For over the past 20 years, we’ve celebrated the Valley’s best. From the top businesses and professionals to the people who make it all happen, Arizona Foothills Magazine’s annual Best of Our Valley contest recognizes Arizona’s crème de la crème across more than 400 categories. From the best doctors and best resort down to the best cup of coffee you can find around town, each Best of titleholder is chosen by those who know the city best – our readers.
Each week, we’ll be highlighting individual winners from Best of Our Valley 2019, who share their advice, insights and thoughts on what it means to be a part of this exclusive list. Winners will be featured in the April 2019 issue of Arizona Foothills Magazine, a tell-all guide to the best people and places in the Valley of the Sun, as chosen by its residents.
The Best of spotlight is on Zee Peralta Photography who claimed Best Nightlife Photographer. Congrats, Zee Peralta Photography!
AFM: In a brief 2-3 sentences, please tell us a little bit about you & your photography–
Zee Peralta: Busy commuter cities like Phoenix tend to have a quiet pedestrian life, with little to few residents or tourists experiencing the nation’s sixth largest city by foot. To photographer Zee Peralta, this virtually un-chartered territory begs for a closer look. In 2013, she did just that, capturing more than 20,000 images of the city in an effort to share her discoveries and express her passion for its treasures.
“Through these photos, I’ve learned more about Phoenix in the last two years than in the last 20 that I’ve lived here,” says Zee. “There are so many things that I would have never stopped to take the time to look at. These images are about those small but important moments of city life that we would otherwise miss.”
Born in suburban Los Angeles, Zee moved to Mesa when she was 16. She was given her first camera as a graduation gift from Westwood High School – a Minolta film camera. That summer she started her first project documenting a trip of a lifetime to the Middle East.
Today Zee loves her home in the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert, and enjoys a successful career in photography and loves how street photography exposes her to a new world.
AFM: What does it mean to you to be a Best of Our Valley winner?
Zee Peralta: What an exciting opportunity to be recognized for something I simply love to do.
AFM: What’s your favorite part about being the Best of Our Valley’s Best Nightlife Photographer?
Zee Peralta: Knowing that my hard work is paying off
AFM: Have you seen any benefits as a result of being a BOOV winner?
Zee Peralta: I’ve had a few people take interest in my work since the contest started
AFM: How do you put your “best” foot forward every day?
Zee Peralta: I remain humble and I continue to focus on bettering myself and my craft
