war zone photography

[gregor konstantin]

Hello and Good morning, i wanted to share this article from Gizmodo that i just came across. It's a hand full of insight from Teru Kuwayama who has been shooting for Time Magazine and Newsweek, amongst others.

Ask a Pro: How to Shoot (and Not Get Shot) In a War Zone - War zone photography - Gizmodo

[rpcrowe]

I have one extra piece of advice and I am an old combat cameraman from a war way back in time: Vietnam.

The photographer in a war zone should always have a camera ready to shoot. Even though camera equipment packed in a water and dust-proof Haliburton or Pelican case will be kept safe; it will not be ready to shoot at the drop of a hat (or the flash of a mortar burst). There was no place in Vietnam or there is no place in Iraq or Afghanistan immune from enemy action and the resultant possibility of some great imagery.

I still regret missing the best shot of my life. I was riding in a Marine Corps convoy on a road somewhere east of Chu Lai when we began to take fire from a ridge a short distance off. The first vehicle was disabled and the Marine infantrymen took cover at a mound of dirt running along the side of the road and called in air support.

It was an extremely clear day and the resulting image has been embedded as clearly in my memory.

As the Marines were facing the ridge with rifles and machine guns firing and Marine aircraft were shooting rockets and dropping napalm along the ridge a short distance away; there was a little Vietnamese boy not over 10 years old, wearing ragged shorts, flip flops and a conical hat. He had a carrying stick with a basket of canned Coke at each end of the stick and was selling those drinks to the Marines who were in firing positions.

It was a case of the great lighting, the close proximity of the enemy and the air strikes along the ridge; all combined with a little kid trying to earn a few piasters selling cold drinks to Marines who were involved in actual combat at the moment that made this image great.

Unfortunately, because my cameras were safely stored away in an aluminum case, I missed that great shot. That was my first assignment in Vietnam and the last time I traveled anywhere without a ready camera.

People ask me if I was scared as a combat cameraman. There were times that I was but, most of the time my emotions were excitement combined with a great adrenaline rush. War is horrible but, like many other horrible events such as hurricanes and earthquakes, war is extremely photogenic.

[utsc2006]

Interesting article. I can't imagine being over there and trying to capture it all.

[OsmosisStudios]

I've always had this yearning to go over and shoot freelance, but a little thing called "university" keeps cropping up and taking my money away!

[gturner]

I must say, I have never had the yearning. Seen enough nonsense not to want to go looking for more.
Interesting article though with good information.