美联社摄影记者费尔南多·维加拉在委内瑞拉和哥伦比亚两场地震后进行了现场采访和摄影记录。[1] 在为美联社工作的20年中，维加拉见证了多场自然灾害，这两次地震的破坏程度和特点各不相同。[1] 委内瑞拉地震发生在6月晚期，造成的伤亡更多、建筑物倒塌更为严重，[1] 其中多为高层公寓楼遭毁。[1] 相比之下，哥伦比亚佩雷拉地震发生在8月10日，[1] 破坏相对较轻，损毁建筑多为一至三层的矮楼。[1]
在灾难现场的摄影工作中，维加拉对自己的职责与伦理有着深刻思考。他表示："最重要的信息是在地震中救出一个活着的人。看到有人活着带来巨大的喜悦。当救援队、消防员、民防或志愿者救出一个活人时，每个人都会高兴地拥抱在一起，那就是我试图用照片捕捉的幸福。"[1] 通过镜头记录生命救援的时刻，维加拉传递了灾区中的希望与人道精神。[1]
Fernando Vigaral, an Associated Press photographer with two decades of experience at the organization, documented the aftermath of earthquakes in both Venezuela and Colombia, capturing starkly different scenes of destruction across the two nations [1]. The Venezuelan earthquake struck in late June, resulting in significantly higher casualties and widespread collapse of high-rise apartment buildings, while the August 10 earthquake in Pereira, Colombia caused comparatively less severe damage, primarily affecting one- to three-story structures [1].
In reflecting on his work covering these disasters, Vigaral emphasized the ethical responsibilities of photojournalism in moments of crisis. He stated: "The most important message is that a living person was pulled out in the earthquake. There is huge joy in seeing someone alive. When rescue teams, firefighters, civil defense, or volunteers pull out a living person, everyone hugs each other happily, and that is the happiness I try to capture with my photos" [1]. Through his documentation of both earthquakes, Vigaral sought to capture moments of life-saving efforts while respecting the experiences of survivors [1].