Dangers From Being A Photog?

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  • michael66michael66 Posts: 231Member
    I understand where he is coming from, about hating that title, 'War Photographer'. He almost sounds ashamed. But at the same time, I think if people saw the horrors of war, they might be a little less enthusiastic about it. I still remember seeing, for the first time, the pictures of Mathew Brady in grade school and later seeing Phan Thi Kim Phuc ( burned Vietnamese girl ) or the point-blank assassination of a 'suspected communist'. And then having a little hope restored when seeing the picture of the student sliding a carnation into the gun barrel. Photography does matter. It isn't just the captures of a pretty girl or the side of a hill. That's probably why my used Nikon Ftn is still my favorite camera. It survived Vietnam before I got it. In a way, its a war vet.
  • AdeAde Posts: 1,071Member
    I can't help to think there must be many photographers / photojournalists suffering from PTSD as a result of their work. Not only war photographers but those following the local police beat, covering hospitals, documenting tough social situations, etc.

    And unlike their colleagues in the military or police force, probably not many of them get proper treatment or assistance, since they might work as freelancers, etc.
  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    +1 Ade. Not many people experience PTSD (lucky for them) so as conditions go, it is misunderstood and underrated in its seriousness. He gave a lot - too much for sure - to his profession.
    Always learning.
  • MsmotoMsmoto Posts: 5,398Moderator
    PTSD is a very poorly understood diagnosis. In fact, Mr. McCullin's comments about his "wasted" years of his life are quite possibly a manifestation of this. Understand, I am not making a diagnosis, merely an observation of the video. But, we are all affected by events which are out of the normal range.

    If anyone wants to discuss PTSD, please send me a PM and I will be happy to elaborate.
    Msmoto, mod
  • WestEndBoyWestEndBoy Posts: 1,456Member
    edited July 2014
    I was attacked by these two nuts while doing street photography the other day.
    _DSC7140.jpg
    Post edited by Golf007sd on
  • Golf007sdGolf007sd Posts: 2,840Moderator
    @jshickele: Don't you just love family portraits? :P
    D4 & D7000 | Nikon Holy Trinity Set + 105 2.8 Mico + 200 F2 VR II | 300 2.8G VR II, 10.5 Fish-eye, 24 & 50 1.4G, 35 & 85 1.8G, 18-200 3.5-5.6 VR I SB-400 & 700 | TC 1.4E III, 1.7 & 2.0E III, 1.7 | Sigma 35 & 50 1.4 DG HSM | RRS Ballhead & Tripods Gear | Gitzo Monopod | Lowepro Gear | HDR via Promote Control System |
  • MsmotoMsmoto Posts: 5,398Moderator
    edited February 2014
    @jshickele

    One of the problems in street photos is we may be shooting an image of someone who has outstanding arrest warrants, and they seem to react in this way…. I will ask folks……"Hey, guys, I want to make certain you have no objections, like an outstanding warrant, so if you do have any issues, I want to delete the images." Of course, deleting an image on one card does not delete it on the second card….. unless the image is deleted twice….

    And, your folks act as if they are the type who just might be 'on the lam'. :))
    Post edited by Msmoto on
    Msmoto, mod
  • AdeAde Posts: 1,071Member
    edited March 2014
    "Facing a whopping $20,000 bill to recover and transport the body of freelance photographer Ali Mustafa, his grieving family is appealing for donations":

    http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/03/13/family_seeks_donations_to_bring_home_photographer_killed_in_syria.html
    Post edited by Ade on
  • PistnbrokePistnbroke Posts: 2,443Member
    Some weddings get quite hairy ..the young ...25 ish girls get a bit drunk and take objection to something you did earlier ..then the drunk men get involved and you have all that testoterone going into play..we call this the Phil Mitchell effect ( UK will understand)..I say to the wife go get the 300mm from under the front seat and she moves the car to the pre aranged spot with the engine running and phones me to say she cannot find it....I make a sharpe exit ASAP ...oh yes and you always go to a wedding wired ..then you have the evidence if you have any problems..
  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    WOW, @Pistnbroke - you need to raise the level of jobs you take! @-)
    Always learning.
  • blandbland Posts: 812Member
    Here's my near miss of the year from last Saturday night. He's starting to get airborne here.

    400-2

    He starts his barrel role mid air directly at me some 50 feet away.

    400-5

    I begin my run for life (LOL) with my arm extended firing my camera at him. He's now where I was standing.

    400-7

    He's about to start flipping end over end away from me. He wasn't hurt bad but he'll be out of action for a while.

    400-8
  • Golf007sdGolf007sd Posts: 2,840Moderator
    edited July 2014
    @bland: WoW. Glad you are safe.

    May I suggest investing in a longer telephoto lens :P
    Post edited by Golf007sd on
    D4 & D7000 | Nikon Holy Trinity Set + 105 2.8 Mico + 200 F2 VR II | 300 2.8G VR II, 10.5 Fish-eye, 24 & 50 1.4G, 35 & 85 1.8G, 18-200 3.5-5.6 VR I SB-400 & 700 | TC 1.4E III, 1.7 & 2.0E III, 1.7 | Sigma 35 & 50 1.4 DG HSM | RRS Ballhead & Tripods Gear | Gitzo Monopod | Lowepro Gear | HDR via Promote Control System |
  • Vipmediastar_JZVipmediastar_JZ Posts: 1,708Member
    edited July 2014
    Great action and photo story @Bland
    Post edited by Vipmediastar_JZ on
  • TomBTomB Posts: 44Member
    Two events come to mind.

