Nubia Navarro Shoots the Most Perfectly Colorful Street Scenes

Welcome to Hero of the Week, an ongoing series sharing stories from some of the best photographers in the Pexels community.

Graphic designer and lettering artist Nubia Navarro has an impeccable eye for color. With clients including Facebook, Airbnb, and Adobe, Nubia has developed a unique, playful style inspired by vibrant color.

In addition to her design career, Nubia is also a talented photographer with close to 200 million views on Pexels. "Photography is a hobby I developed during my time in the university," she says, "and sometimes I get out of these four walls to have fun with the spaces I visit and the color I look in them."

We've been obsessing over Nubia's vividly colorful street scenes ever since we first saw them. The Venezuelan creator, who currently lives in Bogotá, Colombia, captures charming street views both at home and on holiday, hunting down the most colorful facades she can find.

Nubia shared how she first got into photography through shooting analog, the creators who inspire her, and the very touching personal story behind the toy car photos she frequently shoots during her travels.

Pexels: How did you get started with photography?

Nubia: I have been taking photos for over seven years. Although I don't consider myself a professional photographer, I did participate in product photography projects before, which has made me grow in many ways.

I consider myself an amateur photographer; I feel that as a graphic designer and visual artist, it is very important to have a knowledge of photography, even if it is basic, to be able to execute and communicate my ideas in a better way.

I started taking pictures when I was in college, since I had a couple of semesters where they made us use analog cameras, build matchbox cameras, and develop our own photos in a dark room. Although now I do not take analog photos, I still have my old cameras that I inherited from a couple of friends (grandparents of photography in Cabimas and Maracaibo, two places where I lived) and who loved photography.

Now I use my cell phone most of the time or my camera when I go out to some very special place or on a trip.

What camera gear do you use?

My equipment is very basic but powerful for me. I have a Canon EOS 60D and my favorite lens is 50mm 1.8. I also use an iPhone 12 Pro Max when I do not carry my camera with me.

What's your favorite type of photography to shoot?

I love travel photography and also street style fashion and FACADES, they are very inspiring in many ways. I really like them because I can use them in different types of projects and communicate personalities, ways of thinking and ways of doing things.

Although photography is not what I mainly do, it inspires me and conveys many emotions to me.

What inspires your photography?

My photography is inspired by playfulness and joy of simple things.

From my favorite toy, to my favorite facade colors. I think there are so many things out there to be discovered that I am excited to think about what is going to be the new colorful place to put my toy.

Tell us about your favorite photo on your Pexels profile.

Yep, sure. It is my favorite upload for many emotive reasons. The place where I took that photo means a lot to me. It was one of the last places where I shared a loving time with my father before he passed away a few years before.

It has a very sad background but it makes me bring tears of joy because every time I traveled with him, I carried that little toy with me to the beach. That's why I tried to bring that nostalgia into the editing of the photo.

It's a very simple but powerful picture for me.

Who are some other photographers or artists who inspire your work?

I admire a lot of people. I try to extract what I like from them and apply them in my work.

The colors of Jessica Walsh's compos.

The nostalgia of Martina's work.

The playfulness of Lebassis's lettering work.

I mean, I feel like a cocktail of things I love.

What's one piece of advice you would give someone who is new to photography?

Be patient and be curious. Wonder about everything and try even more. Experiment with the things you like the most and put them together into one unique thing.

Photography is waiting for the right moment but sometimes that moment is brought by you.

Pexels Heroes is our invite-only community of the top photographers on Pexels. Find out more and apply to join here.