Photographer: Pierre Lavie
Heidi: How did your HEFAT training influence the way you approached the Minneapolis scene — both in terms of keeping yourself safe and in how you mentally and emotionally navigated the tension of the protest?
Pierre: Being situationally aware is crucial, and that’s something Global Journalism Security really drove home during their 3-day HEFAT course I took last August in D.C. Like many photojournalists, I have a family/loved-ones to get home to, so I want to be as safe as possible. To me, being safe in a hostile environment means being prepared and preparedness is achieved by learning how to conduct yourself in such an environment. It’s not magic. It takes time and practice. GJS provides the opportunity to learn and practice skills that might come in handy, like navigating a mob or splinting a leg. I can’t recommend GJS enough — they’re a top-notch outfit, I learned a lot, and honestly enjoyed every minute of it. My only regret is not having done it when I first started.
Can you describe the moments before this photo was taken, and your relationship to John?
As the police lined up to press the protestors, everyone knew what was coming. I put on my gas mask and helmet and waited with everyone else for them to make their move. I didn’t know John at all before this happened, but we’re texting just about daily now. He’s a great guy and I expect we’ll keep in touch.
What were the visual and emotional cues that made you decide to press the shutter at that exact split-second?
I noticed John getting swarmed by the police. As he went down, he managed to get into a prone position…instead of sprawling out flat as most seem to do, to me…while the officers piled on top of him. I moved around to face him, thinking he might look up — and he did. We saw each other. Click. He prepared to throw his camera — click — then actually tossed it — click — and then tossed his phone — click.
In your view, what story does this image tell about press freedom, civil tension, and the role of photojournalism?
John had a remarkable instinct to protect his images, and I really applaud him for that. People say/joke that he was saving his camera; he was saving his images. In all likelihood, the police would have confiscated his camera and phone and deleted everything. History keeps teaching us the same lesson: bearing witness and creating a record of events is essential to the survival and healthy growth of any democracy — through good and bad times. John gets that and had the wherewithal to respond accordingly.
What information can you share for anyone setting out to photograph these highly charged moments?
Be smart and be safe, please — for your sake and everyone else’s. Educate yourself. There are some amazing, even legendary, photographers and journalists working in Minneapolis right now (Guttenfelder, Haviv, Guzy, Moore, Decker, Rudoff, Davis, Fedorova, Allen-DuPraw, Farina Lott, Gray, just to name a few) and across the globe.
Learn from them. A lot of them are generous with their experience and wisdom if you politely reach out. From what I’ve seen, none of them are careless; they’re calculated. Emulate them.
Learn your gear. Practice using it. Have the right PPE. In these particular type situations (like Whippple), I wear a vest all the time that’s clearly marked PRESS and keep a tactical helmet, gas mask, and saline eye wash with me. It might be overkill, but it makes me feel safer, which keeps me relaxed and gives me the confidence to put myself in the situations where I can make the images I want to make and stay clear headed and calm. We all operate differently, so you need to find what works for you. …I mean, while I’m out in body armor, others are out in pants and t-shirts. We both make images. Do you.
As a parent, how has witnessing and documenting such an intense moment influenced how you think about your work and the example you want to set for children and younger photographers?
My children worry about my safety and (still) miss me when I’m away, and I take that seriously. I was talking with my son about it just the other night.
If this were my community, my family, or my friends, I’d want people to be there — observing, recording, bearing witness, helping. Out there, the lines between press and everyone else blur; it’s a community, all trying to document what’s in front of it —the good and the bad. John went right back out in the field after everything he went through, camera in hand. That kind of commitment says something and, as far as examples go, is one I will try to follow.
For my kiddos and for younger photographers — know that this community’s work matters. Not because it might put you in the frame, but because it preserves the story for everyone else and gives us something on which to look back and learn from or celebrate…and allow for better decisions in the future.
Seeing a respected photojournalist like Ron Haviv engage with and share your image — someone with deep experience documenting conflict and human rights issues — what does that kind of recognition from a senior figure in the field mean to you personally and for your career as a photographer?
It blows my mind. Fun short story: The first time I met Mr. Haviv was on the Capitol grounds in D.C. during a protest — which one exactly is escaping me at the moment — maybe four years ago. I spotted him in the crowd, introduced myself and asked if I could follow him around. He sort of shrugged at me, which I just took as a ‘yes’. I tagged along for maybe forty-five minutes, thanked him, he gave me his email, and we went our separate ways.
Since then I’ve run into him maybe a half-dozen times at different events in different places. The most recent being just outside of Chicago at the Broadview detention facility. I always say hello, and he’s always cordial. Having Mr. Haviv recognize my work is an honor, and, again, I’m humbled by it. As for my career as a photographer, I’m just going to keep showing up and working at it.
Now that this image is being discussed widely and even called one of the defining photos of the year, how does that resonate with you?
I’m humbled by the overwhelming, positive response this image is getting. Truly. That, in its own right, is reward enough. Thank you to everyone.
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