Tiananmen Anniversary
TANK MAN DEJA VU - COLLECTS DART AWARD.
Associated Press photographer Jeff Widener's image of a lone man halting a row of military tanks in Tiananmen Square in June 1989 has become one of the few iconic news images of the 20th Century. Following the student pro-democracy uprising that was so brutally quashed by the Chinese Government, Widener's photograph made the front page of thousands of newspapers world wide.
Recently, he was invited by the BBC to return to Beijing for an anniversary interview about his experiences there two decades earlier.
"I felt a sinking sensation in my stomach when the BBC offered to fly me back. I had almost lost my life from a stray rock as demonstraters cornered a burning armored car, " said Jeff in an exclusive interview, " but a Nikon I was using absorbed the blow."
"I was rather shocked that my Chinese visa had been approved. I thought they must surely know who I am? My picture had caused the Chinese government more embarrassment than just about anything else in the last 20 years. I was concerned."
At the Jianguo Hotel where Widener and a group of other journalists had stayed in 1989, Jeff recalled events.
"The view was nothing like 1989. There were so many large office buildings and where were all the bicycles? Looking over the balcony I couldn't quite line up the same view with a 400mm lens. It looked like flag poles had been installed. Still, I could not help feeling an overwhelming sense of deja vous."
After leaving the Ap, Widener freelanced from the US mainland before joining the Honoloulou Advertiser newspaper as a staff photographer. He was recently honoured for his photographic contribution to the newspaper's seven-part investigative series telling the stories of native Hawai’ian women whose lives were forever changed by domestic violence. 'Crossing the line: Abuse in Hawai'i Homes' collected The Dart Awards for Excellence in Coverage of Trauma.
The awards recognize exemplary journalism on the impact of violence, crime, disaster and other traumatic events on individuals, families or communities and are team prizes, reflecting all the elements shaping an entry and contributing to its strength.
The Dart Center is a global network of journalists, journalism educators and health professionals dedicated to improving media coverage of trauma, conflict and tragedy.
Visitors, users and viewers of the foregoing content may copy and re-use it in other internet content sites on condition the source of all material so used is acknowledged with the attachment of the following.
Copyright; Jonathan Eastland
www.ajaxnetphoto.blogspot.com 2009.
www.ajaxnetphoto.com 2009.
This content may NOT be used in any media made available for commercial resale.
The products and companies named in this website content are trademarks , registered trademarks or servicemarks of their respective owners or licensed user.
Associated Press photographer Jeff Widener's image of a lone man halting a row of military tanks in Tiananmen Square in June 1989 has become one of the few iconic news images of the 20th Century. Following the student pro-democracy uprising that was so brutally quashed by the Chinese Government, Widener's photograph made the front page of thousands of newspapers world wide.
Recently, he was invited by the BBC to return to Beijing for an anniversary interview about his experiences there two decades earlier.
"I felt a sinking sensation in my stomach when the BBC offered to fly me back. I had almost lost my life from a stray rock as demonstraters cornered a burning armored car, " said Jeff in an exclusive interview, " but a Nikon I was using absorbed the blow."
"I was rather shocked that my Chinese visa had been approved. I thought they must surely know who I am? My picture had caused the Chinese government more embarrassment than just about anything else in the last 20 years. I was concerned."
At the Jianguo Hotel where Widener and a group of other journalists had stayed in 1989, Jeff recalled events.
"The view was nothing like 1989. There were so many large office buildings and where were all the bicycles? Looking over the balcony I couldn't quite line up the same view with a 400mm lens. It looked like flag poles had been installed. Still, I could not help feeling an overwhelming sense of deja vous."
After leaving the Ap, Widener freelanced from the US mainland before joining the Honoloulou Advertiser newspaper as a staff photographer. He was recently honoured for his photographic contribution to the newspaper's seven-part investigative series telling the stories of native Hawai’ian women whose lives were forever changed by domestic violence. 'Crossing the line: Abuse in Hawai'i Homes' collected The Dart Awards for Excellence in Coverage of Trauma.
The awards recognize exemplary journalism on the impact of violence, crime, disaster and other traumatic events on individuals, families or communities and are team prizes, reflecting all the elements shaping an entry and contributing to its strength.
The Dart Center is a global network of journalists, journalism educators and health professionals dedicated to improving media coverage of trauma, conflict and tragedy.
Visitors, users and viewers of the foregoing content may copy and re-use it in other internet content sites on condition the source of all material so used is acknowledged with the attachment of the following.
Copyright; Jonathan Eastland
www.ajaxnetphoto.blogspot.com 2009.
www.ajaxnetphoto.com 2009.
This content may NOT be used in any media made available for commercial resale.
The products and companies named in this website content are trademarks , registered trademarks or servicemarks of their respective owners or licensed user.
Labels: Camera, Journalist, Photographer, Photography
posted by AjaxNetPhoto at 9.6.09
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