In her photographic series “The Real Story of the Superheroes,” Mexican-born, Brooklyn-based photographer Dulce Pinzón explores the cultural identity of Mexican immigrants working low-wage jobs in the U.S. and the value placed on the labour they provide. Pinzón doesn't shy away from addressing some hot button issues. She takes into account the now-ingrained but seldom-examined idea of American “heroism” post 9/11 and looks through the lens of her own immigrant history and experience in Mexico to ask “what really is a superhero?”
To raise the point, Pinzón creates a comical but photographically engaging contradiction. Her subjects, all Mexican immigrants working low-wage jobs to send money home to their families, are pictured at work wearing culturally iconic superhero costumes. Spider Man washes windows, Cat Woman changes diapers, and so on. The photos enlighten through their sense of entertainment, but there is something deeper. We’re trained to instantly relate to the legend of the superhero, but the juxtaposition becomes clear when you read the caption: each photo lists the name of the worker and how much cash they're sending home to their family each week.

The series doesn't provide definitive answers, but like all good art, forces you to think for yourself. Are these workers tragically over-looked and maligned by the very people they are serving, or are they taking advantage of flawed immigration policies and then being celebrated for it?

Last March, we told you about the Border Film Project, which distributed some 400+ disposable cameras to undocumented migrants and the border minutemen attempting to end their passage from Mexico into America. The cameras have now been collected, the photographs processed and published in a book of the same title, offering an insightful and very human view into the two sides of this politically- and emotionally-charged issue. Designed by the talented folks at karlssonwilker inc and pricing out at $22.95, the book is available at Amazon, major bookstores and American Apparel stores nationwide. The Border Film Project’s website also got a long-awaited update, and now features even more of the hauntingly beautiful photographs collected over the duration of the project.

The Border Film Project recently distributed over a 400 disposable cameras to undocumented migrants crossing the desert into the U.S. and the Mintemen militia guys trying to catch them. The cameras were all sent back to the project headquarters in prepaid, self-adressed envelopes. They gave empty Walmart gift cards to the photographers and put money onto them when their cameras came back an incentive– which seemed to be working, there are over 1500 photographs so far. The pictures from both sides of the scenario on immigration are really thought provoking, intriguing, tear jerking, and quite eye opening. Keep your eye out for exhibits coming to a city near you!