Felipe Dana discovered photography at age 15 when he started working as an assistant for event and commercial photographers. At the close of 2009, he decided to focus his career solely on photojournalism. Dana has focused his work on documenting the consequences of social changes in slums due to upcoming major sports events scheduled for 2014 and 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, where he currently lives and works as a staff photographer for The Associated Press. His work has received a number of awards in international contests including the World Press Photo, Pictures of the Year Latam (POY), China International Photo Competition (CHIPP), the Atlanta Photojournalism.

Samba dancer Diana Prado looks in a makeup mirror as applies makeup before the start of a carnival parade at central station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, February 2, 2013. Prado made her Carnival debut at age 19, after auditioning for a spot with the Sao Clemente, one of 13 top-tier schools that will compete for the annual titles at the Sambadrome this weekend. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

A broad-snouted caiman swims in a water channel in the affluent Recreio dos Bandeirantes suburb of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 14, 2013. Some 5,000 to 6,000 broad-snouted caimans live in fetid lagoon systems of western Rio de Janeiro, conservationists say, and there’s a chance that spectators and athletes at the 2016 Olympics could have an encounter with one, though experts hasten to add that the caimans, smaller and less aggressive than alligators or crocodiles, are not considered a threat to humans. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

Suspects sit with their hands behind their backs after their arrest during a police operation in the Nova Holanda slum, part of the Complexo da Mare, in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, June 25, 2013. The police operation aimed to capture an alleged looter, who according to police killed an officer after a peaceful protest Monday night. At least seven people died and two suspects were captured during Tuesday's operation, according to police. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

Jamaican Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, right, runs with Antigua and Barbuda sprinter Daniel Bailey during a training session of the “Mano a Mano” challenge at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, March 29, 2013. Bolt will compete, Sunday, on a track specially built at the famous beach, challenging Bailey, Ecuador's Alex Quinones, and a Brazilian athlete from a local qualifier. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

Protesters wearing Batman costumes stand over the Carioca Aqueduct, also know as Arcos da Lapa, during a demonstration in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, October 31, 2013. People demonstrated against the government, police violence, corruption, the recent arrest of protesters and several other issues. Organisers called the march “the freedom shout”. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

Cats and dogs seek refuge on top of a piece of furniture in a home flooded by heavy rains in the Xerem neighborhood, about 31 miles north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, January 3, 2013. Nearly 8.5 inches of rain fell in just 24 hours in the mountainous region north of Rio. Hard rains in Brazil are creating a state of alert in Rio de Janeiro and in nearby spots where flood-triggered mudslides have killed hundreds in recent years. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

A couple dressed as clowns participate in the “Cordao da Bola Preta” street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, February 9, 2013. According to Rio's tourism office, Rio's street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

A Surui Indian lies on the ground in exhaustion after participating in a tug of war competition during the indigenous games in Cuiaba, Brazil, Wednesday, November 13, 2013. Around 1,600 Indians from 48 tribes are celebrating Brazil's indigenous cultures during the 12th edition of the Games of the Indigenous People, which runs until Nov. 16. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

An indigenous man wearing face paint and a headdress stands inside the abandoned old Indian museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, March 21, 2013. Brazilian Federal Court ruled that indigenous people who have been occupying the building since 2006 have to leave the area because it is next to the Maracana stadium, which will be the site of the final match of the 2014 World Cup soccer tournament and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Olympic games. Authorities say the compound must go as the area around the stadium is being transformed into a shopping and sports entertainment hub. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

A model wears a creation from the Triya summer collection during Fashion Rio in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, April 19, 2013. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

Samba dancer Diana Prado, right, is with her costume as she prepares for a carnival parade at central station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, February 2, 2013. Though samba dancers, or “passistas”, as they're known in Portuguese, are unquestionably the star attractions of the world's most iconic Carnival celebrations, they're not on the payroll of the samba school they represent. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

Beachgoers look at a trio of veiled wrapped mannequins that are part of a a protest staged by Rio de Paz activists on Copacabana beach to press for clarifications on missing persons including a bricklayer who recently disappeared, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, July 31, 2013. The 42-year-old father of six was picked up for police questioning on suspicions of involvement in drug trafficking, but was released shortly thereafter. He has not been seen from since. The Rio de Paz civic organization cites official statistics showing that nearly 35,000 people were reported as missing in Rio state alone over the past five years. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

Pataxo Indians gather during the indigenous games in Cuiaba, Brazil, Tuesday, November 12, 2013. Around 1,600 Indians from 48 tribes are celebrating Brazil's indigenous cultures during the 12th edition of the Games of the Indigenous People, which runs until Nov. 16. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

A woman smiles for a photo at the “Carnaval na Central” carnival block parade, in central station, during pre-carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, February 2, 2013. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

In this photo taken December 21, 2012, former soldier Bobo sits on an armchair after collecting recyclables at a slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Bobo spends his day sorting through trash for recyclables to sell. At night, he turns the day's profit into crack. With a boom in crack use over the past decade, Brazilian authorities are struggling to help such users and stop the drug's spread, sparking a debate over the legality and efficiency of forcibly interning users. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

A policeman lies injured on the ground after clashing with demonstrators during a protest in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, June 17, 2013. Officers in Rio fired tear gas and rubber bullets when a group of protesters invaded the state legislative assembly and threw rocks and flares at police as protesters massed in at least seven Brazilian cities Monday for another round of demonstrations voicing disgruntlement about life in the country, raising questions about security during big events like the current Confederations Cup and a papal visit next month. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

A dove perches on the glass top coffin of Brazilian Cardinal Eugenio Sales, during his funeral in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, July 10, 2012. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

A man covered in mud holds up his mud covered dog as another reveler takes a picture during the “Bloco da Lama” or “Mud Block” carnival parade in Parati, Brazil, Saturday Feb. 18, 2012. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

An activist wearing a donkey mask stands next to police as they stand guard outside a military club during a protest in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday March 29, 2012. A club of retired military officers held its annual celebration of Brazil's 1964 military coup as usual, but faced protestors as members arrived for the event. Unlike its Latin American neighbors, Brazil never had a formal investigation into its 20-year dictatorship. The sign reads in Portuguese “Father keep that one away…shut-up”, a play on words from a song by famous singer Chico Buarque which was censored during the dictatorship. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

Boys sit on the stoop of their home as a police officer patrols nearby with a sniffer dog during an operation in the Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday October 16, 2012. The Jacarezinho slum will now become part of a state program that establishes so-called “peacekeeping police units”, in shantytowns previously held by drug traffickers. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

U.S. singer and actress Katy Perry gestures as she poses for photos during the red carpet of her movie “Part of me 3D” premiere in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday July 30, 2012. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

A dog named Caique wears a hat and shirt on Arpoador beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, January 18, 2014. Caique's owners said they like to dress Caique up for dog parades and that they enjoy pedestrians taking his picture during his daily walks. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)

Boys gather for a pickup game of soccer at the Sao Carlos slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, March 7, 2014. (Photo by Felipe Dana/AP Photo)