Madrid-born photographer José Luis Carrasco, who started working 45 years ago in Lanzarote, is ending his career on the island. At 66 years old, he picks up his lens and says goodbye to the profession that has given him the most joy in life: photography. Now comes his retirement, a time that will allow him to rest and continue enjoying his personal life.
Being a photographer didn't happen by chance. As a young man, at 18, he dedicated himself to studying photography at his home in the capital. Among books, approaching the studio and the photographic laboratory, he managed to learn about what would later be his career, although at that time, he didn't know it. "I moved to Lanzarote at 21 and was given the opportunity to put into practice the knowledge I had already acquired," he emphasizes.
He arrived on the island to dedicate himself to hospitality, but his course changed thanks to a proposal to work in a local media outlet in '87. "I started in the weekly magazine 'Pronósticos', in the Sports section," he revealed during an interview in La Voz. A publication that ended after five weeks, with which he debuted as a professional and which led him to join the newspaper's staff. "I was there for eight years, it was a spectacular stage and I did what I liked," he recalled during the meeting with the newspaper.
A lover of sports journalism, but required to touch all the bases. "What I liked the most was sports, but I had to do everything," he acknowledges of his time at the newspaper, where he stayed until the 1995 elections, in which he also covered sailing events, handball matches, Canarian Wrestling, etc.
Shortly after, his opportunity began at Canarias 7, a media outlet in which he has spent 29 years and with which he has developed the most as a photojournalist. He became self-employed and thus began his immersion covering all kinds of information. "I was available to cover everything that happened on the island," he recalled. Furthermore, it is not the only media outlet in which he has collaborated; he can boast of an extensive career in 'Agencia EFE', 'La Voz de Lanzarote', and other prominent media outlets on the island.
Some events have meant that he has had to witness cases that have marked him. "Covering episodes of missing children and found dead, young girls missing, bodies found in the Argana Alta landfill, and accidents toughen you up, but it's always very unpleasant," he explained. One of the news stories that impacted him the most was the death of a family in a car accident on the Arrecife ring road.
The arrival of boats to Lanzarote, a topic that he has had to deal with more and more frequently, saddens him deeply. "I worry when I have to go take photos of immigrants on the coast, also the death of children," he confessed.
Without a doubt, what he has liked the most has been covering the arrival of important and media personalities to Lanzarote. "I have met the Emeritus Kings of Spain, the former president of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, Camilo José Cela, the singers Joaquín Sabina and Julio Iglesias, and the singer Luz Casal, among many others." "I have been able to get to know them up close in the interviews, which I went to photograph them," he recalls with pride and satisfaction.
From the newspaper, we have had access to some of the most notable moments for Carrasco within the media. He has managed to photograph many notable personalities from Lanzarote, but also politicians who came to visit the island. He had the luck to portray the Canarian artist César Manrique, specifically in a demonstration in Los Pocillos in Puerto del Carmen. Also, notable rulers such as the former president of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, upon his arrival at Lanzarote Airport and during his visit to the Cactus Garden in 1992. Not forgetting his portraits of the former King, Hussein of Jordan, and the former Czech president, Vaclav Havel, who came to the island to spend a vacation in La Mareta.
In the world of tabloid press, a journalistic sector that he has also had to work in, "what I have liked the least is being a paparazzi", he has made clear. Going with the camera behind celebrities has not been to his total liking. "When I have had to, I have had to, but I have never felt comfortable," he says.
"What I have liked the least is being a paparazzi"
One of the things he says he does not regret has been dedicating himself to photography. "If I had to live another life, I would be a photographer again", he shows his passion for his work with a beautiful declaration. A professional career that he feels very satisfied with and that he has never been bored with. "I have always liked my work, I have been very fortunate, also, no day has been the same as another," he explained. He declares himself a fanatic of his profession and shows it openly. "I have had the best job in the world, I have never wanted to dedicate myself to anything else."
Now that the end of his working stage is coming, he recognizes that he needs to stop, forget about the phone, and dedicate time to himself. "I want to do other things, take my bicycle and live without worrying if something happens or not." Although he confesses that he "will not miss" his work, there will be moments when nostalgia invades him. "Maybe if I ever see a press conference I'll say: "oh look", he assures.
"I have had the best job in the world, I have never wanted to dedicate myself to anything else."
Photography then and now
The immediacy in the treatment of photographs in recent years has been a challenge for the veteran photographer. "It's what has stressed me the most, but it has made my work much easier." He emphasizes that it has been "a tremendous advantage and time saving." Furthermore, he has known how to take advantage of the technological advances that began in December 2002. "When the digital era arrived, I said: "this is glory".
He recognizes that the way of taking photography today has helped him acquire knowledge. "I have learned to better control the photo archive, to start with the digital theme, specifically, with editing programs," he emphasized. He is not an expert in editing, but he defends himself. "I'm not very good at it, but I do the basics for my work," he assures.
He makes it clear that in these times, taking a good photograph has become a less complex task. "Now everything is automatic, it makes you go directly to the sense of the image and focus on what you want to transmit," he points out.
He has lived through the different stages that photography has had for years. At the beginning of his professional career, it was revealed in black and white and then, color images were introduced. "At the beginning of my career, for four years, I was taking photos in color," he revealed.
The way in which photographs were handled in his beginnings is very striking. "When I started, we focused by hand and then, we had to develop the rolls," he pointed out. In the era of Canarias 7, to send the final result to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, they had to do it with a laborious process. "Choose the best photos in the laboratory, put them in an envelope, go to the airport, look for a flight to Las Palmas and choose the person who would take them there," he reveals to the readers.
So that they could later be delivered to the media, they made a series of indications to the taxi driver who was going to pick up the person and the material. "We described the clothing and characteristics of the people and they looked for them at the airport," he recalls. A mutual benefit for the company and the users, who were transferred free of charge to the city. "People were eager to take the photographs, they called us and even waited for us at the airport", he adds.
Retirement in Lanzarote
The most awaited moment of his career is coming, his retirement. A stage that promises to be less intense, but just as special as the previous one. "I am going to dedicate myself to my family, friends, partner, and to relax and enjoy," he clarified. Before leaving, he has gratefully remembered all the expressions of affection that his professional colleagues have conveyed to him in his farewell, very close to the celebration of his birthday. "Last Saturday they gave me a surprise party, it was a weekend to remember," he says excitedly.
Vacations await him and he will return to his homeland. "I'm only going to Madrid to spend a few days," he anticipates. Although he doesn't change it for living in Lanzarote. He confesses that the calm was what he fell in love with on the island. "The tranquility is what I liked the most when I landed here," he adds.
