Our Take on Your Take

A pro-government protester lies on the ground after he was injured by a grenade blast in Bangkok, Thailand, April 22, 2010.  Your View/Cyrille Andres

Tensions have been high in Thailand as anti-government “red shirt” protesters face off against pro-government forces and supporters.

On April 22, 2010, a series of grenades exploded in an area of Bangkok where hundreds of pro-government protesters were gathering.  One person was killed and dozens were injured.  Your View contributor Cyrille Andres happened to be there, photographing this scene of a man helping a pro-government demonstrator who was injured by one of the grenades.

The photo is overexposed from the proximity of the flash and there is a telltale shadow from the photographer.  However, these technical issues are inconsequential as Andres was able to capture the emotions and confusion of the moment, in spite of the risk to himself.

Andres’ photograph demonstrates one of the most important rules of photojournalism, which is simply to “be there.”  If the photographer is not there when the news happens, there is no photo.

View this week’s Your View showcase here.