JANINE MAPURUNGA, a native of Brazil, came to the United States ten years ago to study cultural anthropology at UC Davis. To her, photography was a way to both understand her new surroundings and speak a familiar language. She then studied under renowned photojournalist Andy DeLucia, from whom she learned to unobtrusively document people in their environment. As her cross-disciplinary training suggests, she concerned with the origin, nature and destiny of her subjects.

Firmly believing in honing skills in the darkroom before moving on to digital media, she was invited to teach these methods at the Sacramento City College, where she was both the youngest and first female faculty to teach photography.

Janine’s work is distinguished by technical precision combined with warmth and humanity. She finds moments rather than creating them. Her versatility and intimate documentary form allow her access to what might otherwise be the unseen image.

In addition to her commercial work, Janine is intimately involved with special projects abroad. She recently completed a documentary project while living in a secluded village in the Sri Lankan rainforest. She has also documented the lives of the Tremembés, an indigenous culture of northern Brazil. This intense training in participatory observation carries over into her corporate, editorial and portrait work.