In an underground garage, a photographer trains his lens on divers searching the flood waters

PAIPORTA, Spain (AP) — Alberto Sáiz has been taking photos in Spain’s Levante region for The Associated Press since 2007. In addition to news events he’s covered America’s Cup sailing, Formula One racing, Champions League soccer, the Volvo Ocean Race, Motorcycle Grand Prix, world indoor track and Davis Cup tennis.

Here is what he had to say about this extraordinary photo.

Why this photo?

Two days after the floods, many people were still missing and bodies were yet to be found. One area with the highest death toll was underground garages. The security forces were working tirelessly to drain the water and recover the bodies, so I felt this was the story and photo of the moment. I spent the whole day at various locations, working with different security teams, trying to earn their trust to let me enter with them.

How I took this photo

Around 5:00 p.m., after a long day of work and just as I was about to head home, I saw three divers suiting up next to my motorcycle. I struck up a conversation with them and asked if they would allow me to join them. Inside the garage, as we descended to the second basement level, I saw that the water was chest-deep. I decided to remove my shirt and leave part of my gear and personal items at a high point on the first basement level. Wearing jeans, sneakers and no shirt, I waded into the water.

Why this photo works

The photo works because of its exclusivity; no one else had managed to enter a flooded parking lot with divers searching for bodies, and the moment was highly newsworthy. The lighting plays a key role, with the divers’ underwater flashlights casting reflections on the water against the dark, eerie backdrop of the garage.

For more extraordinary AP photography, click here.