ANDY MARQUEZ – THE PHOTOGRAPHER

A World of Magic and Wonder

Anyone can take a photograph, but not just anyone can make it a work of art. Photographer Andy Marquez relentlessly pursues beauty and with his camera, creates art. For Marquez, a photograph must capture the heart and soul of a scene during that brief moment in time when divine light and natural shadow converge. The result is an image that draws you in and holds you spellbound. In short, the photo becomes art.

“There is an incredible amount of beauty in this world,” says Marquez, “I feel passionate about wanting to capture that splendor in an image.”

Originally from Bayside, N.Y., Marquez had only a passing interest in photography and after college put his camera away. Then, in 1981, he and his wife Teresa moved to Houston where the wild life and parks like Big Bend reawakened the spark of his passing interest and fanned it into flame. Dusting off his camera after a 12 year hiatus, Marquez started shooting again.

In 1985, Marquez and family moved to Colorado. Inspired by the scenery provided by that state, he threw himself into his work. Business rapidly expanded and they opened their first gallery in Littleton, Colo. in 1992.

At first, Marquez focused his camera on Colorado and other scenic spots in the U.S. In 1994 he decided to expand his artistic horizons by doing his first overseas shoot in Greece. In the following years he captured the essence of the peoples, places and cultures in 32 countries and six continents, including the lush emerald coastline of Ireland, the Taj Mahal in India, and polar bears frolicking in Canada’s Hudson Bay. Reflecting on this travels, Marquez says, “It truly is a world of magic and wonder.”

In September of 2004, Marquez was almost snatched from that world by a close call with death. While walking down the street in his neighborhood, Marquez was run over by a motorcyclist. The driver fled the scene, leaving Marquez for dead. Fortunately, a neighbor saw him and rushed to get help. He spent the next several months recovering from the accident.

Although he didn’t have a “bright light” experience, Marquez admits he does see light better now. He isn’t sure if his heightened sense resulted from his close encounter with death or if it’s just due to years of training his eye to hone in on the slightest detail. Of this much he is certain, “I appreciate every day of life a little bit more because things can end or change in an instant.”

Seizing each day and more determined than ever to pursue his dreams, shortly after leaving the hospital Marquez took on the Great Wall of China. Hauling his camera equipment and cane, he climbed, hobbled and crawled up the 800 grueling steps to capture new images of this world wonder.

A prolific photographer, Marquez has sold hundreds of thousands of prints and published four coffee table books.

In the fall of 2009, Andy released his long-awaited international book “Dreams That Last Forever”