Passion for Photography
Esmeldy Angeles tells a story in pictures
Photo Courtesy of Esmeldy Angeles
Esmeldy Angeles was visiting her native country in the Dominican Republic when she decided to go outside and take some pictures.
She took a photo of herself with her phone, something she says she didn’t do very often, but that day, it struck a nerve with her.
“All of a sudden I thought, if this picture looks this good taken with a phone, what would it look like if I took it with a professional camera?” Angeles said.
When she returned to the United States, she started saving up and bought her first mirrorless camera.
“At the time, I thought the picture looked incredible. Looking back at it now, it seems like a regular photo,” Angeles said. “But I’m glad that it inspired me to make the decision to get a camera.”
Angeles recently completed an exhibit at Positive Street Art in Nashua, covered event photography for New Hampshire PBS and café owner Emmett Soldati, and is working on some new projects now.
Angeles immigrated from the Dominican Republic to Nashua in 2012, when she was 14 years old. From a young age, she was passionate about different types of art and practiced drawing and painting.
“I have always loved art in all its forms,” said Angeles, now 27.
Through that artistic exploration, she found her way to photography.
“A part of me has always loved the power that photography has,” she said. “The ability to tell stories, evoke emotions and convey messages makes me so passionate about life.”
Angeles spent hours and hours doing research to teach herself photography. She watched YouTube videos to hone her craft. And she practiced, trying new things and learning from her mistakes.
She took photos of her close friends and was receiving positive feedback.
“That is when I knew it was something I really wanted to pursue professionally,” she said.
Angeles’s art is focused on portraiture, and she hopes people feel a sense of empathy, curiosity and appreciation for other
humans through her work.
“I strive to capture the essence of my subjects by emphasizing their facial expressions, body language, and the interplay of light and shadow,” she said. “I try to highlight the raw emotions and textures in each image.”
Like many who seek to pursue a career as an artist, depending on it for a stable income has been a challenge.
“I have struggled to sustain myself from art and have had to question if I should really keep going,” she said. “Nevertheless, I have learned to push forward and keep trying to pursue what makes me happy.”
“I hope that my art prompts reflection, sparks conversation, and inspires a greater appreciation for the beauty and diversity of the human spirit,” Angeles said. “Ultimately, I want people to feel moved, inspired and enriched by the power of
photography.”
For those looking to learn more about her upcoming exhibits, you can find Esmeldy Angeles on Instagram @esmeldy_angeles.
This article is featured in the spring-summer 2024 issue of 603 Diversity.
603 Diversity’s mission is to educate readers of all backgrounds about the exciting accomplishments and cultural contributions of the state’s diverse communities, as well as the challenges faced and support needed by those communities to continue to grow and thrive in the Granite State.
