads Lead To Rome

Arte Borgo Gallery, Rome, Italy, November 2019

"All Roads To Rome" was born from the idea to bring together photographers worldwide, each bringing images of their streets to Rome. From Japan to India to the United States, they passed through Israel, Spain, Italy, and many more. Forty authors and 40 photos were on display. It was a three-day exhibition in the center of Rome, the cradle of Western culture. This was intended to share the different cultures, passions, and styles of authors from other countries.

Flaneur

Book & Job Gallery, San Francisco, California, October 2019

Flaneur is a French word from the old Norse verb "flank," meaning "to wander with no purpose." The Flaneur was, first of all, a literary type from 19th century France, essential to any picture of the streets of Paris. They carried a set of rich associations: "the man of leisure,"“the idler,"“the urban explorer,"“the connoisseur of the street”" and” a gentleman stroller of city street.”" They also have a crucial role in understanding. participating in and portraying the city. A flaneur has played a double role in city life and theory while remaining a detached observer. As street photographers, we can watch obs,erve and frame our environment, capture those millisecond moments in everyday life, and travel. We are obligated to carry on as the modern-da” "Flaneu” (Solo Exhibition)

Black & White Collection

Garage Via Carcani Gallery, Rome, Italy, April 2016

The Black & White collection was 36 black & white photos telling the stories of the streets and people who travel and inhabit them. (Solo Exhibition)

Wanderdust Photography Exhibition

Abetone Bar, Sassari, Sardinia, September 2015

About traveling in America through an analog photographer’s point of view. (Solo Exhibition)

FEATURES AND MEDIA

The New Yorker Magazine “The Freedom to See Rome Anew” by Paul Elie, November 2023

  • Street Photographers Foundation Portfolio article. February 2022

  • PeriMetro Magazine “When In Rome” article. July 2021

  • FindRangers Magazine, Issues 11 - 20

2016 -2019 (Photo Features)

  • Stop Motion DC Magazine, Issue 5

2019 (Photo feature)

  • Forecast Skateboard Mag, Issue 2 

2016 (Photo Feature)

  • A Brief Glance Skateboard Magazine, Issue 37, 2016 (Interview about skateboarding, traveling, street & analog photography.)

Awards & Finalist

  • Italian Street Photography “Storytelling” Finalist 2020

  • Monster Children Photo contest Single photo Finalist 2020

  • Italian Street Photography 2nd Place “Storytelling” Winner 2021

  • ASA Project “Storie Di Resistenza” photo contest 2nd place winner 2021

  • Officine Fotografiche Summertime street photography contest, 3rd place winner for “ Sabbia e Sale” Sardegna project, 2021

  • Italian Street Photography “single photo” finalist, 2022

  • Better Photography Magazine “Photographer of the Year.” Two 2nd place Silver Awards, 2022

  • Better Photography Magazine “Photographer of the Year.” 3rd place, Bronze Award, 2022

  • Annual Photography Awards People: Portraiture “2nd place”, 2023.

  • Los Angeles Photography Awards: Analog Film Photography category, Project: “When In Rome,” 1st place winner, 2023

  • TinCan Magazine, First place, “Best Documentary Award” for “When In Rome,” 2023

  • European Photography Award, “First Place Winner,” Documentary genre for “When In Rome,” 2023

  • Italian Street Photography Festival "Paolo Pellegrin's Honorable Mention Award," 2023