La foto más impactante del coronavirus, que será portada

Dice el dicho que una imagen vale más que mil palabras: el coronavirus arrasó no sólo con las oportunidades de quienes esperaban que el 2020 fuera su año, sino que además, se cobró cientos de vidas.

Joshua Irwandi, un fotógrafo de tan sólo 28 años, captó con su lente una imagen de lo que causa la pandemia del coronavirus en todo el mundo: la muerte. Respecto de la misma, su autor afirmó que “esta es la pandemia de nuestra vida. Debemos ganar esta batalla”.

La foto que será portada de la revista "National Geographic"

En la imagen se puede ver un cuerpo, envuelto en una especie de film, de una persona fallecida a causa del coronavirus. El mismo yace en solitario, para ser trasladado con precaución para no continuar contagiando la enfermedad que se transformó en una pandemia mundial.

/embed" width="400" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true">/embed" width="400" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true">/embed" width="400" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true">/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12">

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/embed" width="400" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true">/embed" width="400" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true">/embed" width="400" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true">/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">To photograph the victims of coronavirus in Indonesia is the most heartbreaking, most eerie photography I have ever done. In my mind at the time I only thought what happened to this person may well happen to people I love, people we all love. I’ve witnessed first hand how the doctors and nurses are continuously risking their lives to save ours. They are the true heroes of this story, and the only way to appreciate their work is to follow what they advise us. We felt it was absolutely crucial that this image must be made. To understand and connect to the human impact of this devastating virus. The image is published here today as a reminder and a warning, of the ever looming danger. To inform us of the human cost of coronavirus and how world governments have let matters get so far. As we head towards the second wave of the pandemic, people must realise they cannot take this matter lightly. This photograph accompanies an article that appears in the National Geographic Magazine @natgeo in the new upcoming August 2020 issue. LINK IN BIO. It is also the first time I’d see the image in print. There are many people to thank, most notably @kayaleeberne, in which this is the first print NG story she edited; @jamesbwellford for reacting on the story from early on; @andritambunan, @kkobre, and @paullowephotography for their advice; and last but not least my mentor @geertvankesterenphoto for his unrelenting support since day one. I would like to dedicate this to the medical staff – whose selfless efforts allow us to continue to live. I am truly humbled to be in their midst countering this pandemic. And to my late Uncle Felix who, two years before he passed away earlier this year, sent me an email: ‘Keep on taking pictures and never fail to report to let the world know what has really happened.’ Please share this story and please act. This is the pandemic of our lifetime. We must win this battle. Supported by the @forhannafoundation and @insidenatgeo COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Journalist. @natgeointhefield #natgeo #joshuairwandi #natgeoemergencyfund #documentaryphotography #photography #covid19 #covidstories #nationalgeographicsociety #pandemic #stayathome

Una publicación compartida de Joshua Irwandi (@joshirwandi) el 14 Jul, 2020 a las 11:57 PDT

Respecto del momento en el que fue tomada, Irwandi señaló que fue “lo más espeluznante y desgarrador” que le tocó cubrir. "Fui testigo de primera mano de cómo los médicos y las enfermeras están continuamente arriesgando sus vidas para salvar la nuestra", dijo, en sus redes sociales, el joven fotógrafo.