We need to take pictures because photographers need to pick up the camera, order the elements, make adjustments with extraordinary numbers, and feel that sensation of the other, which has no owner and is unique. After all, what goes into the frame is your decision and what is left out, too.

We must take pictures because that (healthy) obsession must be fed and satiated.

Alex Van Mecl, vice chair of the Opa-locka Environmental Preservation Board and founder of the Opa-locka Preservation Association believes the restored building has tremendous potential.
“My hope is that it will become a] major part of the Arabian Nights Festival in the future, serving as the center attraction,” he said. “ I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of people are going to want to host some pretty cool things there.”

Michel Catalan

Melissa Guerrero

Frida Getzel

Melissa Guerrero

Michel Catalan

Frida Getzel

Melissa Guerrero

Michel Catalan

Melissa Guerrero

Frida Getzel

Michel Catalan

Omar Mattar

Why opa-locka?

because is renowned for its unique architectural charm and fascinating history. Founded in 1926 by aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss, Opa-locka was designed with an Arabian Nights-inspired theme, featuring Moorish Revival architecture. The city boasted a whimsical collection of domes, arches, and minarets, making it one of the most distinctive towns in the United States. Although the 1926 hurricane and the Great Depression slowed its development, Opa-locka became a hub for military and aviation industries during World War II. Today, it remains a culturally diverse community, reflecting a blend of historical significance and modern urban challenges.

our photographers: CARLOS ANLLO, CAMILA SUAREZ, ALFREDO SUELS, Michel Catalan, FRIDA GETZEL, OMAR MATTAR, and melissa guerrero.

Alfredo Suels

A photowalk is a curated space-time for a group of photographers to develop a photographic work in a determined time and area. It is free drawing but with technical, aesthetic, and conceptual orientation as required by the students. We do them in places you might never go or places that, because they are so obvious, you would not consider them either; in the end, it all depends on the edge with which we approach that momentum. Back at the school, we downloaded the photos and generated an enriching constructive criticism session, where all students participated, moderated by the instructor.

What you see here is part of the result of that process.