Presentation: Arturo Rodríguez - MontPhoto FEST 2024

Arturo Rodríguez

Exploring the Dark: Techniques and Challenges of Speleological Photography

6 October - 10:45 am

Municipal Theater of Lloret de Mar

Main Auditorium

On September 19, 2021, the Tajogaite volcano erupted on the island of La Palma, Arturo Rodríguez’s homeland. During the 85 days that the eruption lasted, he had the privilege of documenting this extraordinary event as a photographer for National Geographic. Capturing the force of nature in its purest state was an experience that left an indelible mark on him.

A year later, the idea arose to propose a new report, focusing on the vast network of volcanic tubes formed during the eruption. The proposal was not simple, marked by intense discussions between the United States and Spanish editions of the magazine. Finally, the Spanish edition accepted the challenge.

This project, which ended up taking 18 months to complete, was plagued with technical and logistical challenges that exceeded any expectations. Rodríguez broke equipment, wore out four pairs of hiking boots, and discovered that some high-quality equipment was not up to par in such a hostile environment, with temperatures between 40 and 70ºC.

Despite all the difficulties, what surprised him the most was achieving, once again, a cover in National Geographic. This experience not only reaffirmed his position as a photographer, but also showed him the importance of perseverance and passion in the pursuit of stories that deserve to be told.

This unpublished presentation will premiere at MontPhoto, where Rodríguez will share for the first time the details of this arduous but rewarding process.

rturo Rodríguez is an internationally renowned Spanish photographer and journalist whose career has been marked by his dedication to documentary photography and photojournalism. Born in the Canary Islands, he began his career working for the EFE Agency and later for Reuters and The Associated Press, where he served as official photographer in the Canary Islands and then as deputy editor in Madrid for Spain and Portugal. His work has led him to cover highly relevant events, such as the cholera epidemic in Haiti in 2010, the conflicts in Kosovo and Palestine, and the Sahrawi refugee camps in Africa.

In 2012, his career crossed borders and he settled in Southeast Asia, where he lived for five years, collaborating first with The Associated Press and then with Agence France-Presse. His most notable clients include National Geographic USA, GEO, Stern and Paris Matthews, among others. Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to undertake moving assignments, such as documenting the Sahrawi refugee camps in northwest Africa in 1995, 2006 and 2011, as well as unforgettable experiences in Kosovo in 1999, Palestine in 2000 and the cholera epidemic in Haiti in 2010. His unique vision has left its mark on various exhibitions throughout the country and internationally, being part of collective exhibitions such as Fotonoviembre during the years 2001, 2005 and 2006, or the collective Enciende África in 2008, where he addressed the problem of African migration to Europe. Also during that year, together with 34 photographers from around the world, he participated in the exhibition 34 visions against oblivion, organized by Doctors of the World at the Casa Encendida in Madrid, around the theme of war, migration and hunger. In 2022, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Arturo’s images were part of the World Press Photo Foundation’s exhibition ‘(Un)Settled’ – Migration stories in the 21st century. Among his most notable projects is Playas Vacías, a documentary project that addresses the economic consequences of Covid-19 in the Canary Islands, supported by the National Geographic Society. Arturo has documented, through his camera, stories inside and outside the Canary Islands, becoming the first Canarian and Spanish photographer to achieve a cover in National Geographic, first on the cover of Spain in 2022 and then, in 2023, on the international cover in more than seventeen countries with the eruption of the La Palma volcano. Currently, Arturo Rodríguez is a photographer for National Geographic, where he is working on several projects related to science and technology. Arturo Rodríguez has received numerous awards throughout his career as a photographer. In 2023, he won first prize in the photojournalism category at the Xposure Awards in the United Arab Emirates, as well as several second prizes in individual and essay categories at the Pictures of the Year Latam. In 2022, his work was awarded the Award of Excellence at the Pictures of the Year International (POYi) and won the science reporting category at the Best Of Photojournalism (BOP) awarded by the NPPA (National Press Photographers of America). In addition, he received honorable mentions at the Moscow International Photo Awards and the International Photography Awards (IPA), where he was also a finalist in the International Photographer of the Year category. His career includes previous recognitions such as the World Press Photo in 2007 and his appointment in 2014 as Goodwill Ambassador for the La Palma World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. These awards reflect his constant dedication and excellence in the field of photojournalism and documentary photography.