The world of photojournalism is once again in mourning. After the death at the end of 2023 of Isabel Steva, known as Colita, at the age of 83, Horacio Segui, another reference in the field of photojournalism, died this Thursday at the age of 93, as reported by her grandson Ignasi Bea Seguí in a publication in X. Born in Barcelona on April 5, 1930, he has been one of the most relevant figures in his specialty in Catalonia.
His legacy is made up of portraits of the musical, political and sporting world of Barcelona in the second half of the 20th century, especially the sixties and seventies. He began to train himself self-taught at the age of 16 and initially dedicated himself to portraying the music festivals of the time. He also took the photos to illustrate the album covers of artists of the time. He also covered major sporting events not only in football and basketball, but also in cycling, swimming and water polo, among other disciplines.
Before that, when he was very young he started working in a fur factory. He also worked as a shoemaker, errand boy or foundryman, among other jobs, until, at the age of 16, he joined the Banco Hispano Americano bellhop, a time in which he discovered his love for photography and began to sell some reports to magazines. In 1963 he left the bank and dedicated himself to graphic information permanently. He began working for the Eusebio Suárez chain in Madrid, where seven weekly magazines were published such as Sábado Graphico, Discóbolo or Velocity, among others. In 1968 he opened his own store and photographic laboratory in Barcelona, ??which was open until 1995.
During his early years he specialized in music photography, especially the music festivals of the time such as San Remo, Mediterráneo or Eurovision, and he took portraits of singers for record covers. Among the most famous images of him are the snapshots she took of the Beatles at their only concert in Spain, in the Monumental bullring in Barcelona in 1965.
He also dedicated himself to sports photography following Catalan teams, especially football and basketball, but also other disciplines. Later, he complemented these topics with other politicians, coinciding with the transition. Thus, iconic images of strikes and demonstrations of the moment, or even such famous moments as the arrival of the president of the Generalitat, Josep Tarradellas, at El Prat airport in 1977, bear his signature.
Horacio Seguí was founder of the National Association of Graphic Press Reporters, of which he was president in Catalonia from 1978 until 1989, later converted into the Association of Press and TV Graphic Reporters of Catalonia, which he also presided over until its dissolution.
The photojournalist rose to fame for an iconic image of Johan Cruyff scoring an “impossible goal” against Atlético de Madrid in the 1973-74 season. However, years later, he himself acknowledged that she had been captured by his brother Rafa.
His work has been exhibited in the Palacio de la Virreina, in the Colet Museum, in the Agrupació Fotogràfica de Catalunya and in the Barça Museum and in numerous barcelona clubs. Throughout his career he has received different awards.
