The great photographer James Nachtway once said "I want my pictures to cut through political abstractions... and make a connection on a human level."
While shooting the anti-Israeli protest in Amman that quote was bouncing in my head. This was like no shoot I have done yet, I got a very mild taste of what conflict photographers experience while making pictures that are historical testimonies to what happens in our world.
The protest was peaceful for the most of it until it got a bit heated with the police and the protesters started throwing shoes, rocks and whatever was within hands reach.
The police reacted with tear gas and batons and pushed the protesters down the street. We got heavy with gas, women, children and men were running away affected by the gas, some took shelter in a close by mosque.
I still don't believe I captured images like these on the streets of Amman.
"No to an embassy, no to an ambassador, no relations with Israel."
The Venezuelan flag and a picture of Chavez made an appearance.
One of the big flags at the protest
Saddam made an appearance too
A father and his two kids in the tribute graveyard next to the protest
Alone in the midst of the tribute graveyard
The Israeli flag burned
Kids running away as things got heated upA general scene of the protestShe stood in silence as the men prayed in the midst of the protestThe Riot Police stood firm and their leaders controlled them well The protesters also helped in keeping order
A strong line of riot police kept the protesters from moving on
I was trying to get as close as possible to the first line of the protest
As the violence started a woman moving away from the protest area
The police shield themselves from rocks
As the tear gas was dispensed the effects where felt by all
Onions were used as a way to soften the effect of the gas
The police also used water canons
A line of police gets some rest
A protester holds a gas canister
An injured man gets taken to a car
Protesters put an injured man in a car
Another injured man carried away
The protest area after clearing it
A tear gas canister is dispensed
The rocks that were thrown damaged some cars in the areaProtesters throw stones at the police from atop houses
The last image I took before leaving
Should be developing the film pics soon, hopefully i'll get to post them.
A story featuring the pictures is posted on 7iber.com
