selected works

Selected documentary photography by Nathaniel Tetsuro Paolinelli, rooted in Albuquerque, New Mexico, lowrider culture, community life, and everyday experience across the American Southwest and beyond.

Black-and-white portrait in Albuquerque of a tattooed man with his head bowed and hands covering his face.

FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER

A loose edit of photographs from different years and places, gathered simply because they continue to stay with me.

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Man posing beside a pink classic lowrider at night in New Mexico.

NEW MEXICO LOWRIDER CULTURE

Documentary photographs of lowrider culture across New Mexico, where craftsmanship, identity, and community meet in motion.

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Crowd gathered among flowers and candles at dusk during Día de los Muertos in Mexico City.

MEXICO CITY DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS

A street-level look at Día de los Muertos in Mexico City, where ritual, memory, and everyday life come together.

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Black-and-white portrait of two people looking back from inside a vintage car in Cuba.

CUBA: BEAUTY AND HARDSHIP

Photographs from Cuba tracing beauty, scarcity, and the realities of daily life during a time of crisis.

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A group of five men standing in a row behind vintage bicycles and classic cars, in a setting with a large roof structure.

LOWRIDER CULTURE IN THAILAND

Photographs from Thailand’s lowrider community, made across Bangkok, Chon Buri, and beyond.

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A woman with dark, curly hair styled in two buns decorated with white roses, wearing dark makeup and a black top, sitting at a table with her head resting on her hand, in front of a background with various colorful poster signs advertisement for a fair or carnival.

NEW MEXICO STATE FAIR

Images from the fair as a meeting place for the whole state, from midway lights to barns, rodeo, and family tradition.

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A group of people, mostly men, standing outdoors under a partly cloudy sky. They are wearing motorcycle club vests with patches, some sporting bandanas and sunglasses. One woman, whose back faces the camera, is wearing a vest that reads "PROPERTY OF CHUGGS." The scene appears to be at a gathering or event for bikers.

MONGOLS MOTORCYCLE CLUB

A quiet document of a memorial gathering in Albuquerque, centered on loyalty, grief, and community.

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A group of people, including civilians and military personnel, stand behind a barbed wire fence. Two officers are exchanging something, and there are many onlookers, some taking photos or observing. Several people are wearing masks, and the scene appears to be a checkpoint or barricade.

AT THE EDGE OF PASSAGE

Photographs from Ciudad Juárez witnessing families, waiting, and survival along the U.S.–Mexico border.

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Black-and-white photograph of a family helping one another along the riverbank at the Juárez–El Paso border at night.

THE BORDER

Documentary photographs from Juárez and the Rio Bravo focused on migration, movement, and the human moments inside crisis.

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Classic car parked on Central Avenue in Albuquerque in front of a neon Indian Jewelry and Crafts sign at night.

ROUTE 66 ALBUQUERQUE

A visual record of Central Avenue and Albuquerque’s stretch of Route 66, shaped by history, neighborhoods, and street life.

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LAS POSADAS

A quiet, family-rooted look at Las Posadas in La Jolla, New Mexico, where faith, labor, and tradition are carried forward together.

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STATE FAIR RODEO

Back-of-the-chutes photographs from the New Mexico State Fair Rodeo, focused on preparation, tension, and rodeo life behind the scenes.

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RAVEN CHACON | TIGUEX

Photographs from Tiguex, Raven Chacon’s daylong Albuquerque composition, shaped by sound, landscape, and public space.

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Black-and-white portrait of two Buddhist monks seated indoors in Albuquerque’s International District.

DISTRICT PORTRAITS

Portraits of Asian American small business owners in Albuquerque’s International District, rooted in visibility, neighborhood, and care.

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