35MMiami
subject: Street
description: Miami has been a popular vacation destination for many years. Recently, due to the pandemic, it has become a refuge for people from the Northeast. Now more than ever, it is known for having the most vibrant, diverse, and unique melting pot on Earth, especially with its strong Latin influences. It's a wild and unpredictable place - just take a look at the hashtag. When thinking of Miami's imagery, the first things that usually come to mind are beaches, art deco, and party scenes. Despite its many facets, the city's visual marketing is generally limited to this popular aesthetic. I arrived in Miami six years ago with my family after living a pedestrian life in NYC, where my camera, which had served me for photojournalism endeavors, became a tool for navigating the crowded streets. It took time and courage to get used to the hot, sticky, and pedestrian-austere streets of Miami. Eventually, I started taking photos again, mostly during my lunch breaks. Over time, I noticed a visual pattern emerging as my eyes framed solitary pedestrians, post-pandemic newcomers, and residents navigating the city amidst the sweltering concrete. All of this occurred against a backdrop of captivating architectural features and the nostalgia of the colorful neighborhoods "to be gentrified," which were easily overlooked when simply driving by. Hopefully, these images will allow for a more intimate and spontaneous observation of Miamians. If you look closely enough, you might also find humor, vulnerability, human contradiction, and urban revelations.
creator: Carlos Llamas
publisher: Blurb.com
date: 2024