Damn Amazing Pics

After September 11, the notion of the “hero” began to rear its head in the public consciousness more and more frequently. The notion served a necessity in a time of national and global crisis to acknowledge those who showed extraordinary courage or determination in the face of danger, sometimes even sacrificing their lives in an attempt to save others. However, in the whirlwind of journalism surrounding these deservedly front-page disasters and emergencies, it is easy to take for granted the heroes who sacrifice immeasurable life and labor in their day to day lives for the good of others, but do so in a somewhat less spectacular setting.

The Mexican immigrant worker in New York is a perfect example of the hero who has gone unnoticed. It is common for a Mexican worker in New York to work extraordinary hours in extreme conditions for very low wages which are saved at great cost and sacrifice and sent to families and communities in Mexico who rely on them to survive.

The Mexican economy has quietly become dependent on the money sent from workers in the US. Conversely, the US economy has quietly become dependent on the labor of Mexican immigrants. Along with the depth of their sacrifice, it is the quietness of this dependence which makes Mexican immigrant workers a subject of interest.

The principal objective of this series is to pay homage to these brave and determined men and women that somehow manage, without the help of any supernatural power, to withstand extreme conditions of labor in order to help their families and communities survive and prosper.

This project consists of 20 color photographs of Mexican immigrants dressed in the costumes of popular American and Mexican superheroes. Each photo pictures the worker/superhero in their work environment, and is accompanied by a short text including the worker’s name, their hometown in Mexico, the number of years they have been working in New York, and the amount of money they send to Mexico each week.



NOE REYES from the State of Puebla works as a delivery boy in Brooklyn New York. He Sends 500 dollars a week.


ERNESTO MENDEZ from Mexico City works as a gigolo in Times Square New York. He Sends 200 dollars a week.


JOSÉ ROSENDO DE JESÚS from the State of Guerrero works as a union organizer in New York. He Sends 700 a month.


BERNABE MENDEZ from the State of Guerrero works as a professional window cleaner in New York. He sends 500 dollars a month.


MARIA LUISA ROMERO from the State of Puebla works in a Laundromat in Brooklyn New York. She Sends 150 dollars a week.


ALVARO CRUZ from the State of Mexico works as a cook and runs with Los Compadres team. He Sends 300 dollars a month.


ROMÁN ROMERO from Tlapa Guerrero works as a superintendent in New York. He Sends 800 dollars a month.


PAULINO CARDOZO from the State of Guerrero works in a greengrocer loading trucks. He Sends 300 dollars a week.


OSCAR GONZALEZ from the State of Oaxaca works as a cook in New York. He Sends 350 dollars a week.


LUIS HERNANDEZ from the State of Veracruz works in demolition in New York. He sends 200 dollars a week.


JUVENTINO ROSAS from the State of Mexico works in a fish market in New York. He Sends 400 dollars a week.


FEDERICO MARTINEZ from the State of Puebla works as a taxi driver in New York. He Sends 250 dollars a week.


MINERVA VALENCIA from Puebla works as a nanny in New York. She Sends 400 dollars a week


ADALBERTO LARA from the State of Mexico works as a construction worker in New York.He Sends 350 dollars a week.


SERGIO GARCÍA from the State of México works as a waiter in New York. He Sends 350 dollars a week.