New Mexico photographer celebrates lowrider culture in new book
Nathaniel Paolinelli’s new book, “Seventh and Central,” released in March, captures the vibrant lowrider culture of New Mexico through striking photography that brings the cars and their owners to life.
“I always have a camera wherever I go, no matter what I do. I bring it,” Paolinelli said.
“I’m really passionate about it, and this is one of the few things that I think comes to me naturally,” he said.
The book is an attempt to showcase New Mexico’s lowriders and their owners in their natural environment—out cruising, displaying their wild paint jobs, intricate details, hydraulic movements, and unique stances—all translated into the stationary setting of a book.
“All lowriders are different,” Paolinelli said.
“I like the way the cars look, they’re just rolling works of art. They’re beautiful,” he added.
The release of “Seventh and Central” coincides with the centennial celebration of Route 66, a historic road that connects two major hubs of lowrider culture: Southern California and New Mexico.
“There’s been a lot of people coming back and forth between both of the places over time,” Paolinelli said.
“And it’s something that helps kind of keep the road alive with people cruising up and central right here,” he said.
The book features 172 pages and 130 photographs, offering readers a glimpse into the lowrider cruising experience and the personalities of the car owners.
“It was initially the cars, but it really became about the people,” Paolinelli said.
“There’s a lot of pride in ownership. A lot of these cars are built from the ground up by hand by the people who drive them, and these vehicles are everything,” he said.