MAIKING NOISE
MUSIC FESTIVAL
Through My Lens: Capturing the Soul of Ruidosa Fest at NYC’s Summer for the City 2025
YEИDRY. Photo: Yankee Ortiz Londono (TMN).
I’m Yankee Ortiz Londono, a young photographer from the Bronx with an unshakable love for capturing moments. Photography has always fascinated me, but getting into the industry hasn’t been easy. Cameras, lenses, and gear aren’t cheap. That’s why being part of TMN for the past year and a half has been a game changer. TMN doesn’t just give us opportunities to learn—it gets us into spaces where art, culture, and networking collide.
THE BRONX, NYC. By Yankee Ortiz Londono
One of those opportunities came this summer when I attended Ruidosa Fest, an all-female event showcasing an impressive lineup of women leading Latin American vibes. Hosted at Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City—an annual celebration that has lit up Manhattan each August for the past four years—Ruidosa Fest was more than just another show. It was my second time covering the festival, and I was determined to make the most of it—not just as a spectator, but as a storyteller, camera in hand.
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The Journey to the Center of the City
The day began with a familiar challenge: I didn’t have my own camera. Over the past year, I’ve gotten used to borrowing cameras—sometimes a Sony, other times a Nikon or Canon. Switching between brands has taught me to adapt quickly to new controls and still get crisp, high-quality shots. That morning, after securing a borrowed camera, I let Mr. Pablo Herrera, my mentor and guide in the TMN program, know I was set and ready to head from the Bronx to Manhattan.
Before the event, Mr. Pablo shared valuable background on the artists performing that night. He sent me links to their music and gave me the name of the artist we’d be interviewing. It wasn’t just homework—it was creative fuel. I began thinking about the shots I wanted: portraits that would reflect their music, their energy, and their connection with the audience.
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A Festival in Full Swing
As I approached Lincoln Center, the city’s soundscape shifted. The closer I got, the more I could hear—drums thumping, people laughing, clapping, cheering. Inside the press conference room, I caught the tail end of Mr. Pablo interviewing Francisca Valenzuela, Ruidosa Fest Founder. Francisca, a Chilean singer-songwriter and activist, is known for blending pop and rock with poetic lyrics that often carry feminist and social messages. Her energy set the tone for the night.
Ruidosa Fest Founder Francisca Valenzuela sat at the piano for an intimate three-song set. Photo: Pablo Herrera (TMN).
The first performance took place at Hearst Plaza, an open-air stage framed by the city skyline. Thanks to my press pass, I was able to move up front, where the crowd’s excitement was almost tangible. My first wide shot captured it all—the stage, the musicians, and a sea of people swaying to the beat.
A Dance Floor Under the Stars
The second set unfolded at The Dance Floor at Josie Robertson Plaza, an open space glowing in shades of blue with a giant disco ball spinning overhead. The water fountains sparkled under the stage lights while the crowd danced without restraint. The headliner here was Camila Fernández, daughter of the legendary Alejandro Fernández and granddaughter of Mexican icon Vicente Fernández. She’s carrying the torch of her family’s mariachi legacy but blending it with a contemporary twist. Her set, backed by vibrant mariachis, was a feast for both the ears and the eyes. I lost track of how many shots I took—portraits of Camila mid-song, the mariachis in full costume, and candid moments of couples dancing under the disco lights.
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Music Without Borders
Back at Hearst Plaza for the third performance, I noticed something powerful: Spanish-language music was pulling in a crowd far more diverse than just Spanish speakers. People who couldn’t understand a word of the lyrics were still caught up in the rhythm, dancing and smiling as if they’d grown up with the songs. That’s the magic of music—it doesn’t need translation.
The next artist, YEИDRY (stylized YENDRY), took the stage with confidence. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Italy, YENDRY blends Latin rhythms, R&B, and electronic beats into a unique sound that’s both global and personal. She spoke briefly to the audience before diving into her set, her voice soaring over the plaza as I captured shot after shot. Between the bass and her stage presence, it was impossible not to get swept up in the moment.
Ruidosa Fest Panel 2025. Mary Petro (United Talent Agency), Jennifer Sarkissian (LAMC / Nacional Records), Corina Azpúrua (Believe Ibero-America), Francisca Valenzuela (Ruidosa’s founder, singer-songwriter) and Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum (Remezcla). Photo: Pablo Herrera (TMN).
The Grand Finale
The final performance took place at Damrosch Park. My press pass let me get close enough to see every detail—the sweat on the musicians’ brows, the way the stage lights reflected off the instruments. The crowd roared behind me, clapping and cheering in sync with the music. It was electric.
I would’ve stayed until the very last note, but I had to catch the train before the post-event rush. Still, I walked away with hundreds of photographs, a full heart, and a deeper appreciation for the role art plays in connecting people across cultures.
TMN team during the coverage of Ruidosa Fest at Lincoln Center, NYC. Photo: Sachyn Mital (Lincoln Center)
The TMN program didn’t just get me into Summer for the City and Ruidosa Fest—it gave me the tools and confidence to move in these creative spaces. I left with more than pictures; I left with new connections, inspiration for future projects, and a renewed belief that art is a language everyone understands.
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