Comments on: Finbarr from the field

By: Live video with Finbarr O’Reilly « Behind the Curtains

Live video with Finbarr O’Reilly « Behind the Curtains — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:29:17 +0000

[...] 13, 2009 by sheere Reuters’ photographer Finbarr O’Reilly hosted a live video from Africa to share his experience documenting the conflict in Congo. He addressed [...]

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:21:02 +0000

Finbarr,
I’m a photographer with the U.S. Army, and have built up a fairly good portfolio over the course of my work in Iraq and stateside. I would like to continue working as a photojournalist using my experience in conflict zones, but outside the military, but am not sure where to start. What would your recommendation be for a starting point in a photojournalistic career of this kind?

By: Miguel Morales

Miguel Morales — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:55:50 +0000

How do you feel after a long day of photogaphing in thr front line?

By: A Photo Editor - Photojournalist Finbarr O’Reilly

A Photo Editor - Photojournalist Finbarr O’Reilly — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:52:24 +0000

[...] Visit the Reuters page (here). [...]

By: afeteixeira

afeteixeira — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:55:24 +0000

Hi Finbarr:

Hou do you hendle some terrible situation at did you see
without a interference?

Thanks.

By: Corinne Perkins

Corinne Perkins — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:21:14 +0000

Test

By: Patricia

Patricia — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:19:44 +0000

You’re doing great work. Which is the several military groups is most opposed to your filming? How do you handle that.

By: Finbarr

Finbarr — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:31:30 +0000

With regards to Jorge’s question about the drunk soldiers shooting in the refugee camp, you can read the full story here:

http://blogs.reuters.com/photo/2008/12/0 3/death-all-around/

Bests, -Finbarr

By: Finbarr

Finbarr — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:17:58 +0000

Hi everyone, thanks for your participation in the live video chat. To answer a few questions we could not get to live I’ll address them here.
For Scott’s question about Joseph Kony and the LRA, see our recent story on this link: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk /LD614458.htm
For Joe Simpson, I started in Congo as a stringer, but had arranged it with Reuters to work with them before going. Otherwise it is prohibitively expensive to work from there without the financial support of a news organisation.
Sorry Tamara, I dont understand your question.
For Yvonne’s questions — these are all important things you ask
Yes, there can be a heavy personal burden from doing this kind of work, but so long as you can keep a healthy balance in life and talk things through with good friends and colleagues, then usually you can work it out. Also, for those who need it, Reuters (and most major news organizations) does have confidential psychological help available and the stigma attached to seeking help is slowly fading in the media world.
Personally, I make sure to get enough rest and time away from work and I maintain an active life surfing and kayaking when at home in Senegal. Being out on the water really keeps you sane.
Regarding Michael’s questions, I think people remember still images more than video, even to this day. Vietnam is defined by a handful of iconic photos and so is Iraq today — the Abu Graib image of the hooded torture victim, George Bush and his “Mission Accomplised” banner, and the photos of the Saddam statues being pulled down. Although there is a lot of powerful video from Iraq, I’m not sure there is one single scene that distills the conflict in the collective conscience the way these photos do.
Personally I am drive to tell untold stories. I’m less interested in covering the major news events in Israel or Gaza than I am in chasing down overlooked issues in Africa — and there are many. In order to do this well, you have to seek out images that will tell the story while being visually arresting — at least interesting enough to capture people’s imagination as they go about their daily lives. Of course, there’s also the drive to want to see and understand the world.
In terms of changes over the past 50 years in war photography, I guess there are many. Digital is obviously a major technological revolution that allows the almost immediate relay of images to the world. And there are many more people who want to do this kind of work, perhaps inspired by the great war photographers of the past.
There may be more images to choose from out there, but the defining images are still rare and as powerful as ever.
I hope this helps. Please continue to send your comments and I will reply as needed.
-Finbarr

By: Nneka Black

Nneka Black — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:52:36 +0000

Good job! Just saw the last couple of minutes!