Pío Guerendiáin, Pamplona photographer: "After 260 years they have thrown me"

En Pamplona, el apellido Guerendiáin, durante siglo y medio, se ha asociado a la peligrosa curva del encierro de Mercaderes con Estafeta. De hecho, los Guerendiáin ya estaban allí un siglo antes que el encierro cambiase su recorrido por la calle Estafeta. No hace mucho Pío Guerendiáin era una firma comercializadora de materiales de construcción y de cuartos de baño, pero la crisis de 2008 acabó con el negocio.

As evils do not come alone, the Casa Guerendiáin enclave, Estafeta 1, closed for property demands.Pío (November 24, 1946) is Pamplona de Pura Cepa, a passionate about the San Fermín party;He materializes his vocation for community service as a member of the Board of the House of Mercy (MECA).

As if that were not enough, he is also a recognized and award -winning photographer, honorary president of the photographic and film group of Navarra (AFCN).Certain encyclopedias unjustly describe it as an amateur photographer.No, for Pío photography is more than a hobby, it is his other passion to which he has consecrated, in body and soul, six decades of his life.Despite the technological changes, which have inevitably come, it remains faithful to the essence of photographic art, even when it portrays with its smartphone.

Pío Guerendiáin as a person, as a photographer and as a commercial brand, has always been linked to the Sanfermines?

I like San Fermín, because I live the Sanfermines.My family had the store in Estafeta 1 since 1754, when my tattarabuelo, Miguel Guerendiáin, settled as a cerero and confectioner teacher.They made an entrance exam in the Brotherhood of Cereros and Confession.Those artisans obtained the wax of the panels and with the honey they made the confites.

How has Estafeta 1, emblematic place in the history of confinement, where reporters from all over the world have passed?

Although it seems a lie, after 260 years they have thrown me.That house belonged to a lordship who gave her to the Hospital de la Reforascence, precursor of the Hospital de Navarra.On the bass was the cereing and confectionery store.My grandfather Tiburcio, who was the last of the brotherhood, began the marketing of construction materials that my father Pablo continued.My name comes from my uncle, who was my godfather, I'm Pius III.We paid a rental to the hospital, then passed to Diputación.The Foral Government established an auction in unassumable conditions, I did not enter the bid.

Has the Sanfermines miss any year?

I have fulfilled the Pamplonese tradition, the year that a close being was dying, I did not have left in San Fermín.From 81 to 86 I enjoyed three days Sanfermineros, then I went to Arlés.We talk about this later.

How and when did you start taking photos of the confinement from the cat?

As the store protection panels ended the painting Sanfermines, I commissioned a local artist, Patxi Marcilla, some Sanfermineros motifs including the pañuelos de las Peñas.For the Navarra Pavilion of the 1992 Expo, it was planned to make a three -dimensional film of the confinement.Fernando Redón, with my authorization, was responsible for trimming the cat and putting the spring.I saw it very dangerous.However, the later years were encouraged to photograph the confinement every day from the cat, except that I was going to alley.The last year was in 2014;In August, we clean the store and deliver the keys to the property.

A photo of his, taken from La Gatera, was a poster of the 2016 Toro Fair, but on July 11, 2009 he suffered a scare when a bull put the horn by the cat, what happened?

I am proud that a photo of mine was a poster announcer of the Toro Fair.As for the incident, nothing happened to me.When I need more vision, I don't get the camera to my face.That's why I saw how the horn entered.Immediately, at an incredible speed: ta, ta, ta, ta!, Sought place forward.I understood the reason why a python when he enters, makes a huge tear looking for the exit by all media.

When did you join the Mecca Board?

I entered in 1975, I've been in Mecca 47 years.I have gone through all commissions, except bullfighting.Despite this, I have once accompanied the commission for the selection of runs.

What has two years without Sanfermines for two years?

A considerable loss.It is well known that the Toro Fair covers 20-30% of the social project of MECA.Therefore, there is will and everything seems that there will be SF.MECA as a company is looking forward to the SF, especially this year that the Plaza meets the centenary, in which we will commemorate.However, there is fear in case the capacity and fertilizer are not covered.

Is the photographer born or done?

In my case it is done.At 14 years I already wanted to have a little machine.In the photo showcase Roldán, on the porches of the Plaza del Castillo, there was an exakta, its price was incredible 10.000 ptas.I looked at her, I didn't have her.

So what was your first camera?

When I approved the sixth of Bachelor and the upper revalidation, my aunt Carmen gave me a German camera, a regula without a photometer, with it I started in the "picket" of the photographic and cinematographic group of Navarra (AFCN) (AFCN).I still have it.

And the first SLR?

Another aunt, presentation Guerendiáin, who was generated by the Dominicans in Taiwan, sent me an Asahi Pentax SV, with a 50 mm, without a photometer, to which I attached one in the Pentaprisma, I completed with a TV 135 mm.The Asahi team stole it.Then I acquired a Hasselblad 500 C that offered me for the astronomical amount of 40.000 ptas.

When and how does Nikon F arrive?

- That has its anecdote.In the year 71, I bought it in Andorra, I paid the import in France, when I reached the Spanish border, the customs imposed me a fine.The problem is that I acquired two cameras and 4 goals.The other was a commission by Koldo Chamorro, who twisted the nose when he had to pay half of the fine.It was our first Nikon.I have a team porrón: three nikon, three Hassebland and two Leica.

