About Victor M. Ortega

A Puerto Rico native, Ortega became interested in photography as a young child. During his early teens, he actively participated in the creation of family portraits. In high school he purchased his first 35 mm camera and soon after it became its closest friend!

Ortega started experimenting in various formats and mediums such as black & white infrared photography in his early 20's. His subjects included people and the bustling urban sceneries of NYC, Chicago, IL and Philly, PA.

During his 20's, Ortega became more interested in filters, gels and controlled lighting, including other innovative photography techniques. By the mid 80's, Ortga's style represented an eclectic mixture of techniques inspired by Ansel Adams, John Sexton and Annie Leibovitz, along with a touch of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Mafalda. It was during the same period he started signing work as Manuel Ortga.

In the late 80's, Ortega's influential friends praised his artistic skills and started introducing him to other area artists in the urban scene of New York City. In December of 1991, Ortega was at last part of a group of artists - most of them Puerto Ricans and all who had been residing in New York City since the early 1980's. As a result, in 1993, Victor M. Ortega became cofounder of what is today known as The Organization of Puerto Rican Artists, Inc. a 501(c)3 organization. Ortega served on the Board of Directors of O.P. Art until 1995 when he relocated to Central Florida.

With an education in Business & Marketing, Ortega continues his photography work, in addition to being a full-time father, an active public community member in Lake County, Florida and interactive marketing profesional with an expertise in the travel industry and a vast knowledge in new business development. To learn more about Victor M. Ortega, click here.

by Rich Weidman, Sr. Copywriter for CFI