The ship that never sails
2015 Goldman Prize (the environmental equivalent to the Nobel Prize) winner - Desmond D'Sa - steps it out in a protest against the Engen Oil Refinery in We...
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2015 Goldman Prize (the environmental equivalent to the Nobel Prize) winner - Desmond D'Sa - steps it out in a protest against the Engen Oil Refinery in Wentworth, Durban, South Africa. One third of people in south Durban -where this refinery, another by SAPREF and 180 smoke stack petrochemical industries are located - have asthma or a breathing disorder.
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May, 2016Views
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Awards
Winner in The Adversity of Black and White Photo Challenge
Peer Award
All Star
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo is taken in Wentworth in Durban, South Africa. It is a photo of a community protest against the Engen oil refinery, being led by Desmond D'Sa, a Goldman Environmental prize winner. This is an old and highly polluting refinery across the road from a school and densely populated area. The Engen refinery is one of 180 smoke stack industries in the area that contribute to one third of the local population having respiratory diseases and a very high rate of cancers.Time
This shot was taken mid-morning on a Saturday - protests are planned when most of the community can be available to attend so one has to make the best of it.Lighting
South Africa has very bright crisp light and this was a very sunny day creating a lot of extreme contrasts. Luckily the protest was moving towards the morning sun enabling me to catch some of the expressions and faces and placard slogans despite the deep shadows.Equipment
The protests move at quite a pace so one has to keep up - I just use my very mobile Canon G11 which is light . The swivel screen enables one to catch unusual angles on the go.Inspiration
Im passionate about environmental justice issues and regularly participate in campaigns and protests like this one. Documenting what we do in an inspiring way that can get the message out further is very important. Being intimately involved in the issues helps in seeing shots that will tell the story. For example, in this photo I wanted to catch Des in the frame - leading the protest, with the refinery looming in the background. The refinery is called the 'ship that never sails' by the community as we are a port town and the refinery is always looming large in the background. At the same time I wanted the children to be the main focus of the picture. These kids experience some of the highest incidences of childhood leukemia and asthma in the world, but they also our change agents for a more just society.Editing
I set the red highlight on the camera - the shot is pretty much as taken except for adding the signature.In my camera bag
I usually just have my camera and a lens cloth and squeeze air brush because conditions are gritty out on the streets, but I want to travel light and be inconspicuous as a photographer.Feedback
Ive managed to get good shots by both participating and having empathy for the issue, but also viewing the protest with an outside eye - what image will grab the public out there and tell the story in a glance. One needs to anticipate the crowd and know what vantage points will give one a good view of the action given the lighting conditions - and then one needs to run ahead to get in position to frame the shot. Its also about being constantly alert to interesting gestures or actions in the crowd and how these relate to the messaging on the placards.
