How To Shoot A Protest

This Sunday anti-Israel rallies planned for Al-Quds Day have the potential to turn violent. These annual protests are expected to take place at major cities across the country. Previous protests have attracted some who glorify extremists and call for the death of Jews and chants of Death to Israel and Death to America are common.

With the increase in hostilities in Palestine this week officials are concerned that these protests may well become violent.

So how to shoot a protest?

If you’re an amateur I’d suggest you don’t. Certainly don’t if you have views on the political situation that you can’t suppress. For example don’t wear any piece of clothing or jewelry or carry any symbol of support for either side of the conflict. Dress in dark clothing and wear sturdy footwear as you maybe standing for several hours.

Don’t bring your kids and I wouldn’t bring my partner to a protest.

Protests would seem to be a street photographer’s obvious target but unless you’re aware of what you’re doing and what’s happening around you they can be very very dangerous places.

So here’s some advice from a retired photojournalist on how to shoot a protest.

Start by parking your car a significant distance away from the action. You want to be able to find your car and drive away and you can’t do that if the police have closed off all the access and side roads near a protest and your car is parked on one of these roads.

Minimize your gear. You’re going to need one camera maybe two and one maybe two lenses. Likely a small zoom or a 35mm or 28mm lens will be all you’ll need. A longer telephoto is nice for longer shots of course but your actions with it maybe misinterpreted as some might think you’re an undercover police officer.

Normally I start by watching what is happening from the sidelines. When I feel I know what’s going on I make a point of remembering where the police are standing either in small groups or along a police line.

I normally walk in front of the officers and wherever possible I engage in friendly short banter. The officers will be preoccupied with watching the protest but my point here is I want them to see me and be able to recognize me later if things get out of hand.

I especially take note of where the white shirted officers are standing and where any sergeants are. Generally these will be safer areas to be if things go badly.

I may or may not take casual photos of them at this time. I am trying to leave the impression that I am a professional and I know what I am doing and I won’t get in their way and I have a right to be there.

Second I find the organizers (usually the folks with a bullhorn and flags) and I will slowly walk (always walk slowly unless for some reason you have to run) towards them. I will be certain that they see me and that I am not being perceived as a threat or as an undercover police officer taking photos for prosecution purposes. If asked I’ll say I am a street photographer and I’ll have a big smile and I’ll ask can I take a photo?

I also carry a big bunch of my business cards with my gallery address on it. I hand them out where and when appropriate and invite people to download any images they want. This works especially well if you’re shooting families or kids.

If all seems safe again I will be smiling as I approach and I will slowly start shooting images. If the individuals or groups are friendly I will talk with them (nice day or big crowd or some such banter) as I keep shooting. If they pose for me I’ll shoot the image even if I know it’s not much of a shot and hand them a business card.

You can do a lot of this getting-to-know-you work before the protest gets too big and too loud.

If the protesters start moving I like to be in front of them but I don’t want to get between them and a police line or along a street where I have no place to exit such as along a side street. Remember where all the coffee shops and retail stores are as you may have to duck into one in an emergency.

If violence breaks out or the police begin some enforcement actions I want to be close enough to shoot but far enough away as not to be involved. Usually this means a distance of eight to 10 feet.

I also walk in and out of the area where the action is happening. I don’t want to be perceived by either side or any individuals as taking actual part in what’s happening. I also want to keep assuring myself I have an exit strategy.

The place where you’re likely to find the most dangerous is right behind you in your blind spot. If a protester or for that matter a police officer wants to grab you (or in the case of the protester hit you with a sign that is being held up by a stick) the movement is most likely going to come from behind. Always be aware of who or what is behind you as sympathizers and additional police are always going to attracted to an emerging situation.

If someone gets hurt or someone gets knocked down walk away a few yards. You are not to get involved no matter what. These situations are too unpredictable and too dangerous.

If someone is being arrested while you have the right to shoot photos you should be far enough away as not to be perceived or accused of interfering with a police officer.

In the case of the woman in the photograph (above) I did intervene.

At a protest last fall in downtown Oakville this woman engaged a protester in a heated argument. You can see clearly the man is aggressive and agitated. The woman’s hand is up in an aggressive defensive manner. Both of them were yelling at each other and a crowd was starting to form around them.

As I shot a series of images I noticed other protesters were starting to move behind the woman. Now I am not saying that anything bad was about to happen but the situation was getting worse. Several male protesters were now behind the woman whose husband somewhat wisely was standing off to the side.

I did not like what I was seeing so I walked slowly between the two of them and looked the woman directly in her eyes and said something to the effect of and very loudly “Walk away. Walk away now. This is too dangerous. You are going to get hurt. Walk away now.”

And while I did not touch her I moved toward her and she moved toward her husband and I accompanied them away from the protest. She wanted to go back and confront the protester. I asked her had she considered that she might have been hurt? I asked her had she considered someone might have had a knife or a stick?

This shocked her. Which was my intent.

You never ever for any reason whatsoever confront a protester because you’re upset or you don’t agree with what they’re doing or saying.

If you feel that strongly about the situation talk to your mayor and council later but you never argue with a zealot.

And if you’re a photographer you absolutely never discuss the situation with anybody at the scene.

So let’s say things start to get really out of hand then what?

You do what news reporter Dan Rather always said that when you lose sense of what’s happening you take to the higher ground. This is sound advice. If a fluid situation gets out of control move away from it and view it from a distance and preferably one that gives you an advantage of perspective.

At the downtown Oakville the perfect place I saw upon arriving was the restaurant balcony above “Seven”. It overlooks the square and is a perfect place to shoot down into the crowd. The restaurant staff will throw you out eventually but you’ll have plenty of time to get some amazing images.

When a protest ends and you’re walking away be certain no one is following you. Protests stir up emotions and not everyone is going to see what you’re doing as a photographer as necessarily a good thing.

If you think you’re being followed find a cop and talk to them. This will usually dissuade anyone from continuing to follow you. If you are followed again don’t engage in a conversation about the protest but offer your business card and engage in light conversation and do your best to walk away slowly.

Again the best advice is don’t go. But if you do go, then go prepared.