CHERNOBYL
Chernobyl
Black Truth, Black Pain
In the early hours of April 26, 1986, reactor number 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded, releasing several hundred times more radiation into the atmosphere than the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs, causing the largest nuclear accident in the history of the planet. The incident poisoned hundreds of thousands of hectares in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, forcing more than 400,000 people to hastily leave their homes.
Today, three decades after their forced exile of "The Zone", the cold silence, vegetation and wild animals have become the only owners of the desolate and barren landscape.
Only a small group of people, the Samosely, are still living anonymously and forgotten by the rest of the world, in this post-apocalyptic limbo anchored in time...
Only "Samosely" are still living anonymously there and forgotten by the rest of the world, in this post-apocalyptic limbo anchored in time..."
Antonio Aragón Renuncio
Since the mid-90s he has always been involved with the photographic medium: Founds and chairs “Nostromo” Photographers Association (Spain). Professor (over fifteen years) of photography: University of Cantabria (Spain), American University UAM (Nicaragua), Central American University UCA (Nicaragua), Caribbean University URACCAN (Nicaragua), Cantabrian Government and Santander City Hall (Spain)… He organizes and directs the I Photography Festival of Santander. Editor in chief Xplorer Magazine (Nicaragua). Free-lance photographer for several International News Agencies. CEO Xtreme PhotoWS (Burkina Faso). Writes about Photo and publishes reportages across digital and print international media. Organizes and Directs the Solidarity Photography Days “Fotografía un Mundo Mejor” (Spain)…
In 2003 he founds, and since then he presides, the NGO OASIS (www.ongoasis.org) which develops every year medical projects in some of the most depressed areas of the Gulf of Guinea in Africa, having extensive experience working in Africa.
He has exhibited (more than eighty exhibitions) his work in Galleries and Museums: Spanish Museum of Contemporary Art (Madrid, Spain), Museum of Fine Arts (Santander, Spain), BBK Foundation (Bilbao, Spain), Canal de Isabel II Space Gallery (Madrid, Spain), Espai de la Fotografía (Valencia, Spain), Obra Social y Cultural de Caja Duero (Cáceres, Spain), Central Library (England), ARCO International Contemporary Art Fair (Spain), Ruben Dario´s National Theatre (Nicaragua), MAPFRE Foundation, ONCE Foundation, Museum of Antioquia (Colombia), Fontainebleau Palace (China), University of Hidalgo (México), Osnabrück’s Cultural History Museum (Germany), Puertas de Castilla (Murcia), Burj Khalifa Park (Dubai), Sakharov Center (Moscow), Rivne Regional Museum (Ukraine), Salt Galata & Galata Fotoğrafhanesi (Istanbul, Turkey), Odessa Photo Days (Ukraine), Batumi Photo Days (Georgia), State Art Gallery (Madhapur, India), Palazzo Pubblico (Siena, Italia), Ostroh Academy (Ukraine), Hysan Place (Hong Kong), Austrian Cultural Forum Rome (Rome, Italy), PhotoVisa (Krasnodar, Russia), UNESCO Headquarters (Paris, France), Muhammad Ali Center (Louisville, USA), Xposure International Photography Festival (Sharjah, United Arab Emirates), House of the Federal Press Conference (Berlin, Germany), Cultural Palace (Rivne, Ukraine), National Museum Kiev Fortress (Kiev, Ukraine), London Business School (London, Great Britain), DongGang International Photo Festival (Korea), Muzeum Fotografii Janowie Lubelskim (Poland), Рівненська обласна Library (Rivne, Ucrania), Galeria Nº6 (Gliwice, Poland), Monastery of Our Lady of the Snows (Prague, Czech Republic)…
