Roberto, Galleria de Ollas Photograhper

Roberto Ornelas, Carolina’s son and our Website photographer, and three others students are enrolled in photography classes given at the Cuale River Center by the teacher Jessica Felix. The roof of both the classroom and darkroom were in very bad condition. The students refused to let these conditions be an obstacle to their studies and took it upon themselves to find facilities in different parts of town. While doing this, they also organized a photography exhibit called (Puerto) that will show their vision of Vallarta from a young perspective.

This exhibit is called (Puerto) because they wanted to surround it, (therefore the parenthesis) with their dialogue and vision to interpret what they see. The exhibition will be held in August. Roberto has already participated in the Wine Fest Display and they are actively looking for more exhibitions to show their graphics. Shortly, Roberto’s works will be displayed on our walls in Galeria de Ollas.

Roberto was asked where his attraction for photography started.

Roberto: Mine started when my mother, María Carolina, was taking pictures for the Galeria de Ollas Website. She asked me to take some pictures of Puerto Vallarta and that is when I found places in Vallarta that I did not know existed. I climbed the downtown hill with a regular camera and started to enjoy photography. After school I started to go out and take pictures from everywhere even riding a comlete bus route taking pictures.

Roberto, what do you consider is the magic of photography?

Roberto: To capture the moment in time and treasure it forever. For example, I took a picture of a girlfriend of mine and her young sister. Her sister died two months ago and that picture happened to be the last one taken of her and now that family keeps the photo as their treasure.

Tell us Roberto, is it your goal to sell your photos?

Roberto: That is not my goal. My purpose is to capture a special moment and that will remain in my photograph. Also, should you search through your "old stuff" in later years and find an old picture, that memory of the hope and happiness experienced in the past will again come alive.

Roberto heads for college in early August. We all wish him well.