Renowned Spanish photographer Emilio Morenatti, from the AP agency, combines his personal experience of losing a leg with his photography to capture the Paralympic Games with the utmost respect and admiration.
Emilio Morenatti55, is the chief photographer of AP to Spain y Portugal, recognized for its powerful and empathetic visual storytelling. After losing a leg in Afghanistan in 2009, his personal journey has greatly influenced his approach to his art.
Describes his work covering the Paralympic Games of this year as deeply gratifying: “When I cover the Paralympic Games, I feel like I get a lot from the athletes. What you see is a lot of energy. Athletes try their best.”
Emilio’s disability has also fostered a deep connection with the athletes he covers. And he reflects: “My own disability helps break down barriers. “When athletes see my prosthetic, they know that, like them, I had to overcome some obstacles in my career, and that creates a connection between us.”
With her work, she hopes to capture the beauty and complexity of the disabled body with respect and sensitivity: “I try to make beautiful photographs of a disabled body. My goal is capture the part of the body that is no longer therean absence that needs to be accepted”.
Below are shown some of his most notable photographs from this year’s Paralympic Games:
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games were held from August 28 to September 8.
