Photographing protests? Safety advice/what to do?

[Markok765]

There are some Kosovo protests in my city. Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FcqvX0SQ50&feature=related

I would like to take photos of the protests, and I would like some general advice on it!

 

[phaedrus]

Dress similar to the protesters, mix with the crowd, use a rangefinder with a super wide lens. This way you'll avoid getting the usual press photos.

 

[nick mulder]

The youtube vid shows a bunch of people walking down the street.

Shoot whatever !

When things get punchy-smashy thats when format might be a consideration - I've been in this situation once with a 16mm camera with 400' magazine - people will generally keep out of your way, as they tend to not want the camera to damage them. Police here are mostly respectful of photographers rights (than they are respectful of some protesters), its up to you where you fit in the spectrum, sure you might will get better photos being in the midst of the 'action' but what good is it if the camera gets busted and film fogged ...

Fun times in Auckland:

(not sure who took this)

 

[Ian Grant]

Be careful photographing protests, I shot quite a number back in the early 70's for student newspapers and twice had problems with the police, I had the film taken from my camera because I was spotted shooting a policeman kicking a demonstrator.

Ian

 

[pentaxuser]

I have never tried it so who am I to make a suggestion but it strikes me that a companion might be a good idea who acts as eyes and ears if you are drawing attention to yourself. A camera which easily slips into a pocket would be useful. Some small SLRs with a 28mm lens might fit the bill but a rangefinder is likely to be better. The last kind you need is a F5 or similar with a variety of lens around your neck especially if the going gets rough and you need to blend in and melt away.The great thing about 28mm or 35 or maybe even 50mm at a push is that you can appear to be pointing it away from the action you are in fact interested in.

Best of luck

pentaxuser

 

[Markok765]

Do you think a P&S would be ideal for this situation?

 

[Ian Grant]

Maybe, I used to shoot with an SLR but I was always in the thick of the student demonstrations, which were virtually all anti Maggie Thatcher, the then UK Education Minister, well before she became world renowned as the British Prime Minister.

You need to shoot with what you are most comfortable using, I only had one camera then so it had to be the SLR.

Ian

 

[DKT]

from my newspaper days....don't wear a camera strap around your neck---too easy for someone to grab, jerk you around etc, could be a dangerous situation if someone decided to make you a target.

 

[pauliej]

Dress like the hockey players do, and be sure to wear a helmet of some kind. And have your running shoes on... The Kosovo riot footage was really scary, I would NOT have wanted to be in the middle of that fracas. Be careful and be safe, above all. I hope this helps you.

Paul

 

[panastasia]

Is it another protest against America? I heard they recently torched our embassy. What else is new?

 

[nick mulder]

Dress like the hockey players do, and be sure to wear a helmet of some kind.

This just says target target target to me ...

I've shot violent protests with an RZ67 and as previously mentioned a 16mm cine before - It depends on the vibe of the police, which I have no idea of in your part of the world - here, they are tolerant up to a point - they will respect a photographers rights until you directly disobey them and not move on, which is usually for some 'safety reason'.

Some stalling tactics are pretending not to hear them, but once it becomes clear this is no longer working do the exact opposite and look them in the eye an communicate clearly what you are doing - or simply do this right from the outset - depends so much on the attitude you project.

A protest is usually due to some kind of perceived injustice, and often enough goes on to be the cause of further injustice of its own- its pretty hard to be neutral when seeing a police officer strangle a teenager at an anti-Iraq protest, so remember that you will fit somewhere on the spectrum of ideals and to expect the potential consequences of having them.

Never thought about it but yes as others have said a rangefinder sounds good, light weight and if you covered it in rubbishy foam and somewhat waterproofed it (and another) you could throw or drop it somewhere if you felt it were going to be confiscated.

 

[Soeren]

Is it another protest against America? I heard they recently torched our embassy. What else is new?

Kosovo just plead their independecy from Serbia a week or so ago. The Serbs are not quite happy about that. Of cource they turned to worldprügelknabe #1 and torched an US embassy.
Kind regards

 

[firecracker]

Do you think a P&S would be ideal for this situation?

Contax T3 is a way to go. I have indeed been using it for a while when I'm mad as an activist. 35mm lens is wide enough even if you're in a crowd of people. Olympus Stylus is as good but has fewer control.

But whatever photos you take, be extremely careful about releasing the images in public because that might easily put the protesters and bystanders in serious trouble with authority.

 

[nick mulder]

But whatever photos you take, be extremely careful about releasing the images in public because that might easily put the protesters and bystanders in serious trouble with authority.

Police here have a two person crew of police that specifically shoot video footage of the likely suspect protesters that will 'cross the line' - often anarchist types who in due course are now wearing balaclavas to protests because of this ...

 

[arigram]

On my last protest, I carried the biggest camera I could:
a Hasselblad 501CM with a 180 telephoto lens.
Got me some nice shots.
I wish I brought a gas mask before hand.
Oh and a good helmet wouldn't be a dead weight.

My recurring nightmare is the police busting my camera and me fighting back with a monopod...

