Rafael Medina is Expanding His Street Photography Empire - And Bringing Others With Him

Rafael Medina is Expanding His Street Photography Empire - And Bringing Others With Him

Rafael Medina didn’t always know he wanted to be a photographer.

Growing up in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Providence, Medina said he started taking photos in earnest in his 20s.

“I always liked photography; I was always just too insecure to try it,” said Medina, who told GoLocal that visiting his sister out west - and her husband who had a professional camera - sparked his interest.

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Now, as “RafeaksPVD” on Instagram, he has honed his street photography portfolio, along with a growing base of followers - and colleagues. Recently, Medina was a host for his first “meet-up” with budding photographers in Providence.

“A lot of street photographers do them in other cities, where people just get together and go out and shoot,” said Medina. “Initially we thought about hosting a talk; but something like this, it’s just better to go out and do it.”

And for Medina, his focus right now is on the community - and he is about to publish his newest book featuring a wide array of local street photographers' work.

“I’m in the process of trying to do more things to bring people together,” said Medina. “And there’s a lot of talent out there that I want to showcase.

Photography in Focus
 

For Medina, who was born in New York but moved to Providence as a child, the Mount Pleasant neighborhood - and the city - have been his canvas.

And once he caught the photography bug, Medina approached improving his skills with a laser-like focus.

“It was probably around the end of 2018, that I realized I was taking pretty much the same photos,” said Medina. “Then I thought, hey, I’m working 40-hour weeks, I’ve got time, and people have accomplished a lot more, with less.”

So, according to Medina, he started waking up early. Very early.

“I’d wake up at 6, hit the streets for a few hours, go to work, and then edit my photos,” said Medina. “And I wasn’t actually posting much; I was just trying to get better.”

And that, said Medina, led to a “breakout” year for him; he started getting hired to shoot concerts and events, and then published two books of his own work.
 

One of his works was recently chosen to be featured by the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts.

All in on Providence

For Medina, who said he plans to co-host more meet-ups with other photographers, and anyone can join, whether they have an expensive camera - or just a phone camera.
 

“I encourage people to come with whatever they’ve got,” said Medina. “One of the first photos I ever sold was taken on my iPhone.”

“I just feel like there are so many street photographers that I’ve been meeting out there,” said Medina of showcasing others’ works. “I just want to take this to the next level and continue to better myself more.”

As for documenting “real life” in the city, at a time when issues of crime and politics can dominate headlines, Medina offered his personal take.

“Look, I [can’t speak to] anyone else’s experience, so if you’ve had a bad one, I can understand that,” said Medina. “I just think there’s a beauty to documenting life as it is, in just an organic way, and lately, I’ve been doing even more street portraits, and just talking with people.”

“I do think street photography is important in the sense of just showcasing the day-to-day,” said Medina.
 

You can follow him on Instagram and on his website HERE.