He worked as a still photographer for the National Indigenous Institute in Mexico,[1] and later with the Cree and Carrier Nations in British Columbia[4] before moving back to Mexico City and beginning a career in film.
Riestra began his career in film working as an assistant cameraman with Pierre Beccu French Director/DP on a documentary about Guatemalan refugees going back home after living in Mexico.
After this job, he was hired to do the making of documentary of the Swedish film "Pumas daughter" shot in southern Mexico.
[5] Riestra climbed the ladder in the film industry on several projects as a focus puller like Rough Magic Directed by Claire Peploe, starring Russell Crow and Bridget Fonda and then on Amores Perros[2] as a camera operator and with Emmanuel Lubezki in commercials.
[4] Riestra’s first opportunity to be a cinematographer came on an American commercial shooting in Mexico which later opened the doors to working with the best Mexican commercial directors,[4] and also to shooting 2nd Unit on Frida (2002) alongside Rodrigo Prieto, AMC, ASC.