When it comes to exceptional photography, there are photographers that are known within the photographic community, and then there are photographers that are known by everybody. And if they don’t know the photographer they have certainly seen their work. For instance, raising the flag on Iwo Jima (Joe Rosenthal), the napalm girl (Nick Ut), and the fire hoses in Birmingham (Charles Moore).
One weekend a few weeks back, while shooting a protest against the Israeli invasion of Palestine, I was standing on the edge of the curb right outside the Federal Building in LA, when I turned and saw one of the greats.
Almost instantly I thought, “Wait, is that –? Hold on. Yeah, it is.”
And then I thought, “Should I say something? Should I introduce myself?”
So I did.
Me: Hey, are you –?
He looks at me hesitantly, somewhat put off, like he’d been asked this question too many times his life – quietly hoping that I wouldn’t ask him about his famous photo.
Him: Yeah.
Me: I thought so, you know, I really enjoy your work.
Him: Thanks. Who are you? Who you work for?
Me: My name’s Shawn. I don’t work for anybody. I’m a documentary photographer doing this on my own.
And after I said that it seemed I really turned him off, like because I don’t work for a publication my work must not be any good.
So I thought about leaving, but I wanted to ask him a question about his work documenting one the world’s most violent gangs.
boywithgrenade.org 