Spanish photographers
When talent knows no bounds
Photography is a universal language, which is why a photo taken by a Spaniard in Mar Menor can make half the world mindful or another taken at a nursing home can move the other half. The talent of Spanish photographers transcends borders, and their work is constantly recognised abroad, whether by receiving awards, starring on front pages, or collaborating with big artists.
Spanish photography is in vogue. The many awards received in recent years, for example, confirm this: the Pulitzer prizes won by Emilio Morenatti for his works during the pandemic or the war in Ukraine and Susana Vera for covering the protests for democracy in Hong Kong, the Lucie Photo Book Prize given to Manuel Outumuro in recognition of his spectacular career, the World Press Photo Award granted to César Dezfuli for giving the migrant crisis a face or Cristina de Middel’s nomination as president of the prestigious Magnum agency, recent Premio Princesa de Asturias de la Concordia. But they are not the only ones whose talent has transcended borders... Get to know more about a series of photographers who have received international recognition in recent years.
Emilio Morenatti
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Emilio Morenatti turned the elderly into the stars of his photos. His work was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2021 and described as “moving” by the jury. A prize he won again in 2023 for his coverage of the war in Ukraine, the latest of many conflicts he has covered throughout his professional career and which he has suffered first-hand: in 2009, his foot was amputated after being under attack in Kandahar (Afghanistan).
Carlota Guerrero
If you’re one of the millions of followers Rosalía has around the world, Carlota Guerrero’s name probably rings a bell. She is the photographer who has become one of her most loyal collaborators. But Rosalía isn’t the only one knocking on her door... Since, in 2016, she was the creative director on the third album (A Seat At The Table) by Solange Knowles, Beyoncé’s sister, she has collaborated with brands like Loewe, Dior or Nike, news outlets like The New Yorker and artists like Björk.
Manuel Outumuro
The Lucie Photo Book Prize, known as the Oscars of photography, has been awarded to a single Spaniard in all its history, and that is none other than Manuel Outumuro. After a career dedicated to portraying the fashion world, the photographer received this award in New York —the city he lived in for several years— at the end of 2022. Beauty, elegance, and balance are the words that best define his portraits, which have featured both haute-couture models and film stars.
Susana Vera
The first Spanish woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in the Photography category. This honour fell on Susana Vera for a series of photos taken during the pro-democracy protests that took place in Hong Kong in May of 2020. A prize that, in a statement given to Agencia EFE, she took as an opportunity to defend the role of women in photography: “Most big news is covered by men, so I care more about receiving it as a woman than the fact that I’m the first.”
Ángel Fitor
Nature in general and the marine environment in particular are the focus of Ángel Fitor’s photography, who is also a professional scuba diver. In 2021 he received the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award for an image —El ballet de las medusas— he presented as “an ode to the unique natural heritage of Mar Menor” and which took him six years to capture, an exercise of perseverance and patience. Media like The New York Times, National Geographic or Smithsonian Magazine have published his work.
Lúa Ribeira
In 2023, Lúa Ribeira became a member of the mythical Magnum agency. The third Spanish woman to belong to such an exclusive club, after Cristina García Rodero and Cristina de Middel, and the third to achieve this so soon. Portraying youth is a constant for this Galician photographer who lives in the United Kingdom, as can be seen in her series Agony in the Garden, one of the PHotoESPAÑA 2024 featured exhibitions.
César Dezfuli
In 2016, César Dezfuli launched a project called Passengers which aimed to give immigration a face. He took the individual portraits of 118 migrants and, since then, has continued to tell their life stories. In 2023, he became one of the winners of the prestigious World Press Photo for this work. Despite his youth, this Hispanic-Iranian is one of the most sought-after photojournalists in the world and he often collaborates with the press such as Le Monde, The Guardian, or Al Jazeera.
Cristina de Middel
The Magnum agency, created in 1947 by photographers Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa, has a Spanish female president since 2022: Cristina de Middel. A new milestone for this photojournalist who was awarded the Spanish National Photography Award in 2017 for, in words of the jury, “her capacity to reassess the limits of the reality of photographic language.” Intricately connected to artistic photography, she has also taken part in several editions of ARCO.
Over the years, Talento a bordo has shone a spotlight on dozens of Spanish photographers. Among them, we highlight Chema Madoz, Pilar Aymerich, Javier Vallhonrat, Estela de Castro, Lala Serrano, Tino Soriano, Isabel Muñoz, Andoni Canela, Lupe de la Vallina, Juan Baraja, María Platero, Anna Surinyach, Beatriz Polo, Yolanda Domínguez, Eugenio Recuenco, Gervasio Sánchez… Gazes that are pure talent.
