Tomás Fernández is a chilean journalist and documentary photographer that focus his work in social and human stories. He attended Playa Ancha University where he graduated with a BAS in journalism in May of 2009. Additionally, Fernández has attended the E.F.T.I. located in Madrid, Spain, where he studied a Master degree in contemporary photography. His projects are focused in memory, traditions and the relation between territory and communities.
Fernandez worked at a staffer at El Mercurio, the largest newspaper in Chile for five years before move to Europe to study. In addition, he has contributed with major press agencies covering news and sports. He has been honored with the Regional Press Photo of the Year (2008, National Press Association), the Picture of the Year Award (2011, Chilean Photo Journalist Association) and third place of Chile at the Sony World Photography Awards (2016).
Requiem
In the third week of January 2017, a series of wildfires starting in the central south of Chile consumed 387,000 hectares of land, killed a dozen people and affected thousands more by destroying economies in entire regions of the country.
This essay was done while I was on assignment in the area of Lake Vichuquen, a peaceful location that for over a week turned in to a nightmare of smoke, fire and panic.
To view more of Tomás’ work please visit his website.