“I really miss this job!” said the Cuban retired photographer Joaquin Hernandez with a voice choked with emotion in the celebration of the 44th anniversary of Trabajadores Newspaper on June 6. These were the first words that former head of photography department could hardly pronounce to the current staff of the weekly newspaper. “I yearn for my job as photographer. It happens when you retire,” he said while tears rolled down his old cheeks visibly moved.
Many of us were really worried and thought he should not continue addressing the audience, we were all really moved, but he drank a sip of water, and wanted to keep on talking to the new generation and even others that he welcomed during his long stay in this media. It has been more than 15 years since he retired and it seems to be the day before. He still misses the job.
Some of the workers were lucky to share with him as photographer when there were other techniques to do it and there was no computer at all. His two sons sat next to him, both of them are photographers too, Juaquinito and Tony. He told us about his experience while he worked in Trabajadores. He referred to the discipline of this profession, the importance to have people loving this job and devote themselves with their soul.
He noted had the fortune to share with well known photographers like Rolando Montalban, Tomacito Barcelo, Daniel Fonte, Leonardo Fernandez, among others who worked to get the best image for the newspaper. And also great journalists like Eloy Concepcion, Nancy Robinson and Antonieta Cesar.
His best experience was to train his two sons. He said that Joaquinito, who is a photographer-reporter in Trabajadores, arrived in the newspaper when he was just a child. “He has always been like this, quiet, shy and kind of slow. Photographer Jorge Paez and journalist Renato Recio trained him.
“Tony is much more dynamic. I always had to tell him to behave and be calmed. He started as volunteer and he was later assigned as photographer…”
While he talks, Joaquinito and Tony watch their father with pride. They drank the love for this profession from him and the responsibility of this job. He finally repeats “I really miss this job!” and everybody started clapping.
