Marco Antonio Bello

Marco Antonio Bello, born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, is an award-winning independent photojournalist and videographer based in South Florida, working with Reuters, Associated Press (AP), Agence France-Presse (AFP), Getty Images, Bloomberg, and others. He has a business and computing degree and worked as an IT consultant. However, the political, economic, and social crisis that unfolded in Venezuela following the death of President Chavez in 2013 served as his inspiration to pursue a career as a photojournalist, eventually working for Reuters in Venezuela.

He has wide-ranging experience capturing accurate and compelling images of breaking news, politics, demonstrations, conflict, hurricanes, disaster zones, sports, and other events as they happen. His work adheres to international news agencies' ethical and authenticity standards while ensuring fast and timely delivery. Furthermore, he also creates photo essays, carefully selecting and editing images to create a powerful narrative.

He can undertake travel at short notice.

Marco is an FAA Part 107 drone-certified pilot. He has also received training to work in hostile environments and is fully equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE).

Training & Workshops
2022 Hostile Environment and First Aid Training • Reuters
2022 Stress Management & Civil Unrest • James Foley Foundation Trust
2022 Trauma and Resilience Workshop for Freelancers • Rory Peck Trust Resilience Programme
2022 Wildfire Safety Training • Reuters
2020 Infection Control Workshop (Covid-19) • Reuters
2019 Hostile Environment and First Aid Training • 2 Lives Steven Joel Sotloff Memorial Foundation
2018 Hostile Environment and First Aid Training • Reuters
2017 XXX Eddie Adams Workshop
2016 Masterclass Visual Storytelling in The Digital Age • International Center of Photograhy (ICP)

Selected recognitions, awards
2023 - 80th Picture of the Year International (POYI) Award of Excellence. Category: Spot News
2022 – Time Magazine. Top 100 Photos of 2022
2022 – Reuters Pictures of the Year 2022
2022 – CNN. The Year in Pictures
2021 – Reuters Pictures of the Year 2021
2020 – International Photography Awards IPA 2020 Honorable Mention Category: Editorial / Press
2020 – International Photography Awards IPA 2020 Honorable Mention Category: War / Conflict
2019 – Time Magazine. Top 100 Photos of 2019
2019 – Reuters Pictures of the Year 2019
2019 – XXXII Eddie Adams Workshop Black Team XXXII
2018 - NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism Honorable Mention. International News
2018 - American Photography 34 Chosen Winner
2018 - 75th Picture of the Year International (POYI) Award of Excellence. Category: Spot News
2018 - PDN Photo Annual. Winner. Photojournalism/Documentary
2018 – PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris 2018. Honorable Mention Categories: Press / General News
2018 – MIFA Moscow International Foto Awards 2018. Silver Award. Categories: Editorial/Political
2018 - Selected for Blink Portfolio review in NYC, NY, US
2017 - Latin American Fotografia Winner
2017 – International Photography Awards IPA 2017 Honorable Mention Categories: Editorial, Photo Essay
2017 – International Photography Awards IPA 2017 Honorable Mention Categories: Feature Story
2015 - Honorable mention in Photojournalism, National Award of Journalism Simon Bolivar
2014 - Second honorable mention photography Award Tres y 3 / Cultura Tres y 3