By Chris Jones
Screaming bullets and angry foreign shouts passed by photojournalist Andy Nelson as he set up his camera to take the picture that best captured the moment.
In May, Bangkok was experiencing a massive struggle between military forces and protesters fighting a government takeover. By the time the military cracked through and stopped the protesting forces, more than 80 civilians and six soldiers were killed while more than 2,100 people were injured. Nelson, risking his life, threw himself in the middle of the chaos in order to record the moment.
“The reason I was there was to cover the military as they moved in on the protesters and to cover the protesters as they fought back and tried to escape,” said Nelson, an independent photojournalist. “I tried to be as cautious as possible considering the situation.”
Nelson, having a wife and a 3-year-old son, understood the great risks that went with this job and tried to not push too hard for a shot that could have ended his own life.
“Of course you have to be cautious when you’re in the middle of a situation such as this one,” he said. “You have to gauge the situation so you’re away from the serious danger but still able to get the shots you need.”
Nelson shared his stories and photography with students at the Flint Hills Publications Workshop, leaving campers inspired.
“I really respect him as a journalist and really enjoy his work,” said Andover High School junior Glenn Karnes. “He is really dedicated as a photographer and will do almost anything it takes to get the best photo.”
While Nelson was in the middle of all the chaos, he never stopped asking himself whether it was worth risking his life for a great photo.
“You have to be careful how far you push the situation,” he said. “You want to feel like you’re pushing it to the edge, but you have to determine where the edge is. For me, the edge is not as far as other people, so the most important thing for me is getting the great pictures I need and getting home safely.”
Some students said they might not be willing to take the same risks as Nelson.
“I respect that he is committed and passionate about his work, but if I were him, I wouldn’t risk losing my life for a couple of good photos,” Karnes said.
When the fighting finally stopped and the military controlled the protesting, Nelson was more than satisfied with what he had accomplished.
“The goal I set out for on May 19 and throughout the whole protest was to have a set of great pictures that would tell the story of what was happening, and I believe I was able to accomplish that goal,” he said. “I was pretty proud of myself for doing it.”
Chris Jones is a junior at Andover High School and a student in the advanced writing class at the Flint Hills Publication Workshop.
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