The legacy of photographer Miquel Ruiz

* The author is part of the community of readers of La Vanguardia.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
23 September 2023 Saturday 16:52
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The legacy of photographer Miquel Ruiz

* The author is part of the community of readers of La Vanguardia

The tribute to the founder of Mirador Photo Garrigàs, the photographer Miquel Ruiz, was celebrated in the presence of family and friends.

The event, yesterday Saturday, began with an emotional reference to one of Miquel's last interviews that filled more than one person with tears.

Jordi Gamell, co-organizer of Mirador Photo, together with Garrigàs City Council, and a great friend of Miquel, took the floor to share some of the many anecdotes he experienced with him, including how Miquel introduced Jordi to the world of photography.

Next, friends and family had the opportunity to talk about Miquel's life and figure, highlighting his great generosity, his determination and his constant dedication to solidarity projects.

Lites, a long-time friend, recalled how every time Miquel called, he would start by saying "I thought..." and everyone already knew that a new project was about to start.

Enric Matarrodona made us smile when he explained that a few years ago La Vanguardia commissioned Miquel to go take a photo at the first nudist beach in Catalonia, Ca la Murtra (Roses).

Miquel, along with a friend, approached, and at that moment there was no one on the beach. Imagine the nudist beach without any nudists, the photo made no sense.

Then it occurred to Miquel to tell his friend if he wanted to be a model, "take off your pants!" he exclaimed. He told her no, no way. Miquel, stubborn, prepared the camera to shoot, undressed and stood on his back so his friend could take the photo.

The next day it was the cover of La Vanguardia! And, as Enric said, it is surely the only newspaper cover in the world where the journalist photographer appears naked.

The event concluded with an invitation to the attendees to visit the exhibition of Anna Lofi, winner of the Premio Jóvenes Fotografo(a)s of the Diputación de Girona, in the Centro 1 de October, and to celebrate the closing of the XI edition of the Mirador Festival Photo Garrigàs with a glass of cava.

Thus, we close this edition of Mirador Photo Garrigàs, and we are already thinking about the 12th edition, where the central project, among other activities, will be "Garrigàs retrovisual: Memories in images."