Artist Bio
Herman Velez was born and raised in Jersey City. The youngest of five siblings, he began taking pictures at the age of 14 with a 35mm Pentax K1000 he purchased from a friend for fifteen dollars.

Velez competed as a boxer throughout grammar and high school. He went on to study fine art and commercial photography at New Jersey City University where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts. After assisting New York based celebrity-photographer Ken Nahoum for many years, Velez left still photography to work in commercial film. Following nine years fulfilling years in the commercial film industry as an Assistant Cameraman and Director of Photography, Velez decided to return his focus to fine art photography.

He has exhibited work in Manhattan, Jersey City, and Newark. Velez teaches art and photography in Newark, New Jersey and is the recipient of the Governors’ Award for Art Education.

He is a former New Jersey Diamond Gloves Champ in the 147Lb Open Class Division and lives in Jersey City with his wife and their dog.

About the Photography
“Gordon Parks gave me advice that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life, he said, ‘Always take your camera with you because life is filled with moments you’ll regret not capturing.’ ”

Velez shoots with a variety of cameras among which his favorites are Canon 5D, a self-made 4x5 pinhole camera, a 4x5 Speed Graphic, and a Canon G-III QL.