There are three reference images taken of the pile-up crush which took place in the bullring on the 13th July, 2013 during the Sanfermin Bullrunning. These three photos were taken by Miguel Goñi, Josu Santesteban and Jordi Cohen. Each work from each of the three photographers is impressive, because all three were fast and accurate, highlighting their professionalism while the tragedy or potential tragedy unfolded before their eyes and their lenses. From their position, on the small roof of the entrance tunnel, they were not in a position to be able to lend a helping hand and for that reason it was an extremely desperate situation for them which they will remember for the rest of their lives, as they themselves have come to admit. Their snapshots went round the world as soon as they were posted on Sanfermin.com. The images soon found themselves on newspapers and media agencies across the whole planet. The snapshot taken by Miguel Goñi was the second most-viewed image in the history of Sanfermin.com with 120.000 clicks (the most-viewed image ever is the mortal goring suffered by Daniel Jimeno).
Readers of elmundo.es selected the snapshot taken by Josu Santesteban as the best one of all for 2013. This is a shot of the pile-up with a different focus, less dramatic, but where you see a sea of heads and you sense the tension of the moment. That snapshot and three others shot in sequence by Josu Santesteban were sent all round the world by the main photographic agencies to the media worldwide. This was the image most used in the end, but it took six hours to appear, which made the ones taken by Miguel Goñi serve as the best references up to then.
The third image is perhaps the most artistic. The intention of photographer Cohen was probably exactly that – to find a creative image from the bizarre spectacle rather than an informative one and this is appreciated in the final result. This image has not been as widespread as the others, but it has also received recognition from the professionals. Jordi Cohen selected a black and white shot and a high contrast which gives the final image even more expressivity than it originally had. This image won first prize at the International Photography Competition of the Club Taurino in Castellón.
- Jordi Cohen. Panic in the running of the bulls
After Reading this short introduction to all three images…which is the best of the three? Could one single image be picked from the three…?
