Portraits of Puerto Rico

Portraits

Photo by Maria Bonnemaison | Olympic Puerto Rican boxer Yankiel Rivera training at Coliseo Boxístico Pedro Rodriguez Gaya in Cataño, Puerto Rico.

Photo by Maria Bonnemaison | Native to Southeast Asia, the plantain arrived in Puerto rico in the 16th century and became a staple in Puerto Rican Cuisine. Plantains can be found in traditional dishes like mofongo, alcapurrias and pasteles.

Look up: the eclectic, colorful – and vacant – facades of Old San Juan

Photo by Maria Bonnemaison | Found in El Yunque Rainforest, the Heliconia Bihai is a native plant to Puerto Rico. The bright red petals act as cups that holds rainwater for birds and insects.

Photo by Sofia Perez | Crystal Herrera feeding the Pigeons in a narrow street of old San Juan.

Photo by Amanda LaRiviere | Photo by Amanda LaRiviere | A Puerto Rican flag decorates a door in the southern coastal city of Ponce.

Photo by Sofia Pérez | An example of Old San Juan's colorful architecture. The city has experienced a renaissance, but mostly through funding by outside investors.

Photo by Sofia Pérez | Old San Juan is awash in bright colors that harken back to its colonial roots. Many of the most colorful buildings, like those pictured here, are within a 75-block area.

Angry about COVID mandates, residents occupy Capitol lawn

Photo by Sofia Pérez | A resident Rincón holds his parrot as he walks around Maria's Beach, a favorite spot for local and International surfers.

Photo by Amanda LaRiviere | A building in Santurce is painted with the Puerto Rican flag as part of artist Héctor Collazo's project, "78 Pueblos y 1 Bandera".

Photo by Sofia Pérez | A dog sits cozily on the coach of a resident and surfer from Rincón, Puerto Rico, on the island's western coast.

Photo by Maria Bonnemaison | The view of the Carribbean sea from the San Felipe del Morro Castle in Old San Juan.

Photo by Sofia Pérez | La Perla is a neighborhood between the forts of San Cristobal and El Morro in San Juan. Many of its dwellings are stacked on top of each other, creating a colorful kaleidoscope of architecture.

Photo by Maria Bonnemaison | Selaginella willdenowii, or Peacock fern is a type of spikemoss found in El Yunque Rainforest. The name Peacock fern comes from the iridescent blue color on the leaves.

A place to call home: queer community centers in Puerto Rico

Photo by Sofia Perez | Puerto Rican traditional and black and white flag of resistance at the Public school teachers March for dignity and fair pay.

Photo by Sofia Pérez | A local man holds his pet iguana for tourists to touch and photograph on a street corner in Old San Juan.

Photo by Maria Bonnemaison | Local man plays congas in front of the beach in Piñones.

Photo by Sofia Pérez | As in many cities, the stray cat population rivals that of the human inhabitants. These two are relaxing on a street corner in La Perla.

Photo by Elisabeth Hadjis | The colorful rooftops and homes of La Perla, a neighborhood in Old San Juan, stand out against the deep blue of Puerto Rico's Atlantic coast. Established by enslaved people forced to live outside of Old San Juan's city walls in the 18th century, La Perla is now known for its vibrant community and culture. Notably, in 2017, La Perla served as a music video set for Puerto Rican artists Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's hit song, "Despacito," which now has over 7 billion views on YouTube.

Photo by Sofia Perez | Young Puerto Ricans taking kayaking lessons in Laguna del Condado.

Photo by Elisabeth Hadjis | A man cooks meat over a charcoal grill, preparing to serve customers at a food stall in Piñones, Loíza. Vendors selling traditional Puerto Rican treats -- including barbecued meat, empanadas, alcapurrias and mofongo -- line the streets in this beach town, welcoming tourists and locals alike.

Photo by Sofia Pérez | A rooster keeps watch over his owners' home in La Perla, Puerto Rico.

Volunteers keep one of Puerto Rico’s only libraries open for browsing