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These Phoenix lowriders are using photography to combat stigma

"Lowtography" is a possible pathway to change the stigma on lowriding.

PHOENIX - Many of us have seen the cars with intricate and colorful designs rolling on lowrider rims, driving down the streets.

Luis Miranda, who has been building cars, especially lowriders in the Valley for about 30 years, said the negative stigma has been associated with lowriders for a very long time.

"When I was young, people used to come and ask me, when were we (lowriders) going to be accepted in town," Miranda said.

He said the lowrider culture has changed quite a bit since 20-plus years ago.

"We used to collect parts just to get our cars together, now it's turned into a mainstream type of culture," Miranda said.

Miranda and other local lowriders are trying a different pathway that will hopefully give a positive stigma to lowriding.

It's called "lowtography."

It's the first ever in Phoenix, possibly even in the United States. It sheds a unique light to photograph lowriders from all over the world.

"You know, when you build a lowrider, you like to show it off, you go to car shows, cruise nights, but then there's this other group out there that admire cars -- such as the photographers and they come out to take pictures of the cars," Armando Aldama said.

Aldama is one of the three friends who came up with the concept "lowtography" and founded the name.

For five years now, Aldama and his friends, Chuck and Rudy, have been hosting a "lowtography” event in the Valley.

"There's a different vast amount of people that enjoy the lowrider culture," Aldama said.

Aldama said there's no racial boundaries when it comes to photography and that there are lowriders all over the world.

"We've seen people come through the doors that probably would not even look at a lowrider," Aldama said.

He said their lowtography event gives those people a glimpse through the photo of the culture and life of a lowrider.

"All the cars are customized, but they have their own unique style that puts them in the category of lowriding," said Aldama.

The next lowtography event is set for Saturday, April 7 in Phoenix.

And while lots of lowrider cars have been featured in photos at lowtography events, Aldama said one in particular has been photographed the most.

"A 1958 Chevrolet Impala Convertible, they call it the 58' Caliber," Aldama said.

Aldama and his friends do hope that in time, more people from all over will submit their photographs of lowriders to their event to keep the culture movement going.

"We're not a bunch of thugs, gang bangers, drug dealers, we're homegrown family people that love this type of artwork," Miranda said.

Miranda thinks lowtography opens art to everyone and hopes everyone will look at lowtography as just art.

"It opens it up for everyone, it's a big gateway for people to come in and check out lowriding,” Miranda said.

The lowtography event is not accepting anymore photograph submissions for 2018, but if you would like to attend, click here for more information.

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