Spotlight: a photographer’s journey

"A Photographer's Journey” is the story of the prolific 20th century photographer Pedro E. Guerrero

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Pedro E.Guerrero (1917-2012) created numerous iconic images of several of America’s greatest 20th century artists.  Yet the story of this Mexican American photographer is largely unknown.

Guerrero used his innate talent to capture numerous insightful images of the work of architect Frank Lloyd Wright and sculptors Alexander Calder and Louise Nevelson as well as creating some of the most important photographs of modernist architecture.

‘’Through some combination of luck, talent and naiveté, I became a photographer.’’ (Pedro Guerrero)

Guerrero attended “Art Center School” (Art Center College of Design) in Pasadena, California where he fell in love with photography. In 1939 at 22 years of age, Guerrero became the resident photographer for Frank Lloyd Wright followed by an international career at House and Garden and other shelter magazines. In the 1960's he went on to document the work and lives of Calder and Nevelson.

A Photographer’s Journey charts the unlikely career of a young man who left behind his small town Arizona beginnings, overcame racial discrimination, and found acclaim in the vibrant and heady artistic Mecca of post World War II New York City. At once unique, universal and truly American, Pedro Guerrero’s story will inspire a new generation of artists to pursue their passion and undertake their own journeys of discovery. Guerrero’s story is a remarkable story that needs to be told.

Through our Indiegogo campaign we’re hoping to raise money to help cover the costs of the last phase of post production, including final editing, color correction, mixing of the audio, archival licensing and musical score. We are hoping to raise at least $20,000 through this campaign, although the actual cost will be quite a bit more. 

In early 2010 our crew of friends and fellow filmmakers came together to shoot an interview with Pedro E. Guerrero at his home in Florence, Arizona. Over a period of three days we captured the photographer in his element as he mused about his life and work and showed us around his darkroom and the site of his first assignment, Taliesin West, in Scottsdale, Arizona. We knew that this was a unique opportunity and this interview became the core of "A Photographer's Journey".

Director/ Producer

Raymond Telles’ thirty-five year career in film and television includes the production of numerous documentaries and segments for PBS, ABC, NBC, National Geographic, Discovery and Univision.” Among the honors these programs have received are the Columbia DuPont, Peabody, Emmy and Alma awards.

Director/ Producer

Yvan Iturriaga is an Oakland-based Producer/Director. He has shot and edited projects for Telemundo and Univision and recently directed two short narratives: Beep and Sui Generis. Iturriaga was Associate producer on The Storm That Swept Mexico, and the final hour of the PBS series Latino Americans.

Director of Photography

Miguel Creus began his career In Puerto Rico on the popular TV show  Frente Sónico.  In 2005 he completed an MA in Cinematography at Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Recent film projects include the shorts, Whichita Outlaw, Sui Generis and the award-winning feature I Am A Director.

Editor

Angela Reginato is an editor and experimental film and video maker based in Oakland, CA. Originally trained as an architect at UC Berkeley, Reginato uses film to explore the use of place in the construction of memory. Her films have screened at various film festivals in San Francisco, Mexico City, New York and London. 

Associate Producer

Daniel Telles is a photographer and graphic designer based in Oakland, California. He has worked in post production and transmedia implementation on commercials, shorts and feature documentaries including Race is the Place and The Storm That Swept Mexico.

Original prints by Pedro Guerrero in the link below... https://www.google.com/search?q=Pedro+E.Guerrero&rlz=1C1RNVH_enUS567US575&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiD0_3P3rXWAhUBMyYKHanpBH0Q_AUIDCgD&biw=1366&bih=638