Back in March of this year, as the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak, hitting New York City the hardest, I decided to halt all my photo sessions. While the city was a tempting location due to the empty streets, I understood several things that helped me make this decision. In the first place, I felt at the moment it was just an unnecessary risk just for myself but also for the dancers I would be working with. Most importantly […]
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As hard as it is to admit it, I have recently found myself struggling creatively and emotionally. If you’ve ever been there, you know how much it sucks. And while I haven’t stop creating or photographing, the works that I do create don’t seem fill that void inside. They don’t speak back to me. They just stare back as if waiting for me to give them meaning, a name, but I can’t find any. Until today. I remembered something my […]
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Day 1(ish) I actually started self-quarantine about 2 weeks before the goverment started taking this whole COVID-19 seriorusly. On March 15, 2020 I decided to start this project photographing at least one image a day documenting tid bits of this new temporary normal. My wife is crancking up on her jucing. Hoping it will help her immune system get stronger. She offered me some celery juice. I tried it. Not for me Day 2 I’m staring enjoy and appreaciate little […]
Categories: Documentary, Portrait, Uncategorized • Tags: corona virus, covid-19, leica q2, new normal, NYC, quarantine
I’m flying back to NYC from visiting my home country, Puerto Rico, on January 14th, 2020. Exactly seven days after a swarm of earthquakes have impacted the southwestern region of the island. Seven sleepless nights. Checking my notifications for details of the latest quakes. Fearing that any moment, a higher magnitude earthquake would hit. Worrying about my loved ones, that I would be leaving them behind as they struggle with this new-onset anxiety. Nevertheless, I can count myself lucky that […]
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Over the last few months I’ve started photographing more and more works on 35mm film. My latest series in Puerto Rico was shot entirely on 35mm film as well as this new one in Valencia, Spain. It all started a few months ago, when a client asked me to photograph a session for them strictly on analogue photography. I’m a kid of the digital renaissance. Though everything was still analogue when I was growing up, I’ve enjoyed being a part […]
Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: 35mm, analogue, analogue photography, Ballerinas, Ballet, Dance, Danza, Documentary, Elena López, Elena López Benaches, España, film, gymnast, gymnastics, leica, leica m6, Photography, Portraits, Spain, Valencia
As a visual artist, my work is directly affected by what I see. I do not draw inspiration from fantasy or imagination, but rather from what I find right in front of me. Hence, whenever I travel and set myself to work on a series, I allow the environment to guide me into building the narrative of the series. While at times, that leads me to create joyful images, other times I’m lead to harsh realties, difficult to take in. […]
Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: 35mm, analogue, Dance, Danza, Documentary, film, Fujifilm, Hurricane, leica, leica m6, m6, maria, Photography, Portraits, pro400h, provia, Puerto Rico, San Juan, velvia
“They understand, though they are poor. I’m like them. I love them, I know them. Their lives are small, but their dreams are vast.”-Baptiste, from the film The Children of Paradise. As I sit down to write this, it’s been exactly 11 days since I got back form Melbourne, Australia. I am still trying to get my biological clock back on track and catch full night of sleep. But I am happy to put myself through that for the experiences […]
Categories: Documentary, Portrait, Uncategorized • Tags: Australia, Ballerinas, Ballet, Dance, Danza, Documentary, Melbourne, Omar Robles, Omar Z Robles, Photography
The naked body speaks volumes to our fragile yet mystical and graceful existence. We are born naked and it was a naked act (in most cases) that brought life to each and everyone of us. Body language is our first language. We are tied to our bodies, in such a strong way that they can often tell things about our emotional state, even in spite of ourselves. As a photographer I am drawn to photograph the naked form for the […]
Categories: Documentary, Portrait, Uncategorized • Tags: #BareSkyDance, Ballet, Bare, Dance, Dancers, Danza, Instagram, Nude, NYC, Omar Z Robles, Photography, Roof, Rooftops, Sky
“Preciosa te llaman lo bardos que cantan tu historia, no importa el tirano te trate con negra maldad…” – Rafael Hernández I just made it back from visiting my home country of Puerto Rico. It is the first time I get to visit since hurricane María swept through, almost exactly 5 months after. It was an incredibly emotional and difficult trip. I found myself fighting the tears more times than I can recall. Five months after the hurricane and my […]
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I’ve had a love affair with Brazil for quite some time. An affair that came to me in the form of music. Songs and lyrics with an ability to cradle an immense amount of emotion, effortlessly. Like a roar coming from the inside, charged with sorrow and melancholy yet full of joy and resilience. As if it had found the secret to wash away pain through melody. Brazilian music has since been my ally through many difficult times in my […]
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