And how do you access digitalization?

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Digitization came little by little.The first cameras had strange designs.It was hard for me to start, the first thing with a pentax shoe.I got with a compact tiny fuji, 3/4 ”almost manual sensor with incredible quality.I had several compact.I am currently using a Panasonic Fz 1000.

Isn't it a contradiction for a consecrated photographer to end up taking photos with a smartphone?

Not at all.With the first huawei I find the surprise that it gives a great quality and the possibility of spending a retouching program.In Zarautz I start working with the phone, the first results are seen by Leopoldo Zugaza that asks me for an exhibition.With that collection I edited a small book, tritones and leaks.I have also exposed it in several places, the last in the Echauri gallery in Pamplona.

Have there been more smartphones?

Yes, the second, another Huawei, model P 20 Pro with 40 MP resolution, to which I have installed Snapseed for photographic retouching.One of the main things I do is correct the fallen perspectives that, at first glance, are invaluable to the human eye.Formerly, there were corrections that we could do with the negative black and white in the positivated.

The idea is disclosed that digital retouching programs, Photoshop type, modify reality.

With digital retouching, something so different is without manipulating reality.I do not put anything addition, I simply enhance, very striking things come out.

Tell us about your latest work with the smartphone.

My last job with Huawei was in the 2019 SF at the Churrería de la Mañueta.I am very grateful to the Elizalde family that gave me their total collaboration and Patxi Biurrun that when seeing the photos, he rightly titled the forge of Vulcano.I want to review my gratitude to the industrial designer iosu radada for the realization of a spectacular video with my photographs.All photos are worked.I'm preparing an exhibition.

Have your photographic life always been linked to the photographic and cinematographic group of Navarra (AFCN)?

- In 1963 I became part of AFCN, they immediately put me in the Board, as a boy of the errands in the Vocalía de Bulletin.Among my tasks was to send the bulletins to mails and two copies to the National Library.I have been president from 76 to 82 and director of the Contraluz Gallery, in which we have organized more than 100 exhibitions.Now I am honorary president.

He witnesses the evolution of AFCN.

The AFCN began in the scope of the shoe store in which we did not have water in the laboratory, we had to take it from the wáter.Then the floor on the same street, and finally the current headquarters in Rio Urrobi.

The monthly meetings of the AFCN in which the photos were exposed and commented, called it "picket", what do you remember of these

In the "pillots" there was a lot of pressure.If someone disqualified a photo, the affected person was compensated later when the photo of which he had criticized arrived.There were people who did not support criticism.Of those times, I especially remember José Mari Nebreda, was a Factum of the AFCN, given his intelligence and his technical quality criticized with foundation.In most cases criticism was constructive;We were, at the same time, a little evil and affectionate.

Should the AFCN owe something to Pío Guerendiáin?

No, I have always been grateful for the AFCN, I have enjoyed what I have done in the group.

A must, what photographers do you admire the most?

Who can say that it has not been influenced by the historical ones?You have had to see and study the greats of photography, in portrait, in report, in press or advertising.You have to keep in mind Richard Avedon, Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen.Do not forget alpadre of photography Louis Daguerre.And since Henri Cartier-Bresson, I am convinced that with the current cameras I would do different things.

Let's take up your trips to Arles on SF, what did you learn there?

At that time in Spain there was no faculty.Everything was learned by contests and photographic groups.In Arles I discovered the true world of photography with the best professionals in the world.The one who impressed most is Jacques Henri Lartigue, one of the great historical.We can say that we are still in the prehistory of photography, because in three jumps, I put myself in Niépce 150 years ago;I've met Lartigue, Lartigue met Atget, and Atget met Niépce.

What experience was translated?

We ended the San Fermín contest and organized photography courses, which were attended by great figures, most representative teachers, such as Fontcuberta and others.

How do you see the picture panorama?

There are three or four highways of photography with their own life.One is scientific photography as part of technical evolution, such as the Hubble that takes photographs of the time from which images of billions of years reach.In the field of medicine they portray you from top.In the war and meteorological initiated with hot air balloons.Then comes the advertising photography, the industrial, the commercial with portraits and memories with weddings and communions, and finally, the press photography.

Where does artistic photography place?

I put on the cusp those who have dedicated their knowledge to photography for photography, as a means of graphic, plastic and artistic expression;For the beauty of the image.There have been photographers of the other highways, such as press or industry, who have done such wonderful things that have happened to the upper level.With this I do not want to denigrate anyone, because who is worth, is valid for everything;They end up wonders that transcend their own practical utility to achieve the culmination of photographic art.

Looking for beauty with your photographs?

Of course I dislike repulsive photography, like John Coplans's that self -portrayed his naked body aged.I like the photograph I look for beauty, although in some cases there are beauties that cost you to see.I don't like boring things from some schools.

At that time Pío's smartphone sounds, is Mariely, his wife, we have to end the interview.It's a pity, we could spend hours talking with Pío, he has a pleasant conversation with a didactic tone.In the farewell, he tells us that he has suffered several retinal detachments, which fortunately have not affected his photographic eye that remains active.

The dean of Navarra photography, like a walking gentleman, will continue to seek beauty in photographic art.