Frank Fournier
Encyclopedia
Frank Fournier is a French
photographer. The son of a surgeon, he originally studied medicine for four years before becoming a photographer. He moved to New York
and became a staff photographer at Contact Press Images
in 1982 after joining the office staff in 1977. He is most well known for his coverage of the 1985 Armero tragedy in Colombia
. A volcano erupted, which led to a mudslide that killed thousands of people. His portrait of Omayra Sanchez
, a 13-year-old trapped under the debris of her home, won the 1986 World Press Photo
award.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
photographer. The son of a surgeon, he originally studied medicine for four years before becoming a photographer. He moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and became a staff photographer at Contact Press Images
Contact Press Images
Contact Press Images is an international photojournalism agency founded in 1976 in New York City by French-British journalist and editor Robert Pledge and American photojournalist David Burnett, and focused on independent production on photo journalism...
in 1982 after joining the office staff in 1977. He is most well known for his coverage of the 1985 Armero tragedy in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. A volcano erupted, which led to a mudslide that killed thousands of people. His portrait of Omayra Sanchez
Omayra Sánchez
Omaira Sánchez was a 13-year-old victim of the 1985 eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, which erupted on November 13, 1985, in Armero, Colombia causing massive lahars which killed nearly 25,000. Trapped for three days in water, concrete, and other debris before she died, Omayra captured the...
, a 13-year-old trapped under the debris of her home, won the 1986 World Press Photo
World Press Photo
World Press Photo is an independent, non-profit organization based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Founded in 1955 the organization is known for holding the world's largest and most prestigious annual press photography contest....
award.