About Photographer, Marco Calderon—In His Own Words

Posted on September 27, 2011 by lvartscouncil

The Inside Lehigh Valley Arts blog will routinely feature member artists of all disciplines.  “In His (or Her) Own Words” posts will provide brief “getting to know you” snapshots. The next step is yours. 

I meet people through my camera. I like people, their faces, and the stories they tell without speaking. I began shooting portraiture while conducting interviews with indigenous Mexican students about their experiences with intercultural bilingual education in northern Mexico. Later, I documented political campaigns in the State of Mexico, further solidifying my passion for journalistic photography and demanding me to capture emotion and depth in a single frame. 

Since moving toPennsylvania, I have worked with the Collective Memory Project of the LehighValley, the Old Allentown Preservation Association (OAPA), and the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) to document individual histories and local communities. The Collective commissioned me to record faces and stories of immigration to the LehighValley while elucidating the points of connection amongst people. I have continued to shoot environmental portraits of small business owners in the Old Allentown neighborhood, attempting to capture the charm and vitality of place through the faces of the people who live and work right here.

You can see more of Marco Calderon’s work at his website.

Photo courtesy of Marco Calderon.