Share
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
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.