 

[haris]

You can also try to go with photographers who are on assigment, they usually go into groups two or more, know their rights, know how to behave in situations and have sense for troubles if any would appear. If you alone and act nervous you are exposed.

In any case be ready to run, be ready your film/camera to be taen away or destroyed and eventually to get punch or two yourself. Not saying it will happen, but if does, well, it goes with business

Kosovo just plead their independecy from Serbia a week or so ago. The Serbs are not quite happy about that. Of cource they turned to worldprügelknabe #1 and torched an US embassy.
Kind regards

Fact that USA was first country recognized Kosovo as independent country only few hours after Kosovo parliament declared indenpendancy didn't help regarding how Serbs feel about USA

 

[haris]

On my last protest, I carried the biggest camera I could:
a Hasselblad 501CM with a 180 telephoto lens.
Got me some nice shots.
I wish I brought a gas mask before hand.
Oh and a good helmet wouldn't be a dead weight.

My recurring nightmare is the police busting my camera and me fighting back with a monopod...

When you think again, having camera like Hassy, Mamiya (RB RZ and like) some big and heavy SLR, and heavy monopod and even heavier tripod are good thing. If you feel those things could be taken away from you or be destroyed, you stop using them as photography tools and start using them as weapons. That is why I am not afraid when phtoographing around. If someone attacks me, when I use my RB on Manfrotto 055 nature tripod and 029 head, I know I fave few killograms of metal and glass to hit attacker in head As light vesrion I have EOS3, and even Bessa R2A is all metal, so they can also be used as defence weapons when hit is precisely placed on strategic areas of human body...

 

[Marcust101]

I took some Shots during the 'Love Ulster' mess in Dublin a couple of years ago, It was a dangerous situation and I ended up sheltering behind the Larkin statue in the middle of O'Connell Street with Rocks and snooker balls raining down around me. This happened when I found myself caught by a riot police charge, the camera saved me from the the clubs but left me in the middle with a couple of other photographers. I got some great shots but ulitmately had my film taken from me by an upset Garda (Police) after taking a shot of him subduing a protester.

I hadn't intended to be shooting just shopping in town and had a camera with a roll of film in the bag it wasn't a protest so much as an excuse for a fight from some elements in Dublin

Tha taught me a few things, always have a spare roll, don't stand in front of either faction, watch for changes from either side and stay with some other photographers

All that said, protests make great pictures but you do risk getting your head cracked

Marcus

 

[Steve Roberts]

I've only done this once and was surprised at how some apparently peaceful demonstrators got uptight about someone with a camera (not me). Personally I wouldn't use any camera that I wasn't prepared to have someone jump up and down on and then shove up my nose (or any other available orifice).

Perhaps the best safety advice is to shoot landscapes instead!

Steve ;-)

 

[DaveOttawa]

Maybe, I used to shoot with an SLR but I was always in the thick of the student demonstrations, which were virtually all anti Maggie Thatcher, the then UK Education Minister, well before she became world renowned as the British Prime Minister.

You need to shoot with what you are most comfortable using, I only had one camera then so it had to be the SLR.

Ian

I photographed the Iron Lady once at a university with an iron camera, Voigtlander Bessa 6x9 folder - not really the best choice I must say

PS the OP is probably in Ottawa or TO where these demonstrations have been peaceful as far as I know so probably no great risk from being present with a camera. The mood could change if the Can govt recognises Kosovo of course.

 

[Rlibersky]

Just stay aware of what is happening around you and get to a save place if things degrade. Of course in america the rules are different. My neighbor is a policeman for a local city here, in his training for the upcoming RNC convention, which I will be photographing, said."if you see a police line forming turn and run for 3 blocks before stopping" If it gets to this point there is something happening that will need to be dealt with and knowing who is friend or foe isn't easy to know.

That said I was in a riot with my camera after a Hockey game and even though I got hit with some incidental pepper spray, hit my camera as I was taking a shot, I wasn't bothered by the police when they formed the line and moved in on the rioters.

 

[copake_ham]

......

That said I was in a riot with my camera after a Hockey game and even though I got hit with some incidental pepper spray, hit my camera as I was taking a shot, I wasn't bothered by the police when they formed the line and moved in on the rioters.

Interesting observation. Probably a majority of those hockey fans were drunk - which likely made the situation more dangerous than photographing at a m/l "standard" political protest!

 

[Removed Account]

Interesting observation. Probably a majority of those hockey fans were drunk - which likely made the situation more dangerous than photographing at a m/l "standard" political protest!

Where on earth did you get that idea? Hockey riots are almost always an indignant response to an unjust ref call or foul play by the opposing team, not violence fueled by drunken anarchy! *ducks to avoid flying Molson bottle*

 

[copake_ham]

Where on earth did you get that idea? Hockey riots are almost always an indignant response to an unjust ref call or foul play by the opposing team, not violence fueled by drunken anarchy! *ducks to avoid flying Molson bottle*

 

[Uncle Bill]

The best advice I would give is don't stand out, run with one camera and one lens and plan at least three escape routes if things get out of control.