The Story of a unique photo

12/07/2009. Sanfermin.com was exclusive publisher of the photo that showed the mortal goring, taken by Pablo Roa

Sanfermin.com published the day before yesterday the photo of the moment of the goring that reaped the life of the young Madrid runner, Daniel Jimeno Romero. The photo, taken by Pablo Roa, shows the precise instance when the bull, “Capuchino” gores the defenseless runner caught beside the fencing.

Every photo has its story. And this one also has its own particular story. Pablo Roa, from Barcelona, but resident in Pamplona, was behind the fencing at the Telefónica stretch thanks to a press pass he was given after a draw was made among the members of the Photography Group of Navarra. This was the fourth time ever that he had the opportunity to take photos of the running of the bulls. When “Capuchino” began his carnage, Roa started to take snapshots, without knowing then what was about to occur. In fact, he did not know he had caught the photo of these Sanfermines until he got home. After watching the video of the running on Channel Four, which he had recorded, it showed the moment of the goring and he realized that he could possibly have captured it with his camera. He checked back on all his material and there the photo was. In fact, the photos, because he shot three snapshots in that fatal instant.

In spite of some calls and some offers, Roa decided to offer the photo to Sanfermin.com with exclusive rights of the three images which were also published by the Diario de Noticias in its first edition of the evening. This was the only local printed media that had the image which now forms part of the history of the running of the bulls.