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While out on assignment, I usually have some
clue of what I should do, and when I should do it.
When I should look for the double-play, what I want in a parade picture,
when I need to get a vertical or horizontal image, etc. But today I found
myself in a frightening situation and I truly didn't know what to do.
The assignment was to photograph a semi-pro soccer game between two teams
representing Mexico (called Canarios) and El Salvador for a stand-alone
package on the cover of The Sacramento Bee Neighbor's south edition. I
was advised that the tension would be thick in this emotionally charged
game at a local park.
I arrived about fifteen minutes early, and witnessed the end of the game
scheduled before the one I was to cover. As I looked around, I could tell
this park was a popular Sunday afternoon location for families, nearly
all of Hispanic descent, to watch exciting soccer. After the game was
over, several fans from one side of the field approached the referee.
One proceeded to take his shirt off, gesturing with his hands and speaking
Spanish with a tone of anger and confrontation. I couldn't understand
what he was saying, but I could tell it wasn't pleasant. Soon a crowd
gathered, and as the referee was surrounded by impromptu bodyguards, the
crowd's anger turned to the opposing team. They wanted nothing to do with
this, and walked to their cars in the parking lot about ten steps in front
of this group of about twenty shouting and jeering fans of the losing
team. As the fans' stride hastened, it was clear the players would not
make it to their cars before the group could reach them. Sure enough,
a confrontation ensued.
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I heard the first bottle break on the cement of the parking lot.
Soon I saw glass bottles flying through the air along with fists.
Children were running to cars for cover. Tires screeched as they
exited the parking lot to safety. In one instance, two of the winning
players jumped into the back of a moving pick-up that quickly sped
off as they were chased by angry fans. I saw no attempt to stop
this altercation, and there were no law-enforcement officers present.
Through all of this, I debated in my mind what I should do. Go
in with my 80-200 and makes images of the action happening about
200 yards from where I stood? Or should I stay put in relative safety?
Instinctual I picked up my camera and started toward the fight as
my heard pounded, but I didn't get further than 10 feet from my
bag. In the end, I decided not to wade into the mess. Had I approached
this group, I would have been in the center of a fight with no protection
whatsoever. I would have stuck out like a sore thumb with my camera
and lens, 6'3" frame, and white skin
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I only took 10 frames of action before the game
was called off by law-enforcement officers. |
Players on the El Salvador team relax in the
shade while Police Officers and league director Isidero Hejman discuss
the situation after a fight in the previous game. The El Salvador
game against 'Canarios' was canceled due to an altercation in the
parking lot after fans of the losing team persued the winning team
as they attempted to exit the park. |
Should I have heeded the call of my heart
and not listened what my brain had to say? Was it my responsibility
to cover this story that was unfolding in front of me? One could probably
make a case that I should have gone and made pictures of the fight,
and I wanted to at first. But the risks out weighed the benefits.
This event being of questionable news value, was not worth my well-being.
I may not be cut out to be a combat photographer, but I am confident
I did the right thing by not getting involved. Secondly, what is the
newspaper's responsibility in this situation? The game I was to cover
was canceled ten minutes into it once police arrived. Should the newspaper
run my pictures of the aftermath of the fight? Should they not mention
the game or the fight at all? Or should they run a picture of the
game before it was canceled explaining the circumstances? |
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