About
Diana in a field of mezquite. / Photo credit: Danielle Prokop
*Diana is currently in New york city*
Contact via email at dianalcervantes09@gmail.com or get in touch through text or call at (505) 459-1015
Follow her substack for updates on work and behind-the-scenes looks.
Diana Cervantes is an award-winning Independent Visual Journalist and writer based in Brooklyn, New York, and her hometown in the Southwest. She brings a wealth of experience and passion to her craft.
Focusing on conservation, climate change, and scientific research, Cervantes is dedicated to shedding light on individuals at the forefront of these pressing themes. Her long-form visual storytelling approach captures the essence of these stories and fosters meaningful relationships, trust, and a comprehensive understanding of the themes and research she explores.
Beyond her dedication to her work, Cervantes has an affinity for insects, particularly beetles (and snails—not an insect), making it a dream assignment for her. Moreover, she loves all animals and has explored various photography genres, ranging from sports to press events throughout her career. She also had a stint as a reporter covering city council and features in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
Furthermore, Cervantes is no stranger to discomfort, long hikes, wading in murky waters, and braving rocky boats to capture the spirit of a story.
Cervantes is a member of esteemed organizations such as Argo Collective, The Authority Collective, Diversify Photo, and the Society of Environmental Journalists. She is an Eddie Adams Workshop & International Women’s Media Foundation alumna.
Her work is also available for licensing through Redux Pictures Archive, and with her training in Hostile Environments and first aid, she is well-equipped to tackle any assignment that comes her way.
Professional Achievements
2023-2025: Selected for Anderson Ranch, The Center program for an advanced three year mentorship studies with James Estrin of the New York Times and Ed Kashi from VII.
2022: Selected to attend the Eddie Adams Workshop XXXV
2022: Water Desk grantee as part of a reporting team covering climate change in NM, Colorado and Texas with Danielle Prokop and Marisa Demarco for El Paso Matters and Source NM. “CRISIS ON THE RIO GRANDE,” a 14 part series.
2020-2021: IWMF Gwen Ifill Mentorship Fellow mentored by National Geographic Photographer and Nikon Ambassador Ami Vitale.
2020: Recipient of the Associate Grant through The Yunghi Kim Grant, courtesy of Timothy Hyde.
Judges Comment: One of the talents of Diana that comes through in her photographs is making people feel at ease. Her subjects are clearly comfortable with her. “Likable” is an important character trait of any profession but even more so in photojournalism in terms of allowing people you photograph to trust you and allow access. Yunghi Grant is happy to support her this year with a Associates Grant of $1,000, a generous donation from Timothy Hyde. We are excited to watch Diana continued journey as a photojournalist.
2019: Recipient of the Associate Grant through The Yunghi Kim Grant, courtesy of Manuello Paganelli.
2019: Image selected and published for National Geographic’s Your Shot “Photos of the Week” for Aug 2, 2019. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/your-shot/photos-of-the-week/2019/08/best-pictures-week-of-august-02-from-our-community/
2018: Image selected for National Geographic’s Best of Your Shot 2018. Featured alongside 70 other photographers selected and curated from over 1.2 million images: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/best-of-2018/your-shot-best-photos-of-2018/
2018: Image selected and published on National Geographic Your Shot “The Daily Dozen” for Nov. 20, 2018
2018: Selected to attend Women Photograph in Brooklyn New York
2016-2018: Nominated in multiple Hearst Award categories for student journalism.
Press
2023: Western Priorities Podcast, Why you should care about the Rio Grande https://westernpriorities.org/2023/05/why-you-should-care-about-the-rio-grande-river/
2023: KUNM: Lets Talk NM, The Imperiled Rio Grande https://www.kunm.org/show/lets-talk-new-mexico/2023-02-28/lets-talk-about-the-imperiled-rio-grande
2023: Our Land NMPBS: Behind the Source New Mexico Series: ‘Crisis on the Rio Grande | Our Land, interview by Laura Paskus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAAI2Ll3TlI
2022: MPB Interview: Animal and people photojournalist Diana Cervantes By: Makeda Sanford https://www.mpb.com/en-us/blog/article/12901/
2021: Beautiful News South Africa: Meet the women reining in hope for New Mexico’s wild horses, Interview by: Talysa Rudah https://www.beautifulnews.com/meet-women-reining-hope-new-mexicos-wild-horses
2019: Mere Mortal Online Blog, Women in Photography Series: Interview by Eli Regan meremortalmag.wixsite.com/meremortalmag/blog/diana-cervantes-women-in-photography
2018: Photo Chat Online China, Interview by Jenny Liang: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/1qcyW7WpFjsfrRL7-I_ujg
Speaking Engagements
2024: University of New Mexico, Writing for Science-based stories (Zoom).
2023: Auburn University, Alabama, Multimedia Journalism (Zoom).
2021: La Cueva High School, Albuquerque, NM, Introduction to Photojournalism (Google Meet).
2021: Pencil Bricks, India, Photographers as Problem Solvers (IG Live).
2020: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, Communications and Journalism (Communication & Journalism 365, Zoom).
Exhibitions
2022-2023: “Community Heroes,” Photoville & Fort Greene Park Conservancy, (Collaboration of various photographers). Brooklyn, NY.
2020-2021: “Entitlements,” Atlanta Celebrates Photography, special exhibition for the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, (Collaboration with Authority Collective photographers). Atlanta, GA.
2020: “The Pieces We are,” Six Feet Online Gallery, (Collaboration with Authority Collective photographers). Online.
Awards
2o24: Top of the Rockies: 3rd place, General Reporting-Series or Package: Danielle Prokop, Diana Cervantes for “Crisis on the Rio Grande.”
2023: New Mexico Press Association, 1st Place, Best Series, “Crisis on the Rio Grande,” Danielle Prokop and Diana Cervantes for Source NM.
Judges Comments: There have been many stories about the drought and dying rivers of the southwest, but none like this. Here, you have a cast of characters, from the river itself to the people who have seen the changes and are heartbroken by them, to the people trying to save it. If I had started reading this when it was first published, then I would have been looking forward to each new addition to the series. Job well done.
2023: New Mexico Press Association, 1st Place, Environmental or Agricultural Writing, “Crisis on the Rio Grande: Rescuing Silvery Minnows like ‘slapping a Band-Aid on a severed limb,” Danielle Prokop and Diana Cervantes for Source NM.
Judges Comments: This is a heart-wrenching story about a fish species, the endangered silvery minnow, that’s clearly fighting a losing battle for survival. That’s thanks to a wide array of human-caused forces that have gradually devalued the Rio Grande as a place for fish to live. The story’s revealing portrait of Thomas Archdeacon, the federal biologist who has led the minnow recovery project for a decade, is perhaps the story’s most heartbreaking element, given his candor about the minnows plight.