This project is dedicated to my mom, Manuela. Not a professional photographer. In the mid 70’s she immigrated to this country, working as a housekeeper, earning $25 a week. She worked as a waitress. A seamstress. A small business owner. But never as a photographer - although at heart she was. Throughout the 70s, 80s, 90’s she captured the life of our friends and family. A camera always by her side. Among them a Minolta Pocket Pak 440E. An Olympus Trip MD3. A Pentax K1000. Each one producing the portraits that filled up our home. A few months back I asked, “If you could have chosen any profession, what would it have been?” She said: maybe photography.
For my mom, seeking the American Dream meant giving up hers. Taking jobs out of necessity rather than passion. I’d like to take this time to reflect upon that sacrifice. We live in a society that makes it easy to compartmentalize and label immigrants instead of understanding their hopes and aspirations. Every delivery guy, cook, housekeeper you’ve ever encountered who is an immigrant - in a more fair world, they too may have been architects, engineers, writers or maybe even a photographer.
This collection features some of her photographs. Just a few out of thousands.
