Riot photographers

[Rosie]

There have been some incredible and disturbing images emerging as a result from the UK riots (anyone seen the photo of the woman jumping from the burning building?) - some from pro photographers and some from 'citizen journalists'.
I've been reading about many photojournalists who have been attacked and mugged whilst out on the job, only to brush themselves off and head out into the riots again to get more shots.

What are your thoughts about continually putting yourself on the frontline? Is it brave or stupid? And what images have caught your eye from the riots?

[ALwin]

Remember sometime ago I suggested that a future article for DP magazine could be on photographers who have lost their lives in the line of duty
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=3097

Maybe the article can combine those who risk their lives, why they risk it and remembering those who have lost their lives for their work.

[ravens-eye]

I was very tempted to venture down towards some of this madness and capture some raw images, but as the violence was getting very close to where I live, my priorities were switched to being home with my partner & young child. Especially after seeing peoples homes being destroyed by fires from shops below and even looters breaking into homes.

If I was single or our home well away from danger, I probably would of gone.

[ravens-eye]

Oh and yes I saw the photo of the woman jumping from her window with the flames behind. I also watched the interview with the photographer who took that photo. I forgot her name though

[Rosie]

Issue 112 covers training needed / offered to help protect photographers in hostile environmnents and next issue we're covering the riots and the photographers who have been affected.

Glad you & your family weren't directly affected Ravens-Eye and you decided to stay at home! The stories we've been hearing from some photographers about getting mugged and attacked are horrendous.

[dave_h]

We had 2 togs and a journalist (Mail on Sunday) beaten up in Tottenham on the Saturday night. They still managed to file their stuff.

I was on lates all that week in central london. the trouble got to within 10 mins of where I work.

The shot of the Tottenham furniture shop ablaze was a powerful image (esp as 27 families live(d) above the shop). Also, images of the aftermath showing the damage caused

I had an ipod touch with me so had a chance to grab a shot if it came my way but, given the mood and hostility, I wasn't going looking for shots.

We had a shop at the end our road (a gun shop would you beleive - just what every south london neighbourhood needs !) ram raided the other night. Didn't hear a thing tho as I was on lates !

[Rosie]

Claire has just been telling us about all the community clean-up projects going on at the moment,which she saw at the weekend. I suppose this is one good thing to come out of all of this.
Just a shame it takes riots like this for a community to pull together and support each other.

[claireg]

Here are some images taken from Clapham Junction at the weekend. The atmosphere was amazing. People handed out sweets and cakes on the street and provided water to the police- there was a real sense of community which was great to see.

[claireg]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-storie ... -23332135/

Here you go.

[John Godwin]

I've attended a few protests and riots for fun, you can see the images on my website.

Most of the time it's not dangerous. As long as you don't point a camera directly in someone's face while they're committing an imprisonable crime, most of the time they'll leave you alone. I've been attacked three times while photograhing riots, two times it was by police officers, and both times I'd done absolutely nothing to deserve it. The third I was punched in the stomach and spat at by an EDL member as he and about 40 of his friends walked through me.

[Rosie]

Hi John
Thanks for sharing yoru shots - they're incredible. You're really in the thick of it all. It's great to see you have such a unique style of shooting even in the chaos of a riot.