Rafa

Boulder, Colorado

Photographer and filmmaker shaped by classic New York jazz, Japanese art, and a cinematic point of view.

Snowy urban alley framed by tall buildings and a glowing street lamp.

Close view of brick buildings and fire escapes in warm evening light.

Tall modern skyscraper against a bright blue sky.

Focus

Personal storytelling, mood, and visuals that feel expressive, cultured, and current.

Approach

Clean framing, strong emotion, and a rhythm influenced by jazz, film, and illustration.

Influences

Classic New York sound, Japanese culture, and anime worlds like Attack on Titan.

Selected Frames

Work shaped by taste, rhythm, and story.

Downtown city corridor with traffic, glass towers, and a distant church spire.

Rafael Cortes, also known as Rafa, is a 16 year old photographer and filmmaker residing in Boulder, Colorado. His work is driven by feeling, pacing, and the kind of visual impact that stays with you after the frame is gone.

He draws inspiration from classic New York jazz, Japanese culture, and anime, bringing those influences into images that feel focused, dramatic, and personal.

View the full portfolio

Upward-looking angle of a modern high-rise building with repeating window patterns.

About

Young eye. Distinct taste.

Rafa is building a visual language rooted in mood, story, and intention. Whether he is working in photography or film, the goal stays the same: create something that feels memorable and fully his own.

Based in Boulder, he brings together a modern visual instinct with influences from music, Japanese art, and anime. The result is work that feels cinematic, expressive, and personal without forcing itself.