Lente de Raices

Rafael Enrique Farias Vinasco

As a Venezuelan immigrant and amateur black-and-white documentary photographer based in Newark, my work is grounded in capturing the resilience, identity, and quiet strength of immigrant and working-class communities. I was first drawn to photography as a teenager growing up on Margarita Island, when a single image of my grandfather’s weathered hands changed how I saw storytelling. Through portraiture and street photography, I aim to honor everyday moments often ignored—moments that reflect the soul of Newark and its people. Inspired by Latin American photographers like Manuel Rivera-Ortiz and Graciela Iturbide, I use my lens to document truth, dignity, and connection. My goal is to create a visual archive that empowers youth of color, uplifts immigrant voices, and helps others see the beauty in their own story.