Roberto Guerra's picture

A native of San Antonio, TX, Roberto [Bear] Guerra holds a degree from the University of Notre Dame in Cultural Anthropology.  

After working for Amnesty International USA, and then teaching English in South Korea, he worked with award-winning editorial photographer, Dan Winters, for three years, while continuing to travel and photograph projects in Peru, Mexico, and throughout the U.S.  

He has exhibited in many group shows in the United States, and his most recent awards include an Honorable Mention in the Magenta Foundation's Flash Forward: Emerging Photographers 2007 competition (included in book publication); Third Place in the Santa Fe Center for Photography's Black & White Singular Image Competition;  two Honorable Mentions in the Golden Light Awards (2006) Travel Portfolio & Decisive Moment categories; as well as a Merit Award from the Society of Publication Designers for his photo essay, "Inhumane Society" (2005). 

He has been included in the prestigious annual book publication, American Photography 21; and was featured in the documentary issue of Shots Magazine (#92) for his work about San Antonio's Animal Control Facility. Additionally, his photographs and photo essays have been published by Orion Magazine, the Boston Globe Magazine, BBC's The World, World Vision Report, Texas Monthly, Seed Magazine, The Sun, and others. He has also worked with NGO's including Medecins Sans Frontieres and the International Rescue Committee.  

Bear is currently based in La Paz, Bolivia, where he lives and collaborates with his wife, journalist Ruxandra Guidi. 

Story Clips:   

  • Pisco Earthquake World Vision Report, 11.04.07: Photos accompanying a story about the aftermath of the massive earthquake that struck Pisco, Peru.
  • Striking Sex Workers in El Alto BBC's The World, 10.26.07: Photos accompanying a story about sex workers in El Alto, Bolivia, who were protesting a recent crackdown on their trade.  
  • Death Over Dams Orion Magazine, 06.25.07: A threat to lives and livelihoods gets a green light from the Mexican government, but the resistance is determined to stop it.