Prizes and Grants (selection):
Beasaingo Hiria. 2nd Place, 2020
Art Factory Flox. Open Call Winner, 2020
Inspiration. Honorable Mention - Persona International, 2020
Sfumato International Online Art Exhibition. Open Call Winner, 2020
Obiettivo Solidarietà. Winner, 2020
Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival. Open Call Winner, 2020
Nature Humaine. Zoom Photo Festival Saguenay. Winner, 2020
Huawei-Next Images Awards. Shortlist, 2020
Docu Magazine. Open Call for Documentary Photographers. Winner, 2020
Direct Look. "The Compromise" Finalist, 2020
URBAN Photo Awards. Finalist "People", 2020
Global Peace Photo Award. Finalist, 2020
New York Photo Fair. “Photojournalism” NYPA Antique Gold-Judges Choice, 2020
35AWARDS International Photo Award. Best Photo "Daily Life" Winner, 2020
V Concurso de Fotografía Antropológica ACMA. 2º Premio, 2020
VI Premio Internacional de Fotografía Jalón Ángel. Mención Especial, 2020
Photometria International Photography Festival. Finalist, 2020
Life Press Foto. Best Author, 2020
Life Press Foto. Grand Prix, 2020
Life Press Foto. Diploma Spot News (single), 2020
Life Press Foto. Bronze Medal Spot News (series), 2020
Life Press Foto. Gold Medal People in the News, Portrait (single), 2020
Life Press Foto. Gold Medal People in the News, Portrait (series), 2020
Life Press Foto. Silver Medal Daily Life (single), 2020
Life Press Foto. Gold Medal Nature, Environment (single), 2020
Life Press Foto. Silver Medal Nature, Environment (series), 2020
Life Press Foto. Bronze Medal Sport (series), 2020
Platja d’Aro. Winner, 2020
Siena International Photo Awards. Finalist 2020
Polyphony International Photo Festival. “Photo Story” 2nd place, 2020
Polyphony International Photo Festival. “Street” Honorable Mention, 2020
VOHH Documentary Photographer of the Year. Winner, 2020
UNICEF Photo of the Year. 3rd Place, 2019
UNICEF Photo of the Year. Honorable Mention, 2019
Bridgeman Studio Award. Finalist, 2019
PhotoVisa. “Photo Series” Winner, 2019
PhotoVisa. “Multimedia” Winner, 2019
PhotoVisa. “Single Photo” Finalist, 2019
ASISA Foto. Grand Award, 2019
Cantabria´s Government Photojournalism Award. 2019
Festival Gollut. Winner Photojournalism, 2019
35 Awards. Children by the Water. Top 35 Photographer, 2019
Photolux Award. Finalist, 2019
The Yellow Award. Winner Photojournalism, 2019
Felix Schoeller Photo Award. Finalist, 2019
Environmental Photographer of the Year. Finalist, 2019
Envision Kindness. Finalist, 2019
Alfred Fried Photography Award. Finalist, 2019
Indian Photography Festival. Open Call Winner, 2019
Aphotoreporter. Blue Pin, Best Author, 2019
Aphotoreporter. Golden Medal FIAP (multimedia), 2019
Aphotoreporter. Ribbon GPU (series), 2019
InterAction Photo Contest. 2nd place, 2019
InterAction Photo Contest. 3rd place, 2019
Beasaingo Hiria. 1st Place, 2019
DongGang International Photo Festival. Open Call Winner, 2019
Life Press Foto. Best Author, 2019
Life Press Foto. Gold Medal People in the News, Portrait (series), 2019
Life Press Foto. Gold Medal Daily Life (single), 2019
Life Press Foto. Gold Medal Daily Life (series), 2019
Life Press Foto. Gold Medal Daily Nature, Environment (series), 2019
Life Press Foto. Silver Medal Spot News (single), 2019
Life Press Foto. Silver Medal Spot News (series), 2019
