Samuel ARANDA: It is very important to tell about people’s difficult lives
The photo made by the photographer from Barcelona Yemen, Fighting for Change won the World Press Photo award
Samuel please tell us the story of your work from the Yemen set of photos that won first prize at this year’s World Press Photo.
“I took this photo in one of the hospitals in Sana’a. The woman holding the young man is his mother. He was at the demonstration that was suddenly attacked with fire by snipers. He also got injured and the woman picked him up and brought to the hospital.”
What happened to those people?
“I keep in touch with them. They are quite healthy now. I am going to Yemen this week and I hope to see them soon.”
What was it that you wanted to show with this work?
“I photographed everything that was happening in Sana’a I took pictures of how people act in critical situations. It was something like documenting events.”
Looking at your website one can find many photo reports from different countries. Among others there is also a photo report from Transnistria, which is located near Ukraine. Have you ever been to Ukraine?
“No, I haven’t been to Ukraine yet. However, I would totally love to come to your country. I have been in the neighboring areas only in Moldova and Transnistria and, by the way, met some Ukrainians while being there.”
What were the topics of those photo reports?
“I am working, in particular, on topics of social security, I photograph people who are in need for help, who participate in revolutions and fights for freedom.”
By the way, what do you think society gained from the events of Arab Spring?
“The Arab Revolution that began a year ago and ended a few months ago is already in the past. Everbody’s now expecting qualitative changes. Some countries like Tunisia and Egypt are doing pretty fine after the revolution. I hope that the achievements of revolutions will be such that were expected by those, who fought for them.”
Last year I spoke with the winner of the World Press Photo 2010 – photographer from South Africa Jodi Bieber. She sees her mission as a photographer to teach people to think. What tasks do you set for yourself as a photographer?
“I also like this approach. I also work and try to encourage people to think more about the things that are taking place in the world. For example, before the Arab Spring Yemen was a little known country. Now, after the Civil War this country and the events that occur in it became very important for the world. My task as a photographer who saw the civil war with his own eyes is to convey the importance of it to the people.”
Why have you decided to cover social issues?
“I grew up in Barcelona in a very poor family. My father emigrated from the South. Since then I decided that it is very important to tell about people’s difficult lives. Of course, I am closely connected with all those people.”
