I’m not sure why I had never seen Esteban’s work until recently, because he has some of the freshest photography around. His portfolio site has several wonderful projects that definitely deserve a look. I added a few photos from his People and Where They Live project at the end of the post.

Where are you from?
I was born in Caracas, Venezuela. When my family moved to the US, we started in New York, where I went to preschool with a famous actress, then Los Angeles. We left after an earthquake for Miami, then DC and Hawaii. I moved back to New York where I was living before I moved to Norman.

What do you do?
I photograph people in moments when they are being honest, not altering themselves or posing. I try to make the camera invisible and allow the viewer to create a direct relationship with the subject.

Who or what do you use for inspiration?
Seeing a person who shows an honesty about them , a stranger who I see and think about afterwards. I know that I relate to that person somehow, but am not sure how. In some ways, that is the thing I am trying to find when I photograph, even when I am not photographing people.

What artists do you respect right now?
Reineke Djastra, Ira Glass, Todd Stewart, Andy Anderegg, Michael Wolf, Nigel Shafran, Thomas Struth.

What are you sick of?
Wedding photography.

What music are you listening to recently?
Chuck Berry, Ratatat.

What is your first creative memory?
Finger painting Batman.

What is your favorite food/drank spot in Norman?
La Luna, Blu, J-Pats.

Anything else?
Cops reruns.