Prestige

Since 1880, when a photograph appeared for the first time in a newspaper —The Daily Graphic— photography has played an important role to enhance what is told in a text. This is so because, at least in the today’s society, the only thing that matters is what we show, “seeing is believing” as the saying goes.

In photojournalism this demand is even greater, simply showing is not enough; it must be done at the right time so that communication is effective. This can only be achieved by a photographer who keeps a watchful eye on what is happening. And Xurxo Lobato was certainly wide awake on the morning of November 19, 2002.

At 8:45 am, Iñaki Gabilondo announced the news on Cadena SER radio station: a ship had had a hull breach just off the coast of Galicia. Lobato was editor-in-chief for the newspaper La Voz de Galicia. The photographer’s good intuition —he was the first to arrive at the airport— and a stroke of good luck —he took the only small plane available— came together in his favor and he scored an international exclusive.

The photograph of the sinking of the Prestige, winner of the Ortega y Gasset Award in 2003, was the reward for decades of work by this Galician photojournalist.