Life Press Foto. Diploma from Salon People in the News, Portrait (single), 2019
POY Latam. 3rd place “Daily Life, Series”, 2019
London Business School Photography Awards. Winner, 2019
UMBRA International Photo Awards. 2nd place "People", 2019
Shining a Light International Photo Contest. Honorable Mention, 2019
UNICEF Photo of the Year. Winner, 2018
Chromatic Photography Awards. 3rd Place. People, 2018
Chromatic Photography Awards. Honorable Mention. Environmental, 2018
VII Salón Internacional Ciutat Vila Joiosa. FIAP Bronze Medal. Color, 2018
VII Salón Internacional Ciutat Vila Joiosa. FCLV Medal. Monocrom, 2018
VII Salón Internacional Ciutat Vila Joiosa. CEF Silver Medal. People, 2018
Concurso Internacional de Fotografía “La Mina y la Mar”. 3er Premio, 2018
Xposure International Photography Festival. Winner Photojournalism, 2018
Xposure International Photography Festival. 3rd Place Photojournalism, 2018
PhotoVisa. “Photo Series” Winner, 2018
PhotoVisa. “Single Photo” Winner, 2018
PhotoVisa. “Multimedia” 3rd place, 2018
International Martial Arts Photo Contest. Fine Work, 2018
EyeCareEveryWhere Photo. Runner Up, 2018
LatinIPA. Editorial 2nd place, 2018
Mersin Büyükşehir Belediyesi. MFD Mention, 2018
Direct Look. "The Problem". Winner, 2018
Direct Look. "The Conflict". Finalist, 2018
Environmental Photographer of the Year. Honorable Mention, 2018
Environmental Photographer of the Year. Finalist, 2018
Premio Nacional de Fotoperiodismo Siero. 2nd Place, 2018
Ariano International Film Festival. Finalist, 2018
Signo Editores. Winner (Photojournalism), 2018
Signo Editores. Special Mention (Open), 2018
Signo Editores. Finalist (Portrait), 2018
Signo Editores. Finalist (Photojournalism), 2018
16th InterAction's Photo Contest. Best Photo of Youth Potential, 2018
IV Salón Internacional Vila D´Almenara. FIAP Gold Medal B/N, 2018
IV Salón Internacional Vila D´Almenara. Chairman Choice Color, 2018
IV Salón Internacional Vila D´Almenara. GFAL Honorable Mention Travel, 2018
Beautiful Moments World Photography and Essay Contest. 3rd Place, 2018
Indian Photography Festival. Open Call, 2018
Life Press Foto. Best Author, 2018
Life Press Foto. Gold Medal Spot News (single), 2018
Life Press Foto. Gold Medal Spot News (series), 2018
Life Press Foto. Bronze Medal People in the News, Portrait (single), 2018
Life Press Foto. Gold Medal People in the News, Portrait (series), 2018
Life Press Foto. Diploma from Salon Sports (series), 2018
Life Press Foto. Gold Medal Daily Life (single), 2018
Life Press Foto. Gold Medal Daily Life (series), 2018
Siena International Photo Awards. Honorable Mention, 2018
Santander Photo. Finalist, 2018
PHA International Photo Contest. PHA Merit Award, 2018
Serbia Photo. International Salon Singidunum. Special Chairman Choice Award, 2018
Serbia Photo. International Salon Singidunum. Bronze Medal “Travel”, 2018
Concurso Internacional de Fotografía "Objetivo África". 1st Place, 2017
Concurso Internacional de Fotografía "Objetivo África". 2nd Place, 2017
Concurso Internacional de Fotografía “La Mina y la Mar”. 1st Place, 2017
Premio Latinoamericano de Fotografía Documental. 1st Place, 2017
Direct Look. 1st place "The Compromise", 2017
Direct Look. "The Conflict". Finalist, 2017
Premio Nacional de Fotoperiodismo Siero. 1st Place, 2017
Photographer´s Forum Magazine. Finalist, 2017
Alfred Fried Photography Award. Finalist, 2017
Ariano International Film Festival. Finalist, 2017
Youmanity Photo Awards. 3rd Place, 2017
