This project is about Zoraida Rivera, and her story, as told through images of her current life in New York City. Zoraida is the grandmother of my partner Zoe, and she is also the last remaining family member of Zoe’s to have been born in Puerto Rico. Nearly all the photographs for this project were made inside Zoraida’s apartment. The project is called ELA / ELLA (The word “ella” is Spanish for “her”) as a play on words, and a reference to the history of Puerto Rico and Zoraida herself. By telling this visual story, I hope to share and celebrate an experience that other Puerto Ricans and immigrants of all kinds can relate to. Zoraida reminds me of my own Cuban mother who also moved to the United States in her early adulthood.