Photojournalists are regularly in the thick of things when they cover stories, but 2020 has made their jobs even more difficult. Here’s a look at the work of five Tribune photographers in this extraordinary year — and some of the gear they’ve used.
Miguel Gutierrez Jr.
Miguel Gutierrez Jr. was The Texas Tribune's inaugural photo editor. He oversaw our photography operation, thinking strategically about how to tell visually rich stories about Texas government and politics with the help of our network of talented freelance photographers across the state. Gutierrez, an Illinois native who is fluent in Spanish, came to us from New York, where he was working as a multimedia producer for the state attorney general’s office. But he knows Texas well. He received two master’s degrees from the University of Texas at Austin — in journalism and Latin American studies — and worked as a multimedia producer at KUT. Gutierrez has a bachelor’s degree in Latin American and Latino studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has also worked in film production in Los Angeles.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
These “last responders” deal with the bodies as coronavirus deaths surge in the Rio Grande Valley
Funeral homes have set up temporary morgues. Crematoriums are running overtime. Families must wait more than a week to bury their loved ones. For body couriers and funeral workers, there’s no letup in sight.
Posted inState Government
Texans across the state march to demand justice for Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillén
Guillén, a 20-year-old Army specialist, went missing in April from the Central Texas Army post. Remains found last week were confirmed to be hers, her family said. Her disappearance sparked protests against the military for its handling of sexual harassment allegations.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
“How many more are coming?” What it’s like inside hospitals as coronavirus grips Texas’ Rio Grande Valley
The surge in coronavirus cases has slammed hospitals in the Rio Grande Valley. Additional wards have opened. Doctors and nurses pull extra shifts. And the stream of sick people, some gasping for air, keeps growing.
Posted in
Police brutality in Texas
Protests against police brutality and racism: scenes from small Texas towns and cities
The demonstrations against police brutality that have swept through Texas haven’t been confined to its largest cities. Texas Tribune photographers documented marches in smaller cities and towns across the state. Here are some of their images.
Posted in
Politics
Conspiracy theories and racist memes: How a dozen Texas GOP county chairs caused turmoil within the party
On Friday morning, five GOP county chairs were facing backlash for sharing racist social media posts. The Texas Tribune identified seven other GOP county chairs across the state who shared similar posts.
Posted in
Police brutality in Texas
A weekend of protest and mourning: George Floyd’s death spurs demonstrations in Texas cities
Floyd, who was raised in Houston’s Third Ward, was killed in Minneapolis by police. Officer Derek Chauvin has been fired, and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Rallies and protests are happening all over the nation, including in several Texas cities.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Photos of a state in crisis: Deserted highways, swamped food banks and health care workers at risk
COVID-19 has changed the world in ways few imagined possible. As the virus spread across the globe and found its way to Texas, Tribune journalists and photojournalists have been there every step of the way, documenting the changes the new coronavirus has brought into all our lives.
Posted in
Politics
The Best of The Texas Tribune’s photojournalism of 2019
Here’s a look back at our favorite photographs by freelancers, fellows and our new photography department.
Posted in
Broken Border
Watch: In a Guatemalan town where migrants cross, Trump’s policies have hit hard
In La Técnica, the boats used to zip migrants across the river into Mexico, as well as hotels, restaurants and money changers had a brisk business. But now business has dried up.