Environmental Storyteller: Diana Cervantes

Diana Cervantes is an Independent Visual Journalist based in New York City who focuses on long-form storytelling in conservation efforts, the environment, and unique intimate bonds between humans and animals.

Prior to interviewing Cervantes, I was captivated by her work, which demonstrates the connection between humans and nature, a topic that really speaks to me. I learned that her passion are directly exemplified within her work. She uses visual journalism as a means to combat the issues that the planets face, ultimately becoming a platform for activism. 

Cervantes has always had a love for photography, but her love stems from the documentary aspect of it. She believes that different worlds open up through her lens, inspiring her to continue working everyday.

Animals and ecosystems have a great impact on the life society lives today and Cervantes captures all the raw moments of beauty that nature entails. 

Talking to Diana was very eye opening for me. While I've always understood the passion that comes with photojournalism, knowing that it can be used as a platform to spread love and awareness is something I never really thought about.

Something that I found to be really special was the fact that she gets to be around the things that she loves the most, animals and nature.

Cutline: Tina Piña Trachtenberg, self named Mother Pigeon, stands for a portrait on top of her apartments rooftop in Brooklyn. The pigeons surrounding her are her flock and cares for them daily feeding and offering them water. She has fostered a special relationship with them, some are  generational pigeons, whose parents she cared for years ago. Her dress which she made herself, flies up due to the gust of wind from the hundreds of pigeons taking flight around her.