A Journal of Portraits

zine by Ray Martinez

As a portrait and street photographer I enjoy learning about people I meet on the street and capturing their essence. I then make a portrait of the person informed by our visit.

In 2014, I grabbed my camera and uprooted my life for a new, temporary life in Washington, DC. There I witnessed protests and met people I never would have had I stayed in my comfortable life of Southwest Colorado. And when we chose to leave DC after the election for a gap year on the road, I wanted to make more friends out of the strangers I met along the way. After visiting twenty-eight states and British Columbia, A Journal of Portraits is just a splice of that journey and the documentation of just a few of the hundreds of people I met and photographed.

Within minutes of meeting, I was able to make each person feel comfortable in front of the lens. I enjoy capturing the essence and learning about them as they shared their story. There were farmers, artists, street performers, those who wanted to remain anonymous, and even proud heroes. The thing they all had in common was that they had a sense of self and the time we spent together marked a moment in time that brought about even more self-awareness. I’m honored to have had the opportunity to meet them and capture who they are.

Thank you for being part of my journey and supporting my creative work.

24-page, full-color zine

Limited edition - 50

Photographs and written stories by Ray Martinez

website: www.raycliks.com

Instagram: @raycliks

Twitter: @raycliks