We have spoken about the importance of diverse narratives in photography ample of times. But today, we will show you what makes such a venture so fruitful for anyone learning or gaining knowledge about the medium. For this article, we look back at the works of some of the most spellbinding Latin photographers, whose contributions have not only enriched the medium but also pushed us to see the world in all its colors. This month, let’s pay homage to their efforts, resilience, and ability to find beauty around them.
All images in this roundup of the best Latin photographers are used with permission from the photographers in our interviews, which are all linked accordingly.
Table of Contents
Juanita Escobar
Juanita Escobar is an exceptional documentary photographer who chronicled women’s lives in the Orinoco River, which flowed between Colombia and Venezuela. The images, while reportage in nature, shed light on the harsh realities of what it means to be a woman. The pictures are compelling, complex, and quiet, yet daunting. The image above exemplifies that, where we see a veiled pregnant figure, but the whole picture evokes a sense of immense sadness. The weather, thus, plays a critical role in building the mood. In our interview, she said:
My work is focused on the lives of the people, how they live the crises and conflicts in their families in their intimacy. I do not want to report or inquire into the explicit dynamics of the conflict on the border. What I am interested in are the more personal stories and being where I am welcomed and where people want to share their lives with me. I am careful then in that sense because I do not want to hinder my relationships or my well-being in this territory by challenging the different powers that severely control these borders.
Santiago Traverso
Starting photography at the age of 16, Santiago’s images have a timeless quality to them. The vivid colors and the dream concepts have made him quiet in the photography circle. His images are embedded with aesthetics seen in films such as Fallen Angels, Ger, Honey Boy, Chunking Express, One Day, Lost In Translation, and many more. The image above, for instance, reminds us of Fallen Angel, where the director used tinges of blue to evoke a sense of loneliness. The cross, on the other hand, makes the photograph appear gothic in nature. Speaking about his work, in our interview, he said:
I use photography to express myself. I’m not a super outgoing person; I’m in my head a lot. Most of the time just prefer being alone to being with random people. I better like to have very few meaningful relationships. So I guess that’s why I’m drawn to those feelings in my work.
El Santo
A Chilean photographer, El Santo’s project focuses on “progress,” which has resulted in serious issues in his country. For instance, the photographer uses bright colors to depict the destruction caused by real estate, transportation, and human automation. Similarly, his other series focus on government bodies and their use of armed forces, which have created havoc in the past during protests and unrest. The image above will first distract you with its vivid colors. But the closer you look, the more you realize that the pipes evoke a sense of dread, while the negative space contradicts that. In our interview, he explains:
In a world as complex and in a crisis like the one we have today. Art is necessary as a tool for expression, dissemination, and registration. To offer people an exercise in real communication with themselves and with our society.
Jvdas Berra
A Mexican photographer, Jvdas Berra, creates some of the most magical fashion portraits. His images have been featured in Vogue, Elle, Nylon, Marie Claire, InStyle, and many more. What sets his work apart is that Berra doesn’t shy away from capturing images that speak to him. From using birds to vivid colors, Berra explores his mind in many unique ways. The image above exemplifies how Berra adds elements to make his image appear more dramatic. If Edgar Allen Poe were into fashion, I would imagine his protagonist would dress like this. This is why we included him on our list of Latin photographers. In our interview, he said:
I’m not a very tidy person, as I said before chaos governs me. I try to keep the element of surprise alive, that’s the reason why every one of my productions is different from the previous one. I never know what will happen in every photo shoot and I love that.
Greta Rico
Greta Rico is a documentary photographer who has used her gift to highlight the struggles of women in Mexico. One of her famous series, Surrogate Mothers, is based on gender violence and corruption and their lasting impact on women. Through the use of black-and-white photographs, Rico continues to share the stories that plague Mexican women in hopes of leading to a much-needed change in society. The image above powerfully depicts how many women are facing the issues all by themselves. Sure, they have male relatives, but at the end of the day, it’s patriarchy that is snatching away their rights. In our interview, she said:
I was once in a very complex situation where I had to put the camera down because my stay in that place was not helping, and, on the contrary, it was hindering something very delicate that was happening. At that moment, I decided to step aside and to date I do not regret that decision. When you work on long term documentary projects, other opportunities will come along, and you must learn to be patient. When you wait long enough, other important moments for the story come along, that is to say, the reward always comes.
Mauro Lepe
A Chilean photographer, Mauro grew up seeing skateboard photography, which piqued his interest. After much struggle, the artist finally ventured into photography, with analog being his go-to medium. However, with time, the images oscillated between reality and fiction. The colorful pictures appear cinema-esque, where it’s up to the reviewer to drive their meaning. The photograph has the colors of a Wes Anderson film, but it is far more avant-grand than what the director shoots. The model’s expression and the flowers add to a linear narrative that requires the participation of the viewer to unfold. In our interview, he said:
I tend to base my photos on past experiences: mistakes, regrets, failures, and even trauma. I guess these things affect people in a variety of ways. Some people find it really easy to move on, and for most, these have a lasting impact.
Humberto Segura
A street photographer from Chile, Humberto has been making images since 2007. While he upgraded to a DLSR in 2010, Humerto carefully waits for the scene to reveal itself. His mindset is that of a film photographer, which helps him capture Cartier-Bresson-style images. In doing so, he reminds us how much we miss when we are too focused on our problems. The picture here is a great example of his keen eye. The shape of the bell, the human figure, and the clock add to the narrative. It makes one think about what is happening in the picture and urges viewers to go closer. In our interview, he explained:
It’s a contradiction: we live our lives focused on ourselves, on our problems, forgetting to look up, to observe, to appreciate the little things that make life beautiful. That´s what I love about street photography, to be able to capture a moment that it might just last a second or less, but it’s there, you just have to be willing to see it.
