Petra Espinosa is a Columbia College Chicago student working to convey powerful images to audiences through her cinematography and videography work. Through her education at Columbia, she has gained a lot of experience on student/non-student films, working in the technical aspects of Camera, Grip and Electric. Filming a variety of genres, as well as illuminating the stories of women, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, and BIPOC, Petra aspires to continue incorporating her experiences into her work.
Artist Statement:
Through all of my film and photo work, I work to convey emotional meaning through visual imagery. Collaboration is at the heart of my creative process; working closely with directors and artists from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that the authenticity of each story is preserved. I draw inspiration from the colors, textures, and frames of life, aiming to create a visual style that reflects the emotional truth of the narrative. I craft images that speak to audiences, whether it is an abstract object or a casual interview.
Working as an AC and Camera Operator, I enjoy working hand-in-hand with the cinematographer to craft their vision through cinematic techniques. The technical and mechanical aspects of camera and g/e have always stood out to me, the feeling of creating that image with your hands in everything. I am the most interested in a project if I am an operator of sorts- using my hands to physically create a frame. With my experience in camera, grip+electric, editing, color grading, and directing, the visual story and mise en scéne is my most focused aspect.
As a camera person, I prioritize helping people share their stories, as well as incorporate my own into my work. Through any project that I am working on, whether that be narrative, non-narrative, commercial, or doc, the palpability of the visual storytelling is precedent. In my artistic journey, I am committed to creating spaces where powerful stories of all kinds can be told—ones that inspire, challenge, and ultimately unite us and the audience in our shared humanity. Through my lens I aim to honor the complexity of the human experience, one frame at a time.
