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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Accident Scene Advice
Andrew Link, Photographer
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Sheldon | IA | USA | Posted: 11:45 PM on 06.23.09 |
->> BACKGROUND: Today there was a small plane crash in rural Iowa that was in my neck of the woods. It happened along a dirt country road where the intersections are spaced a mile apart. The crash scene was near the middle of one of the roads. I arrived at one side of the road's intersection with a fire fighter blocking the road. I told him who I was and where I was from hoping for closer access to the scene. The firefighter didn't really have any idea of where I could go, at first saying I couldn't go any closer, but then said I could go as far as a farm's driveway which was about two football field lengths from the scene. There was no police tape up yet. I honored his request while I got some shots, and left to get to other scheduled assignments. Later, on the TV News, they had footage of emergency crews at the scene from a lot closer than I was allowed while I was there.
MY QUESTIONS: In a situation like that with a fire fighter at the perimeter, should I listen to him/her even if I am pushed unfairly far back or get as close as I can until a police officer lets me know where I can go? Has anyone else been in a situation like this? What did you do?
Any information would help!
Thank you!
Andy |
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Kent Nishimura, Student/Intern
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Honolulu | HI | USA | Posted: 12:05 AM on 06.24.09 |
| ->> Basically i will walk in as far as i can go while making images until an officer tells me to move back. then i will move back slightly. if i see other media in an area i was told to leave then I'll notify an officer. What you might try doing is getting permission from someone to shoot on their land...private property. Then police and/or firefighters can't really tell you to leave or move back. |
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Nick Morris, Photographer
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San Marcos | CA | United States | Posted: 12:35 AM on 06.24.09 |
| ->> I cover Spot News on a daily basis here in San Diego and from what I've learned the first emergency crew on scene has the authority on scene. If the fire crew is on scene than they have authority and will give way when Police or Sheriffs arrive. If you disobey a direct order from a fire crew or even an EMT you can be arrested when the Sheriffs or Police arrive on scene. It's taken me years to develop my relationship with emergency crews. I'll give you a hint to a speedy route to increasing your chances... they love pictures of themselves! |
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Matthew Bush, Photographer
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Hattiesburg | MS | USA | Posted: 12:58 AM on 06.24.09 |
->> I shoot a ton of spot news and I am defiantly with Kent. Push up until you get moved back. Be as aggressive as possible while remaining safe and out of the backseat of a police cruiser.... I just checked your images out with a search on google. You were kept pretty far back in my opinion. You made it work so good for you and you did not end up on Carlos Miller which always is a good thing when it comes to shooting spot news. The TV guy looks like he got their quick so the fire guy might not have been there when he went past . The first thing I would have done in your situation would have been to ask the FD guy to call his CO and get a definite answer which is sometimes good and sometimes bad which is why I keep an old manual focus 400 2.8 and a doubler in my trunk for the tricky situations.
First plane crash ? |
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Matthew Bush, Photographer
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Hattiesburg | MS | USA | Posted: 1:10 AM on 06.24.09 |
| ->> Nick has a good point. They LOVE pics |
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Kevin M. Cox, Photographer, Assistant
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Galveston & Houston | TX | US | Posted: 2:55 AM on 06.24.09 |
->> I've often found that when I arrive very early to a spot news event I get stopped further back than media arriving later.
For example, earlier this month we had a big 5 alarm condo fire down here. Besides our reporter I was the first "media" on the scene. PD wouldn't let me drive past the road block so I got to walk about 10 blocks to the scene. By the time TV made it out they were allowed to drive within one block of the fire to setup and shoot.
Now the important part it I was still allowed to walk in and get some good photos. But it sure did annoy me to see all the TV folks driving past me (toward the scene) for a nice close parking spot as I hiked back to my truck with all my gear...
In my experience where we are allowed to go usually changes throughout the course of an incident. It could be because a different person takes over the road block or starts making the decisions. However most likely, as the incident develops and those in charge get better understanding of situation they will alter where we are allowed to go. (ie: It isn't as dangerous as first thought so they let us closer.) This would explain why the TV crew that got there after you was able to get in much closer, because the scene had stabilized and was under control. |
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