Manuel Rocca Vargas, known by the name - Manny Rocca - is an award-winning photojournalist that has move into fine art photography.
In the year 1973 at the age of seventeen I started working as an apprentice Lab-Technician at a Photography Laboratory in Seville, Spain. Meanwhile I kept playing flamenco guitar and singing with a folk flamenco group.
For many year music and photography have been my passion and my way of living.
After an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1979, I moved to my brother’s home in Bowie, Maryland. U.S.A
I began as a news aide / lab technician/ assistant photographer, in the year 1980, for a major newspaper; The Washington Post in Washington D.C. (from 1.980 to 1.986).
At the age of 27, I was hired as an editorial photographer by another local newspaper, The Washington Times. (From 1.986 to 1.992).
In 1992, I received an offer to work for the Spanish news Agency E.F.E.
Since my mother is from Spain I decided to take on the job and relocate my residency in the city of Seville, a city in southern Spain.
Several months after Seville’s Expo-92 ended, due to economic reasons, I quit the job.
Since them I have worked as a freelancer for several Magazines and news related companies:
Portraiture, sports, spot news, fashion, fine art, glamour, documentary, illustration, commercial photography, I love it all, but probably the most; travel photography and photographing women in a beautiful environment.
My hobby is playing the flamenco guitar and classical music, love exotic cuisine and sports.
Manny Rocca has won several awards and has been honoured by the White House News Photographer Association in 1985 and again in 1991.
Also has obtained an honourable mention in 1991 at The World Press Photo in Holland.
Presently he works as a fine art photographer and special projects photographer.
Also he collaborated as a speaker in seminars about photography at the Andalusia Centre of Photography and he is always seeking new projects to put his knowledge to work.
Awards.-
White House News Photographer Association, 1985- 1st Prize, shared with Dayna Smith
World Press Photo, 1991 Honourable Mention.
White House News Photographer Association, 1991- 1st Prize.
Others.-
POY, University of Missouri (Photo of the Year Book) 1988.
Best of The Year ¨Washingtonian Magazine¨ 1990.USA.
Photo Magazine nº125/1993 - Spain
Audiovisual Andalusia Book / Pag.230-1998.
MANNY ROCCA -A Social Observer- Photojournalism Photography Book. CAF. 1999.
A Brief Flamenco Dictionary. LIBSA Editorial Publishing Co. - Spain.
Flamenco a lo Rocca, a photography based digital art, book- published by Sunbury Press- USA.
Solo / Exhibitions.-
-Chamber of Almeria’s Art School. (Plaza. Pablo Cazard, 1), 2009
-Hall of the Novicios at the Convent of los Terceros, Seville, 2008
- The Bullfight Museum of Roquetas de Mar, Almería.2008
-Manny Rocca´s Tour of 14 exhibitions by The Culture Foundation of Cadiz, 2007.
-Exhibition Room of ¨Vaquero Poblador¨, Diputación de Badajoz, 2007.
-Cultural House of Olvera, Cádiz, 2007.
-Exhibition Centre of Benalmádena, Málaga, 2006.
-Exhibition Room of ITALCABLE UNICAJA, Málaga, 2005.
-Pimentel´s Palace exhibition Hall - Diputación de Valladolid. 2005
-XIV Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla 2004.
-Chamber of the Santo Domingo Church, Aracena, Huelva 2003.
-Flamenco Festival of Mont de Marsan, France 2003.
-Chamber of Almería´s Art School , 2000.
-Civic Centre House of the Columnas- Seville- 1993.
-Civic Center House of Los Carteros- Seville- 1993.
-Cultural House of the City Hall of Pilas 1992.
Selected Group / Exhibitions.-
-Congress and Exhibit Palace, FIBES of Seville. 2009.
-White House News Photographers Association, public exhibit -1986-1992.
-World Press Photo. A Tour Collection, around 65 countries, 1991.
-Library of Congress. Washington D.C. USA. 1989.
-National Geography Building. Washington D.C. 1987.
-University of Maryland. School of Photojournalism. 1986.
-University of Missouri. POY (Picture of the Year Awards). 1986.
-The Washington Post Building 1150 15th St. N.W. Washington D.C. 1984.
Spain
