'A happy image for a rough year': Top photos from El Paso Times visual journalist Gaby Velasquez

Ever wondered what goes into creating compelling images in the field as an El Paso Times visual journalist? We asked our photographers to pick their favorite moments of 2023 and explain why the images touched their creative hearts.

Visual journalist Gaby Velasquez has an eye for spotlighting El Paso cultural and music stories. She also is an accomplished photographer when it comes to sports.

Her favorite work in 2023 captured creative characters, applied the voice of women living and dying on the border and captured the "happy" that comes with a rain after months of record summer heat.

Here are her top photos of 2023:

This image is a super playful photo, which is why it's one of my favorite photos for this year. It was for something other than a specific event I was assigned to cover. It wasn't anything that was planned, it was just a moment I happened to discover.

El Pasoans were happy to receive rain after months of record summer heat.

I am usually drawn to darker tones, more shadows over pops of color. This photo is the opposite, with pink from the door, blue from the building, red from the umbrella, and green from the plants. The eyes from the bright umbrella complete the faceless person.

It's a happy image for a rough year.

This day was so hot halfway through the summer, but it was worth it.

Seeing so many families cruising down to Ascarate Park for the car show and concert was exciting, like an early Lincoln Park Day. The day was a celebration of Chicano culture in El Paso.

I captured the moment of rapper MC Magic throwing roses to fans with everyone's hands up and a rose in the middle of the air.

It was my second year covering International Women's Day for the 8M march in Juárez.

This image demonstrates the women's strength as they hold their fists up, although many seemed on the verge of tears of frustrations.

The red and blue cop lights and the U.S. and Mexico flags on the border show that women marched up to the middle of the Paso del Norte International Bridge to send a more significant message.

This year, one of my photo stories followed El Paso Chicano rap artist Fabian Primera "Payaso915."

I saw where he records his music with his three-person crew and some significant locations in Ysleta, where he grew up.

Family being a big part of his life, I saw him play with his grandson and work on his 1953 Pontiac at his garage with his dad Larry Primera.

It was meaningful to see the other side of the Chicano rapper and capturing this moment with family.

I have been pushing my portraits with lighting and composition this year and trying to tell the individual's story through a posed photograph.

I worked on several features this year, but this was my favorite portrait for the year.

Getting to photograph pro boxer Cesar Alvarado at his home gym was a fun experience for me. I immediately thought of framing him with the garage opening, where he trains.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Top photos of 2023: El Paso Times photographer Gaby Velasquez