While covering clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Islamic State militant group in Syria, Italian freelance photojournalist Gabriele Micalizzi was severely injured. He was photographing the conflict in the village of Baghuz on 11 February 2019 when shrapnel hit him. Luckily, he survived and is recovering – and he claims that his Leica cameras saved his life.
Syrian photojournalist helps victims of bombing instead of taking photos
The job of a photojournalist is difficult and surrounded by danger. Still, we often argue about the ethics of photojournalism. The opinions vary whether they should be taking photos, or help those in need when things get tough.
Photographer and activist Abd Alkader Habak made his decision last weekend, when a bomb hit a convoy of buses carrying evacuees from besieged Syrian villages. 126 people were killed, and the blast briefly knocked out the photographer himself. But when he recovered consciousness, he didn’t take photos. He took action instead and helped the injured in the explosion.
Video showing haunting before and after photos of war-torn Syria
The war in Syria has claimed more than 130,000 lives. On top of the lives lost, over two million Syrian citizens had to evacuate into bordering states and about two million others were dislocated within Syria.
Aside the sad reality of the of the people of Syria, it is also suffering from vast bombardment. The results of which are maybe best displayed when looking at the Old City of Aleppo – Syria’s biggest city . The Old City of Aleppo, was officially designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 30 years ago. After the bombardment it was reduced into a rumbles.
Drone Footage Reveals the Devastation of Syrian Cities
The Syrian civil war is often mentioned in news headlines due to the massive immigrant crisis it caused in Europe, but unique drone footage reveals the devastation of Syrian cities, reminding the world that Europe is handling a side effect of the real problem.
Offering an otherwise unattainable point of view, drones are being used to share the ongoing combat and humanitarian catastrophe, in what looks more like a scene from a Hollywood movie than the coverage you’re used to seeing from war zones.
Before ISIS: Hot Air Balloons Over Syria
Entering Syria these days as a foreigner poses a serious risk and is hardly a recommended travel destination.
With over 300,000 estimated casualties since the Syrian Civil War began in 2011, along with millions of others displaced, fleeing the country or left without sufficient food and drinking water, the war is the first and only thing that comes to mind these days when one thinks about Syria.
Back in April 2007, however, things were quite different. Foreigners were welcome in the country and hot air balloon teams were invited from all over the world to decorate the Syrian skies as part of the mayor of Homs’ birthday celebrations.
German balloon operator and photographer Michael Spar shared with us the photos from his once-in-a-lifetime trip to Syria, when instead of fighter jets and aerial strikes there were hot air balloons and aerial photos.
Japan Confiscates War Photographer’s Passport To “Protect His Life”
Japanese law allows the government to confiscate a national’s passport in order to protect his life. This step was taken for the first time on Saturday night (Japan time) when freelance photographer Yuichi Sugimoto’s passport was taken to ensure he does not travel to Syria.
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