Photo by: Laura Avellaneda-Cruz

Oscar is a Alaskan based visual story teller who loves to meet interesting people.

As a first generation immigrant from Colombia to Alaska, Oscar’s photography career began at the age of five with a Polaroid camera and the desire to start his own newspaper. After graduating high school in 2002, Oscar relocated to southern California to study the craft of production lighting as an intern for Ken Hansen of Hansen Photo. Realizing his potential, Oscar returned to Alaska and to began freelancing in 2004 with the start of his company Avé Photo. In 2008, a profound metamorphisis was initiated when Oscar began work as office manager/ assistant to Clark James Mishler. Oscar refined his talent and shifted his approach to business, taking into account how his work could benefit the communities that he belonged to.

Oscar’s images have been used in both commercial and editorial publications, and was awarded the 2009 Alaska Press Club Award for his portrait of Willie Hensley. Oscar has just completed a journey through the Americas via bicycle, and is currently in the process of publishing a book from his adventures. Oscar Avellaneda-Cruz is one of the founding members and contributor to the Orion Collective.