Cristina De La Rosa is dedicated to preserving the Dominican-American experience through film photography. Her work captures the essence of identity, nostalgia, and everyday moments, weaving together the rich cultural heritage of the Dominican diaspora with the dynamic energy of New York City. With a cinematic and deeply personal approach, Cristina’s images serve as a visual archive of community, memory, and belonging. Follow her journey and explore her storytelling on Instagram

Cristina De La Rosa se dedica a preservar la experiencia dominicano-estadounidense a través de la fotografía analógica. Su trabajo captura la esencia de la identidad, la nostalgia y los momentos cotidianos, entrelazando la rica herencia cultural de la diáspora dominicana con la energía vibrante de la ciudad de Nueva York. Con un enfoque cinematográfico y profundamente personal, las imágenes de Cristina sirven como un archivo visual de comunidad, memoria y pertenencia. Sigue su trayectoria y explora su narrativa en Instagram

IG / Website: @filmdelarosa

What State, Country do you currently reside in? New York, New York, USA

How do you define yourself as a photographer? Do you identify more with portrait, landscape, street photography, or another style? Why?

I am mainly a street photographer and I’ve lived in New York City my entire life. I’ve moved around the boroughs throughout the years and I’ve seen the racial and economic disparities across different neighborhoods. Having been pushed out of my hometown because of gentrification, I know quite intimately how our favorite locations across the city can disappear from one day to the next. The city is constantly shifting. My main motivation as a photographer is to preserve authentic parts of the city through my art. The buildings and sights may change but my pictures will last forever.

Can you nominate a Dominican woman photographer who does not reside in the Dominican Republic or someone you believe deserves more recognition for their work? Share their IG :

Roselyn Cabral / @r0selyncabral

What camera did you start with, and what camera do you use today? How has this evolution influenced your style and technique?

I’m really big on the saying: “The best camera is the camera you have.” The kind of camera I use is important, but not as important as the stories I want to tell. I started with a simple Olympus point and shoot (Olympus Infinity Zoom 2000) and that’s currently the camera I use for street photography because I can capture moments efficiently and quickly. When shooting in the streets, sometimes you only have a quick second before the scene changes so it allows me to be swift. Maybe I’ll move on to other cameras in the future, but for now I’m obsessed with my Olympus. I still have many more film stocks to try and I think that’s easier to do when working with one camera at a time (but that’s just me).

How do you align your photography style as a member of the diaspora with your Dominican identity? 

I’ve been Dominican my entire life but I’ve only been a photographer for about three years. Whenever I encounter anything that has to do with my culture, I now see everything from a whole new perspective. I went to the Dominican Day Parade in August and it brought me so much joy to combine my favorite hobby with our people, our music, our food, our dancing, etc. I have only scratched the surface of what there is to capture about our beautiful culture and I cannot wait to see how I will continue to tell our stories moving forward. As a part of the diaspora, it’s important to memorialize the Dominican-American experience and how strongly connected we are to the island.

What advice would you give to the next generation of Dominican women photographers who dream of following this path?

I believe the best thing you can do is seek community wherever you can find it. I would not be here without mentors and the people that encourage me to keep going even when dealing with intense imposter syndrome. I also feel like when you find like-minded people, your art improves because of information sharing. A community not only provides social support but also opportunities to keep learning from one another. Go to a photowalk and if there isn’t one near you, HOST one!

How do you think the Dominican women’s photography community can grow and support each other on an international level?

I love this question! We have to keep connecting with each other. I’m sure we may have similar experiences in this field regardless of where in the world we are. Using tools like social media are critical in these moments and hopefully creating cross country networks can lead to events where we can connect virtually or even in person. Maybe a Fotografas Dominicanas International Conference is on the forefront?! I would love to see it!