José Galvez bought a camera at a pawn shop in high school and, inspired by his mentors at the Arizona Daily Star newspaper, he went on to major in journalism at the University of Arizona. He had his first professional exhibition when he was just 22 years old. Galvez moved on to the Los Angeles Times, becoming the first Mexican-American photographer on staff. In 1984, he was on a team of reporters and photographers that won a Pulitzer Prize for a series on Latino life in southern California: the first Chicanos to win the Prize. He left the Times in 1992 after winning many other awards for his photographs. Galvez was an editor of and contributor to Americanos. He’s collaborated with writers such as Luis Alberto Urrea and Patricia Martin. His current work focuses on Latino communities of the American South, naturalization ceremonies, and documenting the many communities he visits every year.
Photo source: facebook.com/josegalvezphoto