    In high school shooting the football team. Me and the PJ from the local paper had gotten friendly over the years of sideline sitting. Cold late season game and I had turned my back to the field to reload.
    She knocked me down with a shoulder throw to keep me from Being ran over by our later NFL pro linesman at full speed. Would have likely been at least a broken collarbone or worse.

    Other was scarier. Borrowed a deer hunting tree stand and set it up on the edge of my family farm to get a photo of a 16 point buck that had been seen around. Since I was A: not hunting and B: was the owner of the land, I put out bait corn to try and raise my odds.
    Seems the folks on the neighboring farm didn't recognize me and reported me to Wildlife Enforcement. Here in NC those guys are badass as they KNOW every person the confront usually has a gun. He saw my setup and decided to be clever and climbed the tree, sat above my tree stand before dawn and watched me climb up and settle in. Did not take him long to figure out the deal since i didn't have a gun. Still scared the shit out of me when he said "Good morning." to me after watching me for ten minutes as he was fully camouflaged, hanging above me with a H&K MP5. The guy is actually a friend now and still rags on me about how I squealed when I looked up.

    T
    Www.timbersnakestudios.com
  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    Wow! I'd squeal pretty loud under those circumstances too @TomB...
    Always learning.
  • FritzFritz Posts: 140Member
    I live just north of Concord New Hampshire, the state capitol. Between my back door and the outskirts of Concord are many thousand acres of 2nd growth forest, mostly farm land that went out of production prior to the depression. There's a 25 acre wilderness pond about 1/2 half mile behind my house accessible by a tote road. So, we have coyotes, deer, moose and lots of black bears who come in in the spring to scrabble for food under my bird feeders (hung 18' in the air). So last year I counted 21 individual bears wandering within a few feet of my back door at various times. Black bears unlike grizzlies and polar bears are not normally aggressive towards people unless they feel threatened or they're sick BUT THEY ARE WILD ANIMALS AND THEY ARE DANGEROUS! The moral to the story is to be cautious, bear spray is not particularly effective for an animal who is hunting you and if you choose to travel the wilderness its best to realize that we don't really belong there and we have a small but real risk of injury or death when we do choose to go there. In my case I always carry a firearm when I'm out and bears are about and though I've had lots of bear encounters, I've never had to defend myself or to kill an animal. (Makes an interesting choice- my rifle or my camera?) Having said all that, I suspect there are far more predatory creatures to be found in the average urban landscape than in my back yard.
  • MsmotoMsmoto Posts: 5,398Moderator
    @Bland…. I have wondered about the angle you shoot some of the dragsters from…. now, I know. Sort of like the rest of us… camera in hand, no fear….. glad you are OK. Be safe!
    Msmoto, mod
  • Vipmediastar_JZVipmediastar_JZ Posts: 1,708Member
    Having your gear fall on your feet.

    I removed the stroller out of the car and the tripod ended up coming out too and falling on my big toe. I had to walk it off for about 30 mins of walking and at the end of the day it was still throbbig. Nothing major happened and I'm back to normal walking.
  • IronheartIronheart Posts: 3,017Moderator
    Having your gear fall on your feet.

    I removed the stroller out of the car and the tripod ended up coming out too and falling on my big toe. I had to walk it off for about 30 mins of walking and at the end of the day it was still throbbig. Nothing major happened and I'm back to normal walking.
    Perhaps that is the real reason for a carbon fiber tripod...
  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    Having your gear fall on your feet.

    I removed the stroller out of the car and the tripod ended up coming out too and falling on my big toe. I had to walk it off for about 30 mins of walking and at the end of the day it was still throbbig. Nothing major happened and I'm back to normal walking.
    Throbbig - I think you just invented a new word and I like it - very descriptive!
    Always learning.
  • FritzFritz Posts: 140Member
    I recently fell off the back of a WW2 tank and ruptured my last functional lumbar disc- does that count? ( the D4 was fine)
  • Vipmediastar_JZVipmediastar_JZ Posts: 1,708Member

    Haha. I usually edit every comment because I can only see my mistakes in spelling after I post it. I guess I can do a preview but sometimes it glitches.

    @Fritz I can only imagine the pain. I have had back and neck problems since 2003. I'm glad your D4 is fine. You can always use a wheel chair to shoot for a different angle :)
  • FritzFritz Posts: 140Member
    It is such a joy getting decrepit like cutting your trifocals so you can still see through the view finder. Advice to to Msmoto: never leave your F3 on the hood of the pit out ambulance during a super bike race.
  • spraynprayspraynpray Posts: 6,545Moderator
    It is such a joy getting decrepit like cutting your trifocals so you can still see through the view finder. Advice to to Msmoto: never leave your F3 on the hood of the pit out ambulance during a super bike race.
    WOW!
    Always learning.
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