AS: Mr. Romero, as the Jr. Reporter for SF Sol y Sombra, I’d like to interview you for the June issue of Las Noticias.
FR: Hi, Aimee, of course I know you, but you probably do not remember me. I hope to see you and your parents at the social gathering at my home in June 11. Here are the answers to your questions without elaborating too much.
AS: Where and when were you born?
FR: I was born in Sombrerete,
AS: Tell us about your family.
FR: My family is composed of my wife, Maria de Lourdes
don't see them often enough.
AS: When and why did you become a Sol y Sombra member?
FR: I became a Sol y Sombra member after I met Rosalvina, the current president, in a bullfight in Stevenson, in August 2003. I have been a bullfighting aficionado since the age of 6, but I had other priorities in life that kept me away from the fiesta brava. I joined Sol y Sombra in an effort to get to know more people that share the same interest and that is
always willing to share his/her experiences.
AS: What are your thoughts about bullfighting?
FR: My thoughts about bullfighting are as controversial as the activity itself. I have a lot of respect and admiration for the toro bravo, as well as all the people that make the fiesta brava possible, as long as they do not cheat. Since photography is my artistic outlet, it can be a double-edged sword; I can capture the beauty, symmetry and movement of a faena, along with the faces that reflect the intensity of the moment, as well as
the gruesomeness of the pinchazos and the goring. I hate toreros that want a particular type of bull in all their corridas. A true torero gets the best out of any bull, without making the excuse that the toro was "not his type."
I love to feel the intensity of the moment as close to the action as
possible. It is an energy that can only be felt being in the callejon or in the first or second rows. As a photographer, I do not seek to please an audience but myself. The images I capture are sometimes difficult to interpret by others simply because I capture what I feel is important to me.
I love to share my images with those people that want to see something different to what we see everyday, it is good to see something different tokeep an open mind.
Bullfighting has always been and will always be controversial. It can be beautiful, it can be ephimeral. I respect everybody's opinions, as well as I ask them to respect mine. Those who share the passion for the fiesta brava are welcome; those who do not, I welcome you, too.
AS: Who is your favorite bullfighter and why?
FR: I do not have a favorite bullfighter, I have many. Why? Because each one has his own style and personality. One of my favorites is Jose Luis Angelino, he will make it far if his apoderado knows how to take him to the
top. I also support female bullfighters, they can be as talented as her male counterparts.
AS: What is your most memorable moment at a bullfight?
FR: My most memorable moment at a bullfight? When I was ten I was taken to the callejon by the manager of the bullring, and when I was lifted by the manager, the bull came straight at the burladero and crashed into it. Talk
about being scared! Later, the same bull gored a banderillero, do not remember his name. I had never seen an enraged bull so close, and it was close!
AS: How do you see the future of toreo evolving?
FR: Like it or not, bullfighting is spreading throughout the world. It has now been in
toro integro. Ganaderos, stop breeding toros mansos; toreros, be honest and try to get the best any bull can offer, not just the ones you feel comfortable with. Without a true toro bravo and with honest toreros, the fiesta will be remembered as "the good old days."
AS: Please add any other relevant information, like the June meeting at your house, you'd like to include.
FR: Bullfighting, like any other activity in the world, must be performed with honesty and true conviction. It is those who are honest and dedicated
to their profession the ones that will survive the ups and downs of the
journey. It is why I am extending an invitation to all those people that
have a genuine interest in the fiesta brava to get together at the home of
yours truly, enjoy some food and wine, and to express your feelings about the fiesta brava. Everybody is welcome, share your experiences, good or bad,
and meet people that share the same interests.
AS: Thank you for your time! Below is a photo of yours for everyone to enjoy.