Geoff Levy was born in Atlanta, Georgia but relocated to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at a young age. He attended North Carolina School of the Arts before the University of Central Florida to receive his BFA in Filmmaking. Shortly afterward graduating, he moved to Brooklyn, NY to pursue a career in film and art direction. He worked at advertising giant, Ogilvy & Mather, for three years before pursuing an independent film directing and photography career. He currently works out of his studio in Williamsburg and is consistently looking for new ways to tell heartfelt stories creatively.
Faces of Jacaré
In September, I went down to Rio de Janeiro to document the lives of models living in Jacarezinho – one of Rio's largest and most dangerous favelas. Thanks to a local community leader, I had the ability to get to see a world that would not typically be allowed viewable through the lens of a photographer. We saw a vibrant community of people who help each other and use Macgyverism commonly through a concept called "gambiarra". Their modeling organization, Jacaré Moda, teaches the youth in the favela to be proud of where they come from and to challenge standards of beauty. In Brazil, figures like Gisele Bundchen are idolized – models that are blonde and white in a country that is 53% black. It's important for the youth in Jacaré to develop a sense of pride in their upbringing while also pivoting the conversation of national beauty standards. The images aim to be a portrait of Jacarezinho, showing the inherent to both the place and the people, while also being honest about the realities of living in a favela.
To view more of Geoffrey Levy’s work please visit their website.