RIP Anton Hammerl

“Just before he was captured by pro-Gaddafi forces in Libya, South African photographers Anton Hammerl, uploaded a series of photographs to his o...

“Just before he was captured by pro-Gaddafi forces in Libya, South African photographers Anton Hammerl, uploaded a series of photographs to his online archive (more specifically Photoshelter which is an online ecommerce system for picture publication.”
— The Media Online, May 9, 2011

“Two of the four journalists released by the Libyan government in Tripoli
yesterday already knew that their traveling companion, photojournalist Anton Hammerl, had been shot and killed by Libyan government soldiers on April 5 in a remote corner of the desert, more than a month ago.”
— National Press Photographers Association, May 19, 2011

Andrew and I received the Google Alert from the Media Online article on May 9. I remember feeling prideful that PhotoShelter had helped a photojournalist on the front line move images from a war zone to the press.

Today, we learned that Anton Hammerl had been murdered by Libyan soldiers, perhaps only a day after his last upload to our servers. Now I feel uneasy. I’m saddened by the loss of so many talented photojournalist in this single conflict within Libya.

The rise of digital cameras and cellphones has turned everyone into a photographer, and yet the photojournalists stand apart. From the eyes of hurricanes to the middle of war zones — we’ve become spoiled by the images they create while putting their lives at risk.

Our thoughts go out to Anton’s wife and children. A sincere thanks for putting himself on the line so that we could better see the world. May he rest in peace.