Pho·tog Friday: Angelo Merendino

Angelo Merendino is a contemporary photographer currently based out of Cleveland, Ohio. He shoots for Corbis News and Getty Images.  Merendino's photographs have been shown both online and in printed press by the following publications: The New Yorker 'Photo Booth', The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The New York Times, USA Today and Polka.  His images have been displayed in multiple gallery shows around the world.
Merendino, Angelo, My Wife's Battle with Breast Cancer, 2007 - 2011.
Merendino's subject matter varies depending on the story he is covering although his most powerful photo essay - at least in my opinion - is the one he created about his late wife, Jennifer Wise-Merendino.  His photo essay titled, My Wife's Fight With Breast Cancer, began shortly after receiving the news that his wife had breast cancer.  They had been married for five months.


Merendino, Angelo, My Wife's Battle with Breast Cancer, 2007 - 2011.
Merendino began to photograph their day-to-day activities as a means to communicate their love and their struggles.  By viewing this body of work, one is immediately exposed to the reality of a young couple battling breast cancer.  Merendino's photographs come from the heart in an intimate, honest and moving manner. 
Merendino, Angelo, My Wife's Battle with Breast Cancer, 2007 - 2011.
Merendino, Angelo, My Wife's Battle with Breast Cancer, 2007 - 2011.
Merendino, Angelo, My Wife's Battle with Breast Cancer, 2007 - 2011.

Merendino gave a TEDx lecture at USU on this body of work.   Within his lecture, Merendino describes the act of taking photos during this difficult time as a way to also cope with the challenges they were facing together.  The images that Merendino took of his wife clearly answer a few questions that come up often in the world of documentary photography and photojournalism: "Is it ethical to take someones photograph when they're struggling?" "Do photographs have the ability to create positive change?"  In Merendino's case, the answer to both of these questions is simply, "yes".  He does raise a new answer to another typical "saying"; a picture is worth a thousand words.  To see Merendino's take, please see the video below:


This body of work has received international attention and has been a source of inspiration to many.  Merendino has since started a non-profit in his wife's honor called, The Love You Share.  To read more about Merendino's photo essay, please click "here". 

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01. "Portraits." Angelo Merendino Photography. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
02. "My Wife's Battle with Breast Cancer." Angelo Merendino Photography. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
03.  "About." Angelo Merendino Photography. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
04.  Merendino, Angelo. "The Battle We Didn't Choose." The Battle We Didn't Choose. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
05. Merendino, Angelo. "The Love You Share." The Love You Share. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
06. "Photo Greater than 1000: Angelo Merendino at TEDxUSU." YouTube. TEDx, 18 Nov. 2013. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

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