Misdirected diatribe v2.0
Following the breaking news of yesterday’s air-crash, I headed up to Coventry to cover the story. As it’s currently the quiet or “silly” season for news where events just stop happening resulting in stories about penguins getting knighted and maize fields trampled to look like James Bond making the front page, this is the kind of story that could well make the newspapers the following day. Having covered a similar story a while ago, it made sense to head up there. On arrival, it soon became clear that due to the nature of the crash, we wouldn’t be allowed access to the site and we wouldn’t be receiving Police handout images due to their strong content. Fair enough, thinks I. Covering events like this give you a balance of clinical thought in wanting to get a picture with a regular common sense in when that isn’t going to happen for reasons including respect, ongoing enquiries or even issues of trespass.
As it was, the only pictures that were available were of the sort above with the regional Police Det Supt McGee holding a press conference and emergency service workers leaving the scene of the incident. Having shot a few frames, I headed down the road to get a better signal to transmit when I ran into a woman who has given this blog post it’s title..
Pulling up beside my car on the country road, a large middle-aged woman asked me what I was doing;
Me – Why?
Woman – Are you aware of the tragedy?
Me – Yes.
Woman – Well I think you should leave the area right now.
Me – Why?
Woman – Because you’re an obscene vulture.
Me – Thank you very much.
Woman – The Police are down the road you know. I can go and fetch them now if you don’t leave immediately.
Me – I’ve just been working with them for the last two hours.
Woman – You make me sick.
At this point, I break out the game-over question of “Do you read any newspapers or watch the news?” This invariably has a positive response which allows you to point out their hypocritical point of view. What normally follows, as was the case here, is a continuing grumble about being a “sick.. (grumble) ..vulture..” as they drive away. It always makes you feel like you’re really doing a public service, thanks to the overflowing gratitude.
The same happened on the first anniversary of the 7/7 London bombings. While trying to take the picture below, a man came over and began hurling abuse at me that went along much the same lines as conversation above. I know that in some cases, emotions are clearly running high and the subject matter may be sensitive but it’s infuriating when I get this abuse for taking respectful pictures at a press conference or of a stationary bus to illustrate the event, while these people would be the first to buy the newspaper or turn on the news if they heard of a nice juicy story. While there are undoubtedly some less-than admirable people out there operating as photographers, it’s a shame that we all get tarred with the same brush.
People, eh?
Unfortunately we do seem to be on the receiving end of misdirected abuse. Peoples emotions run high around tragedy, we are an easy target for them to vent at. I’ve had my fair share of abuse when covering funerals, it’s never easy trying to be anonymous. Somehow they see you and home in. I’ve also tried the “do you read newspapers?” retort to which you receive more abuse….bloody newspapers, gutter-press, get a real job. Hey this is my profession, it is a real job!
I empathise with you Leon, it’s the nature of our chosen career. I certainly don’t expect everyone to understand.
I wonder if you/she saw the piece in the Observer this weekend on the coverage of Peaches Geldof and the “paparazzi”.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/aug/17/celebrity
… interesting but it felt like a very broad brush tarring anyone with a camera the same way! It’s bound to have stirred some anti-press feeling amongst the normally reserved readership.
Aaaah, reminds me of ten years ago when I was covering a football match, as I walked on the pitch a chorus of ‘you killed Diana’ rang out. Could have sworn that I was home that night…. Ho hum
It’s odd because it’s very rarely the people that are directly affected that have a go. If it was someone who was sobbing at a funeral, I wouldn’t dream of arguing my case with them due to obvious reasons. Everyone should be cut some slack at some point. The annoying ones are when the accusation comes from some gimp wandering past, who decides that they’re going to put the world to rights.
Grrr..
Jack: I KNEW it was you all along! Vulture..
Sorry bud! My post sounds like some rant against family & funerals. What I wanted to say was it’s not direct members of funerals etc that have abused me in the past. I have been very courteous and aware of my surroundings and the handling of the assignments I have been sent on.
It is, as you say, someone wandering by, who has a go at you.
Don’t worry, bud! I wasn’t actually having a pop at you, by any means. I was just thinking of an example of a place where the people around you would be justified to feel a little upset, that’s all. I’m sure you handle it perfectly well. I’ve never had to shoot a funeral other than big state jobs before so I can only imagine how hard it must be to retain the balance.
You should carry your infamous ‘horse’ picture around and show that to complainers.
I’m not saying it would help but it might up the amusement factor.
Genius! Where others carry photos of their kids, I’ll carry the horse cadaver. Consider it done, Miles..
Of course, “You Killed Diana” isn’t necessarily criticism …
[ducks]
I always KNEW it was the ducks.. Evil web-footed bastards..
Ah the stupidity of the average Brit never ceases to amaze me.
People really seem to struggle to see the amount of effort and skill that goes into press photography, and they don’t realise that without photographers and camera-men (and women) some of the most important (and sometimes disturbing) events in the world would go unnoticed and undocumented.
You Killed Diana!! Ha ha. I only find that attitude in this country towards the press. I’m sure Di and our paparazzi culture has a big part of it. I hate been tarred with that brush.
I did a job a few years ago for the Australian Telegraph in Italy, some big Aussie business family had been wiped out in a car crash. Killing 5 family members over 3 generations. We had to go get info at the Police station, we were a bit nervous…….anyway to cut a long story short, we met the chief of Police, were shown all the police pictures, then given permission to take pictures of the funeral. At the funeral they escorted me right up to the altar to take pictures during the service!!! It was unbelievable. Here you get a turd sandwich and you’re about three miles away.
Back in the hysteria that followed the death of Diana, myself and Ben Curtis found ourselves on the receiving end of the East End’s finest in the form of a trio of large ladies well into their 60′s screaming abuse at us for being scum of the earth, murderers, etc outside Buckingham Palace whilst waiting for the Queen to arrive. We tired in vain to reason, but it was useless. The upshot was they started shouting how we were in their way, and the papers didn’t matter, they could watch it on the ‘telly’ The police then made us move from the position were we had been for the last five hours….. Happy Days!!!!!