In the line of fire
How far would you go to get a great photo - and what price would you pay?
It's a boundary which is continually pushed by photojournalists and amateurs alike, some heading to war zones or hanging precariously over a chasm for nothing more than a good shot.
I often find myself getting in to unusual situations or positions to get good photos.
Over the weekend I went to see The Checks, at a spur-of-the-moment gig at a Cuba Street flat.
The room was intensely hot and crowded and another photographer and I searched the room for the best vantage points to get a few shots.
It's difficult to see past 100-odd writhing fans, so the key to good shots was obvious - height.
Near the end of the set I managed to get up behind the band in their corner by climbing up and stepping from one speaker-stack to the next and balancing on a narrow ledge while hanging out a window.
A somewhat risky manoeuvre, considering the explosive performance going on just below me. I pictured myself falling right into the middle of them all, the music stopping and the room erupting into outrage and jeers.
Fortunately, I kept my footing and the resulting shots were probably the best of the night.
For me, getting a good shot is a hobby, but for many it can lead to life-and-death situations. The ultimate in dangerous photography has to be total immersion in a war zone.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 36 photojournalists have been killed between March 2003 and October 2009 in Iraq alone.
Wars and conflicts are very attractive places image-wise and I absolutely respect those willing to put their lives on the line.
But, as a photographer, it's also important to weigh up the benefits against the risk. A great shot is all very well, but is it worth a stint in hospital, or worse?
Sometimes people get themselves into some really stupid situations - just check out this guy at the running of the bulls.
By the way, the pictured war journalist action figure could be yours if you want him on your desk.
Have you put yourself in an unusual or dangerous situation for a photo? What do you think of photographers going to warzones? Tell us your war stories and feel free to share a link to your dangerous shot too.
» Join Connector on Facebook, Twitter @lukeappleby or email Luke at connectornz@gmail.com
Sponsored links
Newest First
Oldest First
This was kind of what I was thinking when I saw you at the recent bomb scare in Wellington. Photographers as well as Journalists often hear about something like a bomb scare which is potentially dangerous and run towards it where as the average Joe Public will run as far away as possible from it. It's my belief that Journalists will do anything for a good story, including potentially die, as will photographers if it'll make a great front page type of shot.
In reply to craig #1, I watched a video recently by Fox or CNN or some other American news agency and it was of a man in a foreign country who had been shot by police after allegedly stealing a bag of rice. This news agency stood there and filmed the man lying on the ground dying. It was graphic seeing him bleed to death, twitching and all while waiting three hours for an ambulance that never came. This is a situation where I guess the camera crew were told by police to stay away so maybe they had no choice but maybe, it was a situation where the camera crew should have at least tried to help save someone's life. Sometimes camera crews need to make a choice of whether they want to be Journalists/camera people and get good stories/footage or human beings first.
I do motorsport photography when I'm not actually racing myself. There are certainly many ways in which I could get myself in a lot of trouble to get "The Shot* but having a knowledge of how it all works from inside the car I've managed to avoid getting myself in the way so far.
The key being to make sure you have an escape route pre-planned. This could be as simple as stepping behind something solid (tree) or a path away from the likely line of travel of a vehicle.
For example: http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i66/geoffwnz/2008/DayBreaker/?action=view&current=adam.jpg
Warzone photographers go into the area knowing full well the risks they are taking. "Innocent" casualties can and do happen but putting yourself deliberately into harms way just to get the shot is just asking for trouble. From a distance, a big zoom lens looks just like a sniper scope.
To make some extra cash I used to do home portrait sittings - not very exciting or dangerous I hear you say.
When you are lugging around thousands of dollars of studio lighting and equipment as well as camera gear to some unknown house at night in areas where police fear to tread you quickly develop a sixth sense.
Thankfully I came to no harm, retained all my gear and lived to tell the story!
I'm currently reading "War Junkie" by Jon Steele, ITN cameraman in Russia and Africa and other places during the 90's. From what I have read, I'm stunned he is still alive - and yes, therre are moments when after he gets the shot, they do what they can, often, it's not a lot.
And the internet provides: http://i.imgur.com/QTDin.gif
ive been on some pretty dangerous assignments but probably the most life-threatening was the short clip i got here - http://www.pogostick.co.nz/summer-jam-2009/
Just wondering where we can see your photo of The Checks playing at the party? It sounds like a fun night!
I was roped up and hung over a 1,000 ft cliff in Chamonix, France to shoot video of a base jumper ...
Looking for a great media site - speaking to the type of stories that they try and get (with the emotion behind it) then you can look no further than www.mediastorm.com
Well worth a read.
Schoolgirl sex video man guilty
Sir Richard Taylor named New Zealander of the Year
Dazzling Adele silences critics
Kiwis in cruise ship cocaine bust
Mallard offers ticket cash back
Sonny Bill Williams finds rugby boring: mate
'Starved, beaten' teen weighed just 32kg
No radiation leak on plane, says Fire Service
Along those lines...
Saw something on TV this weekend that made me think... but cant remember what show it was. It was someone videoing a guy doing a back flip on a motorbike. About halfway through it became obvious the guy wasn’t gonna make it in a very painful way. Just as we were about to get the 'money-shot' we instead got blurry grass as the cameraman started running to, obviously, help out his mate.
I know cameramen are supposed to document rather than participate but it was a refreshing change to see a guy give up the great shot in order to help out where he could. I wonder how many professionals would do the same.