III International Digital Biennial Photojournalism. Blue Pin, Best Author, 2017
III International Digital Biennial Photojournalism. FIAP Gold Medal (Single), 2017
III International Digital Biennial Photojournalism. FIAP Gold Medal (Series), 2017
III International Digital Biennial Photojournalism. FIAP Gold Medal (Audiovisual), 2017
Moscow International Foto Awards (MIFA). HM, 2017
PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris. Bronze Medal Nature, 2017
PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris. Bronze Medal Travel, 2017
Pictures of the Year, POYLatam. 2nd Place Daily Life, 2017
Siena International Photo Awards. Remarkable Artwork Award, 2017
Pablo Hojas Llama Photo Award. Winner, 2017
Life Press Foto. Best Author, 2017
Life Press Foto. Gold Medal Spot News (single), 2017
Life Press Foto. Silver Medal Spot News (series), 2017
Life Press Foto. Gold Medal Portrait (series), 2017
Life Press Foto. Gold Medal Daily Life (single), 2017
Life Press Foto. Top Award Diploma NSPAU, 2017
Santander Photo Festival. Finalist, 2017
Oasis Photo Contest. Honorable Mention, 2017
Oasis Photo Contest. Magazine Award Commended, 2017
Palm Springs Photo Festival. Finalist, 2017
Fine Art Photography Awards. Nominee, 2017
Nikonians Photography Awards. Finalist, 2017
All About Photo International Photo Contest. Jurors Merit, 2017
Onyx International Exhibition of Photography. PSA Honorable Mention, 2017
La Grande Photo. 2nd place “People”, 2016
La Grande Photo. 2nd place “Children”, 2016
International Photographer of the Year (IPOTY). Editorial. HM, 2016
International Photographer of the Year (IPOTY). People. HM, 2016
Xativa’s International Photo Contest. Gold Medal, 2016
Tokio International Foto Awards. HM, 2016
XLIV Trofeo Gipuzcoa Internacional. FIAP HM, 2016
Direct Look. 1st place "The Problem", 2016
Direct Look. 3rd place "The Conflict", 2016
Photography Grant. Story Nominee (Sannám), 2016
Photography Grant. Story Nominee (Sorcière), 2016
Platja d’Aro. Accesit, 2016
Rivne Photographic Arts Cup. Gold Medal, 2016
Odessa/Batumi Photo Days. Open Call, 2016
Indian Photography Festival (IPF), 2016
Siena International Photo Awards (SIPA). HM, 2016
Siena International Photo Awards (SIPA). RA, 2016
Alfred Fried Photography Award. Finalist, 2016
The Other Hundred Educators. Finalist, 2016
Moscow International Foto Awards (MIFA). HM, 2016
HIPA Grand Prize 2016
III Documentary Photography Days. 2016
Foto Nikon Profesional. Accesit. 2015
Pictures of the Year. 1st place "Sports". POY Latam 2015
Felix Schoeller Photo Award. Nominee. 2015
II International Digital Biennial Photojournalism. FIAP HM. 2015
Festival Internacional de la Imagen. Finalista. México. FINI 2015
FCF Silver Medal 2015
Grand Prix of the Humanity Photo Award. UNESCO/CFPA, 2013
Documentary Award. Humanity Photo Awards. UNESCO/CFPA, 2013
GEA PHOTOWORDS International Documentary Photo Awards, 2012
REVELA International Photo Award, 2012
FIAP’s and CEF’s Silver Medal. “A World for All: Overcoming disabilities” 2011
Premio Latinoamericano de Fotografía Documental, 2010
Beca de Artes Plásticas del Gobierno de Cantabria (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 y 2005)
Beca III Fotoencontres del Espai de la Fotografía de Valencia, 2000
Premio Nacional de Fotografía de Vizcaya, 2000
Premio Nacional de Fotografía del Gobierno de Cantabria (1998 y 99)
Premio Nacional de Fotografía para Jóvenes Autores (INJUVE), 1997
...
Now he is based in Nicaragua and free for worldwide assignments.