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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Perspective III (Basic Editing III)
Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IIn
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Location: I-295W
Date: Jul 11, 2006
Aperture: F/5.6
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/4000
Galleries: Travel, Photojournalism
Date Uploaded: Jul 11, 2006

 an unfortunate series of events...

an 18-wheeler blew out a tire, leaving tread on the road.

a car ran over the tread, throwing it up in the air.

a motocyclist hit the tread and was thrown from his bike.

i was maybe a half-mile behind when this all happened. although i didn't see the events, i was right there afterwards.

as it was the tail-end of rush hour, there were plenty of people already on the scene, and the 911 dispatchers had already been alerted. the guy was conscious, talking, and suffering from a serious case of road-rash. he was wearing a helmet, and from what i gathered from an officer on the scene, nothing was broken. he was transported to a local hospital within 20 minutes of the crash.

when i got there, i was met with unbelievable hostility, just because i had a camera in hand. one guy got right up in my face, screaming and cursing at me. i simply told him i had a job to do, and i went about my business. i never approached the guy on the ground, and didn't shoot from closer than 15-20 yards away. no shots whatsoever that would identify the injured man.

i did shoot, though, some images to document the scene and the story. the image below was submitted to the Richmond Times-Dispatch; it may or may not have run in the next day's paper.



these images may bother you, and it may bother you that i took them. i look at it like this: there was nothing i could do for the guy except 1) stay the hell out of the way, and 2) do my job, which is to be the best photojournalist i can be. a lot of times, the need for documentation isn't always obvious, especially in the heat of the moment. the fact remains, though, while it is very easy to throw away unusable shots, it is damn near impossible to go back and get them later. so, scream at me all you want; just know, i'll stay out of your way while you're doing what you have to do, and i'll ask the same of you.

Statistics
Place: 78 out of 379
Avg (all users): 5.8942
Avg (commenters): 7.5333
Avg (participants): 5.7674
Avg (non-participants): 5.9836
Views since voting: 1934
Views during voting: 334
Votes: 208
Comments: 28
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
 03/28/2011 06:07:27 PM
I truly don't now why anyone would scream at you for taking this shot. You were there, the situation was being addressed by other individuals and you took your image from a distance.

Good job recording a very unfortunate event, and here is hoping the motorcyclist was not too seriously injured.

Ray
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2006 08:09:34 PM
I'm a little surprised you got even one negative comment, since this is a photography site. If you don't shoot the moment, then that moment is gone forever. I hate the hostility that is directed toward photographers.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/20/2006 10:25:29 PM
great little description there!!! i have to admit that i agree with you 110%, great story to go along with your awesome photo! my husband about a month ago did the same thing but crashed because of a CD case...you can check out my photo in my portfolio!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/19/2006 05:57:08 PM
A powerful image, for sure.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/19/2006 05:13:21 PM
Shots like this also serve to give pause to those who may or may not count the cost as they ride the roads. Impact and results are most of the time never known as many look at these. I feel the value of it affecting positively one rider is worth the discomfort it may cause. This has no privacy invasion, no gore, no disruption to ongoing efforts and is not in the same category as papparazzi. Nice shot and well taken.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/19/2006 09:36:00 AM
since I ride quiet often, I can imagine what a nightmare it is for the rider. these treads are huge, can be easily handled in a car, but on a bike its dangerous. I am glad that the rider survived.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/19/2006 03:16:41 AM
I thought this would have done better. That is quite a distance.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/19/2006 01:58:12 AM
Crazy...nice shot...most people wouldn't have tried to take a picture...I hope I would have...way to go...Oh and hope he's alright
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/19/2006 12:43:27 AM
Ouch! Nice finish with this shot. Hope the guy was all right.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
07/18/2006 01:37:11 PM
what a rare shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/17/2006 09:11:42 PM
WoW! What a catch. Hope everyone involved was alright. It looks exactly like my husband's Harley. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/16/2006 10:17:08 PM
Excellent journalistic capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/16/2006 12:53:14 PM
Very nice angle. Hope he was okay!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/16/2006 11:44:29 AM
I hope he/she's ok.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/16/2006 04:43:36 AM
God I hope everyone is fine. Very strong photo and well executed. Different perspective, indeed. Well done. Keep us posted after voting. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/15/2006 08:08:13 PM
As I work in the field of Emergency Medicine - I don't like to see this sort of thing. I'm glad everybody was ok, and it's my opinion but this sort of photo provides sensationalism that should be excluded from what we call 'art'. I think the message would have gotten thur with just the bike laying in the road and not the 'scene' shown.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/15/2006 12:12:51 AM
Wow. Your title says it all. Great photographic perspective, but the symbolic perspective is even better.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/14/2006 12:57:44 PM
This most certainly help anyone to gain "perspective" on their life! Hope everyone came out okay! Sad incident, but a great challenge subject.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/14/2006 07:57:27 AM
great photojournalism
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2006 05:15:57 PM
7 :(
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2006 08:53:56 AM
Wow - I just got off MY bike & walked into the office a little while ago...yes, this definitely changes one's perspective! I have sat here for ten minutes trying to type all the emotions this creates, but they won't all fit on the page. Most of all - "Did he make it, or was there a funeral for someone's wife and children to attend?" Thank you for creating such a powerful image...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2006 03:16:09 AM
Awesome that you were able to get such a shot so soon! Good work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2006 02:19:49 AM
Wow. I hope nobody was too seriously injured in this. Great capture, though.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2006 01:31:27 AM
I don't see any cops...why are you taking pictures when the guy could die and there isn't even an ambulance?! You're not human!!

I would've done the same thing :P
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/12/2006 11:31:41 PM
bet your getting lots of comments, I do hope he is ok
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/12/2006 02:48:43 PM
Ouch! Thats quite a capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/12/2006 11:24:17 AM
If this is a real crash scene...you're incredibly lucky to be there with your camera.

If it's a staged crash...you're incredibly gutsy.

Great image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/12/2006 09:08:44 AM
Right Place, Right Time... I hope you didn't crash your bike just for a good shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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