How far would you go to capture an image?

[x-ray]

Those of you that know my work will understand why I ask this question. I just posted more of my documentary work from a private nazi and KKK meeting. I was the only outsider allowed to attend. This is the 5th such event that I've been allowed in. I also have been in the middle of men handling deadly serpents and within striking distance of rattle snakes, a king cobra and copper heads in many serpent handling church services. I've worked with criminals that would just as soon kill you as look at you but this is what it takes to get the images i want. You will never get the shot from the sideline is my philosophy. You have to be in the middle of things.

How far would you go to get the shot? Where are your limits? I've been scared to death a few times but haven't reached the limit yet. I guess until I reach that point I don't know what it is.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I'd probably shy away from the criminals, but the racists wouldnt scare me. I figure if they invited me to go with them to their meetings, they're not going to hurt me, and those groups thrive on the publicity that being in the news brings, even if its bad publicity.

We have a snake church in Fort Wayne and I think it would be cool to photograph but the risk of being bitten would scare the hell out of me because I'm in poor health to begin with, and a snakebite is much harder to survive if you're not in good health.

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

How far would you go to get the shot? Where are your limits? I've been scared to death a few times but haven't reached the limit yet. I guess until I reach that point I don't know what it is.

I truly admire your work (and your guts). But I think a more useful way of knowing how other photographers would tackle such situations is to ask how far we did go to get a shot, more than would. I don't think it's possible to know for sure how one would react to a life threatening situation without actually have been into one.

I did for example overcome quite a lot of fear and forced myself to working hanging on a 9 mm rope inside crevasses I barely could see the bottom of (in Antarctica). But I can't promise you that I'd have the guts to approach a gang and ask them to let me join them to document their nights.. (though I love to think that I would and what photos I could get..)

 

[KenR]

Scariest thing I saw was a photographer climb over a barrier in Yellowstone and stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with nothing separating him from a 1500 foot drop into the abyss. He took his picture and turned aroundand climbed back without a misstep. He didn't look back. I was sweating for him.

 

[kokoshawnuff]

I'd jaywalk

 

[sepiareverb]

I've shot several things I wouldn't have gone to see myself, and got images the clients liked, but gladly haven't been put in that situation in a long time. I've got tremendous respect for those who put themselves in harms way to show us what we need to see- I just can't do that.

 

[taskoni]

I'd jaywalk

😀 Great answer!

 

[karlori]

I am currently trying to get papers and permits to photograph working deminers, so I guess I'd go far enough... Political and racial extremists are 90% show 10% "go" so I would not consider them a real threat.
One thing i would not currently do is go to an open conflict zone, be it an uprising, a civil war or a narco war I don't want to be caught in the crossfire on some godforsaken land .

 

[nikon_sam]

Scariest thing I saw was a photographer climb over a barrier in Yellowstone and stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with nothing separating him from a 1500 foot drop into the abyss. He took his picture and turned aroundand climbed back without a misstep. He didn't look back. I was sweating for him.

That was me BUT it was in Mesa Verde, CO and I was shooting the Indian Ruins...I was sporting a 4x5 View camera and it was only a 500' drop...
Or when I attended a Neo-Nazi Anti-Illegal Alien Rally...being that I have a great tan all year long, have a Hispanic last name and was pointing a lens at them while only stand a few feet away...that was cool...
I read that the Leader of that group was shot & killed by his son a few months after that event...
Once I was on my belly shooting down at the street below from a platform hanging off the side of a 32 story building...
I take risks here & there...😀

 

[DougFord]

...I'd go to the ends of the block...heck, maybe over to the next block...even

 

[jsrockit]

It depends for me. Most of the time when I put myself out there and feel scared, the photos have sucked. However, it was never for a project, just one off situations on the streets. If it was for a project, it would depend on the vibe I was getting and if I thought it was worth it.