Nathaniel cervantes
LA-based Photography
Nathaniel Cervantes is an LA-based photographer and multidisciplinary artist exploring the thresholds between memory, material, and meaning. His work often fuses analog and digital processes, using light, shadow, and texture to distort time and perception. Nathaniel approaches photography as a sensory language—where silence hums, metal speaks, and the image lingers like a half-remembered song.
→ About Nathaniel Cervantes
Photography first captivated me in the middle of chaos. Packed punk shows, flashing lights, and a camera in my hands was how I spent my weekends. I started out capturing bands mid-performance and the raw, unfiltered moments shared between strangers in the crowd. These early experiences taught me the value of timing, instinct, and emotion. I fell in love with the challenge of freezing something alive. That passion grew beyond concerts into a deeper desire to tell stories through imagery. Since then, I’ve chased that same energy in every project. Photography became my way of understanding people and time.
Statement of intent
At ArtCenter, I’ve developed a disciplined and exploratory approach to my practice. Most of my portfolio is rooted in digital photography, where I focus on mood, emotion, and composition. I’ve also explored alternative presentation methods—printing on metal, layering textures, and experimenting with physical materials. I’m drawn to images that feel tangible, even when made digitally. This balance of experimentation and clarity is central to how I work. It aligns with the Photography and Imaging major’s spirit of innovation. I bring a thoughtful eye, a strong work ethic, and a clear creative direction.
I want to create images that are felt as much as they are seen—work that lives between mediums, techniques, and emotions. What makes me a strong candidate is my ability to craft one-of-a-kind visuals with intention, process, and feeling. I’m not interested in sterile perfection—I want grit, mood, and humanity. This major is the ideal environment to keep evolving, surrounded by people who challenge and inspire. I’m committed to growing as both a technical and emotional image-maker. I know I can contribute something original and push my work to a new level.
Studio Photography
Photos are metaphors, making the abstract concrete and mystifying the mundane. Be clear, be confident, and don’t overthink it. The beauty of it is right now. Later will take care of itself.
Exploratory work
My work is about turning feeling into form—making the unseen visible and the ordinary strange. I follow curiosity wherever it leads, whether through light, sound, or material. This is just where I am right now. The rest will unfold in time.
STreet photography
Street photography is how I listen to the world without words. It’s instinct, timing, and a quiet kind of respect. I don’t chase moments—I let them reveal themselves. Every shadow, every glance, every crack in the pavement tells a story. I’m not just documenting—I’m translating the rhythm of the street into something still, but not silent.