By Shaylen Crook | Reporter
Clad in a bright sweatshirt with a camera at the ready, Allan Ledesma represents Epuerto by taking professional pictures, often featuring high school students, in events all over the community.
“We [Epuerto] realize the kids love pictures,” Ledesma said. “We take pictures of everyone.”
Studying computer science in Peru, where he lived until 1993, Ledesma pursued a career in that field by founding Epuerto in 2000. Epuerto is a local network and computer managing business. His team of employees does jobs such as computer installation, software support, web design, web hosting and cloud computing. Epuerto also serves as the information technology (IT) technicians for companies and businesses in the Bay Area and designs the web pages for the cities of Coos Bay, North Bend and Springfield, Mast Brothers Towing and Recovery, CBNB.com and others.
“We are a small team that works hard,” Ledesma said.
Epuerto is also the name of a soccer club, sponsored by Ledesma’s company, which several MHS students have been a part of. Ledesma has been coaching soccer for almost 20 years and is a coach of one of Epuerto’s many soccer teams which consist of boys and girls from throughout the county. The Epuerto soccer club has been holding soccer camps for children for 10 years. Each camp is free and has an average of about 300 participants.
Sophomore Juan Caballero has had Ledesma as a spring soccer coach in the past and said he knows a lot about the game.
“He is very good,” sophomore Juan Caballero. “He knows what he is doing.”
Besides being a webmaster and soccer coach, Ledesma also takes a lot of pictures. He works in conjunction with CBNB.com by posting his pictures on the website where community members can see and download any of the pictures for free.
Initially, Ledesma wanted family members of his soccer players who were unable to attend games to be able to see highlights and his photography grew from there.
Fellow sports photographer and dentist Sam Scott takes pictures for the same reasons.
“The kids like it, and the parents like it,” Scott said.
Scott has been taking pictures for eight years and has known Ledesma for about three of those years through their common interest in photography. Both of them try to take a wide variety of photos of as many different sports and athletes as possible. Scott said it is a fun hobby for him.
“I just enjoy doing it,” Scott said.
Ledesma’s photography career began a few years ago when a knee surgery prevented him from playing soccer. While recovering his passion for photography was revived.
“I had always liked photography,” Ledesma said. “But I never made time.”
Ledesma started by taking pictures of his soccer team while they were practicing. As time went by and he continued taking pictures, Ledesma was constantly getting feedback about his photos. Players from his soccer team would ask him to take more pictures and eventually they asked him to take photos of other activities they were involved in. Soon Ledesma was taking photos of many more things than just soccer.
“His pictures are amazing,” Caballero said.
Caballero said he visits CBNB.com often to see if there are any pictures of him and his team.
Ledesma mostly takes sports photos for Coquille, North Bend and Marshfield High Schools, Southwestern Oregon Community College and the Boys and Girls Club programs. He also photographs private events by special request. Ledesma also takes photos of events like Miss Coos County, Mr. Bulldog and Mr. MHS.
“He does a lot for the schools and the community,” Scott said.
From his work to his pictures, Ledesma is continually serving and giving back to the public.
“We are so fortunate to live in this community,” Ledesma said. “Everything we do is to give back.”
