DD: What motivated you to document migrant workers as superheroes?

DP: In the early 2000s, there was a resurgence of superhero movies in the United States of America. I wanted to revert that idea and make society turn attention to immigrants and think of them in a more positive way. My superheroes represent the reality of who and what should be seen as the backbone of the United States of America.

DD: How did you find your superheroes?

DP: My subjects came from different areas of my life: some superheroes were my students, some I worked with to help improve their working conditions, some I encountered over the years and some by destiny. Some I approached in a more direct manner, while with others, I waited until they saw images so they could have an idea of what I was doing.

DD: What do you hope people take away from your photographs?

DP: Because photography has been my tool of expression, the ideas I have can be accomplished by the use of that tool. Why photography? I don’t know, but this is a recurrent theme in my life since I was little. It feels comfortable. Quite honestly, I am not trying very hard to make my ideas a big discourse about anything in particular or to create any specific awareness or movement toward social change. I am just a person trying to communicate my ideas, enjoying very much the act of creating images that make me feel I have a voice. Perhaps I am able to make people reflect or laugh or enjoy and that is very nice, especially when my intention is not precisely that.