Luis Ruiz
While Luis is a wedding and street photographer, his main motivation is music and band photography. The image above depicts not just the acute sense of a street photographer but also the understanding of light and shadows. The picture wouldn’t have been as exciting had the photographer shot one of the drummers from where the crowd was standing. In this way, we not only see two groups but also get a sense of how crazy the event can be. In our interview, he states:
The art of storytelling is my biggest passion, the idea to connect both love (weddings) and music is something I have worked on the past couple of years. It all connects together the way life flows. I just love to capture real moments, be it in the streets, a small wedding ceremony or a backstage candid of a musician before a show. Whenever I get asked this question I automatically think of how much I love the idea of a moment in time that happens in a certain way that can’t be recreated no matter how many times you see it. Life is beautiful in it’s natural fashion, I just love having the opportunity to see it and capture it as well as I can. But in the end, luck does help out a lot.
Fernando Sciotto
The photographer uses an infrared film camera to explore the cycle of life from birth to death and the great beyond. The image above depicts that, where the standing model portrays Gia, the Greek Goddess who gave birth to everything. However, with the women lying around her, Fernando depicts not just life but also death. The pink shake may create a contrast to the theme, but it certainly adds to the magic of the narrative. This is another reason to add him to our list of Latin photographers. In our interview, he states:
When I do photographic work, I basically seek to incorporate what I have seen traveling. I have a somewhat pessimistic and dark vision of the world. I have seen things that take away your hope in humanity. In my works, all that darkness is reflected a little–even in the colorful works that seem happy, there is always a bit of shadow hidden.
Sofia Monzerratt
Although a filmmaker, Sofia creates exceptional conceptual photographs that may remind one of Gotye‘s iconic music video, Somebody That I Used to Know. However, what makes Sofia’s work so excellent is that she depicts a generation through her work. As you see in the image above, the youngest child has a bright color palette on his body, but by the time you see the older man, it appears what made him once a child is gone and replaced by something dark. In many ways, it reflects how we, too, grow up as individuals. In our interview, she states:
It helps me cope with my inner existentialism, it helps me express what I carry inside. Photography takes the weight of visual information within me and freezes it onto the physical world, making my spirit feel lighter every time I finish a project.
Alejandra Rajal
Alejandra Rajal has worked for renowned publications such as NPR, National Geographic, and The Guardian. She works in Mexico and some of the projects she has focused on highlight the relationship between the culture and the individuals. In her project, Cultus, for instance, the photographer focuses on the annual Holy Friday procession and its history. The image above, for instance, depicts the workings of the group. At the same time, being a woman and getting access to such intimate areas requires not only photography skills but also communication skills. This is why we chose her on our list of Latin photographers. In our interview, she states:
think it depends on the scenario I’m facing with each personal project. In general, I read a lot, and I dive into research papers, news, and books. I look for the facts and things we know. After this, I start asking myself questions about what I think needs to be told or what is missing. In this part, I start reaching out to individuals and organizations. Before I start taking photos of people, I’ll drop by and talk to them so they get to know me, see how we connect and understand what I am doing.
Ronny Garcia
Ronny began photography in 2013, but what makes his pictures stand out is immense commitment. Unlike other concept photographers, Ronny’s pictures depict an otherworld. The image above, for instance, could remind one of a dream they once saw. The burned pages in the background and those on the model’s back not only show his dedication but also his technical prowess. In our interview, he states:
I think for me there is not just a typical feeling in all my pictures, but I think I’ve passed from different periods. I remember I had a time where everything was dark and melancholy and I think now I’m more into something more ethereal, something that can stay in time to speak to people and tell them a story
Sophia Hernandez
Sophia’s initial work was dark, and after having two children, the photographer began to realize and emulate the joys of life in her images. Her product photography is unlike anything on this list. It is as playful as it is colorful. However, the photographer does not have a deep-seated meaning behind them. This is why she is on our list of Latin photographers. In our interview, she states:
I choose my objects simply by what immediately attracts my attention. I use my daughter’s toys, cheap items I find in various stores, and whatever I see lying around the house, office, or outdoors. I try to be as resourceful as possible. No shoot has cost me over $4. From there, I use colors that flatter the subject. I’m really into the pop art fashion photography style and a good use of pastels. Building the scenes come to mind almost as soon as I know the item I’m going to photograph. I’ll see something and think, oh it’d be funny if this thing was doing that.
Rodrigo Viera
What makes Viera’s work so exceptional is that the photographer does not shy away from shooting scenes. One could even call him a Bruce Gilden of his time. The image above is an example of that. Some photographers will shy away from the scene, but not Viera. In fact, the picture raises so many questions about the man and what he was aiming to do. The lack of interest from the passersby adds to the chaos and confusion. In our interview, he states:
To get a good photo, first you have to know what a good photo looks like. I think that when someone engages in any activity with passion, the results begin to emerge and your technique will be improving. Often, the work evolves based on mistakes and successes we achieved in life.
Martin Gonzalez
Martin is the only person on our list who photographs nature. However, what makes his pictures so interesting is the use of slow shutters and the dark hues of the rocks. At first, the pictures may appear claiming, but a little later, you feel a sense of dread bubbling in your chest. Anyone who is afraid of the water may find this work anxiety-inducing, especially how the movement of water makes you feel like the water will sweep you with the tide. This is why he is on our list of Latin photographers. In our interview, he stated:
I think it’s a combination of enjoying the solitude and peacefulness of nature along with its sheer beauty. To capture its beauty and then display it the way I see it is exhilarating and a gift that I really cherish.