Since this is my first time launching an invention, I thought it seemed appropriate to post a photo of me running for cover through the streets of Sarajevo in the Summer of 1992. I share this image because this was the day I took my very first picture standing next to the photographer who shot this image, John Downing of the Daily Express newspaper in London. While an amazing story of adventure and stupidity, Ill just share briefly that I had to convince the UN that I was a journalist (when I wasnt yet) and that they should fly me into Sarajevo. At 21 I was clearly more convincing than I believed myself to be. I got out of the airport, no easy task, and made my way to the famed Holiday Inn where I crawled into a blown-up room so I could sleep there without paying. Thats where I met John Downing. He was looking for a way to try and get to the other side of the city, scouting a route from 12 floors up and looking through a rather large hole that some huge blast created. When he saw me it was obvious I was no journalist, and when we belly crawled back to the hallway he asked me who the hell I was and why I was there. I gave up the journalist charade, as John clearly had me pegged for anything other than a journalist or photographer. I told him the whole story of why I needed to come to Sarajevo. I could tell that half of him still though I was an idiot, but another part him seemed to admire my ability to pull it off. John made me a deal, if I kept my mouth shut, did what he told me, stayed out of his pictures, and didnt get him or me killed, I could stick by his side and take pictures with the old Nikormat camera Id borrowed for my trip. On this day, the first day John and I went into the street of Sarajevo together, we had found a makeshift hospital that residents were bringing the dead and wounded to. John decided we needed to stay overnight as it was late in the day. He wanted to see how the doctors worked in such horrid conditions (no water, medicine or electricity). In staying he was going to need more film out of his car, which was parked across the street next to a burned up VW Bug, and guess who got to get the film? Not long after this picture was made John and I were escorted into the basement turned morgue, and I took my very first picture ever in my life. Two little kids shot by a sniper and my world began changing very dramatically. Oh, and go check out our KS page and support COVR Photo Lens Case - j.mp/COVRPhoto
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 20:13:22 +0000
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