ABOUT
George Calvelo is a Canberra-based documentary photographer with 12 years of experience in photojournalism. His early work spans a wide range of subjects, including news, natural and human-made disasters, social issues, politics, sports, entertainment, and everyday life. His images have been published in major news outlets across Asia, America, Europe, Australia, and the UAE.
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He began shooting in 2008 while pursuing a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila. In 2012, he joined the Philippine-based agency
NPPA Images and started working professionally as a news photographer. In 2014, he received a full scholarship for the Diploma in Photojournalism at the Konrad Adenauer Asian Center for Journalism, where his work on cemetery dwellers gained recognition from leading journalists. He further honed his craft through the "Shooting with Purpose: Documentary Photography Masterclass" led by VII Foundation's Gary Knight at
Objectifs in Singapore in 2016, as well as portfolio reviews at the Angkor Photo Festival, where he engaged with industry leaders from Magnum Foundation, Getty Images, and World Press Photo. From 2017 to 2023, George worked as a photo and video journalist for the Philippines’ largest TV news network. During this time, he also contributed as a stringer for the Agence France-Presse (AFP) Manila bureau.
Beyond his documentary work, George facilitates photography workshops in Canberra, helping participants develop personal projects and refine their visual storytelling. To support his own projects, he works multiple jobs as a wedding and lifestyle photographer, kitchen hand, and support worker in the Australian Capital Territory.
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Over time, he has shifted his focus from photojournalism to long-form personal projects, producing in-depth visual narratives that examine complex social issues and personal reflections. His latest project, An Satong Kawaran, which explores themes of transition, memory, and identity through analog photography, will be exhibited at
Photo Access in 2025. He is currently a stringer for Getty Images Australia, covering feature stories in Canberra and Sydney and is available for assignments worldwide.
*Photo by Aia Solis, 2018
Exhibitions | Workshops | Affiliations
“An Satong Kawaran” (2025)
Photo Access, Canberra, Australia
(solo exhibition)
Visual Literacy and Narratives in Photography Workshop (2025)
Radford College, Canberra, Australia
(tutor)
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Street Photography & Visual Literacy Workshop (2024)
Photo Access, Canberra, Australia
(tutor)
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Diversity Podcast (2024)
Life as a photojournalist and as an artist
(guest speaker)
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NOWNESS Asia (2024)
(Instagram featured artist)
Canberra Contemporary Photographic Prize (2024)
Exhibition and competition celebrating both emerging and established talents in photo media
Photo Access, Canberra, Australia
(finalist, exhibitor)
"Through Hovering Clouds" (2024)
Two-man exhibition with Aia Solis
Gravity Art Space, Quezon City Philippines
(exhibitor)
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"Out of Focus" (2023)
A conversation on photography, freelancing and other stories
on life as a photographer with Geloy Concepcion, Aia Solis, and George Calvelo
Shutterspace Studios, Quezon City Philippines
(speaker)
PURVEYR Magazine (2023)
#InFocus Series feature
(featured artist)
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"Anarchy°1" (2023)
Group exhibition
Honcho, Koganei City, Tokyo, Japan
(exhibitor)
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Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines/FOCAP (2022)
(member)
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Pandemic in the Philippines: The Struggle Within (2021)
IPA 2021 Honorable Mention
International Photography Awards
Category: Deeper Perspective
(participant, Jury Top Five Selection)
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FOTOMOTO 2021 Group Exhibition
Makati City, Philippines
(exhibitor)
Photography and Human Rights (2019)
Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines (PCP)
Capacity Building of Visual Journalists for Effective Story Telling
(participant)
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Photojournalism for the Youth (2019)
Parallel Inspirational Talks from Alumni Bosconians
Don Bosco Technical Institute of Makati, Philippines
(speaker)
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Shooting with Purpose: Documentary Photography Masterclass (2016)
3-day workshop with VII Foundation founder, Gary Knight
Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film, Singapore
(participant)
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Diploma in Photojournalism (2014)
Konrad Adenauer Asian Centre for Journalism
Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines
(alumni)
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Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Advertising (2011)
College of Fine Arts and Design
University of Sto. Tomas, Manila, Philippines
(alumni)
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