The recent death of physique photographer, Joe Valdez

On August 17th my old friend Joe Valdez passed away at the Motion Picture Country Home in Calabassas in CA from pneumonia. He was 73 years old. Joe had suffered for many years with various health problems associated with diabetes. Over the last few years he had been confined to a wheelchair which did not stop him getting to as many contests as possible. When I last saw him at the 2005 FitExpo in Pasadena he was quite chipper and in very good spirits. I was surprised to hear that over the last 3 months things had been pretty tough for Joe.
 
It was only several years ago that I found Joe judging at a contest being held at the Olympia Expo in Las Vegas. He was full of enthusiasm as was his normal personality, and giving advice to those who asked him what they needed to do to place higher. Joe always had time to help both up and coming bodybuilders as well as the champions who sought out his advice. He did not tolerate foolish comment or rude people and his sharp tongue would quickly be felt if it was deserved!
 
I first met Joe in the mid 70s in LA when he invited me to come out on a shoot with him to Vasquez Rocks near LA with the great Serge Nubret. Serge was then at his peak being around the time he placed 2nd in that famous Mr Olympia held in South Africa in 1975. On another occasion it was with Dave Johns at Muscle Rocks and later with Mr Mexico, Neftali Cerino. The list goes on and on with one of Joe's greatest "discoveries" being Rory Leidelmeyer whom he championed and helped throughout his whole career. Rory had an exceptional physique that was large yet symmetrical and very pleasing in its shape and style. Others Joe filmed and photographed in this golden period of the mid 70s to mid 80s included Richard Baldwin, Tony Pearson, Luis Perez, Manny Molina, Danny Berumen, Charles Colson, Robbie Robinson, Larry Gordon, Steve Broughton, John Brown, Charles Glass, Earl Watts and Bob Jodkiewicz just to name a few.
 
Joe's passion was his bodybuilder's birthday list which he hoped would evolve into a bodybuilder's birthday calendar. Perhaps someone else will now take up the challenge from Joe's records.
 
Many of Joe's wonderful photos appeared in Don Wong's Muscle Digest magazine from 1976 to 1984. At the same time as working in the film industry and doing his photography every weekend, Joe made time to be one of the top physique judges in the Southern Californian area for around 30 years. Over the years he provided hundreds of magazine covers for physique publications around the world. Not surprisingly he was one of the founding members of Graphic Muscle, a site bringing together many of the elite physique photographers of all time.
 
Apart from his photo legacy he will always be remembered for the help and advice he gave to up and coming young bodybuilders. To Joe's many friends and admirers, my deepest sympathies and condolences. You will be missed dear friend, and thankfully your many great photos will live on for ever.

Below are Joe's 2 classic videos now on DVD

Classic California Muscle # 1

Classic California Muscle # 2