Sandra Balsells (b. Barcelona 1966), photojournalist.
Sandra, in 1989, after earning a degree in journalism from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, you studied photojournalism at the London College of Printing, then began your career as a freelance photographer. Tell us about how you started out. Why London? And what were the first news stories you covered?
S. B: I left for London to take a break from Barcelona and see the world. I wanted to be independent, to live life as I pleased, and start a career in a fascinating city like London. It was also a great opportunity to perfect my English.
My early reports were done during internships in photo departments at two British newspapers, first The Guardian and then The Times. I went with the photographers when they were covering a story, observing how they worked and how they edited their photographs. That was a great way to get “broken in” to the profession, learning on the job. The Times gradually agreed to let me begin covering smaller events, and that’s how I started publishing with them.
In 1991, shortly after the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, you covered the outbreak of the war in Croatia for The Times.
S. B: Yes, the first trip to the former Yugoslavia was my idea. I went there in July 1991 as a freelance photographer. I quickly realized that it was pointless to compete with the major agencies, so I began working occasionally with different media outlets and other international agencies.
Interview by Lola Fabry
Read the full interview on the French version of Le Journal.
