By Phil Ige
NBC 7/39 Photojournalist
Any smart TV journalist will tell you: without the TV news photographer, TV news would not exist.
It would be a rare vision to witness the anchors, line producers, assignment editors or any other in-house newsroom personal to pick up a camera and shoot video for the story of the day.
It’s the men and women who are outside, battling the unpredictability of the real world, who record the images, sights and sounds of the world events for that day.
I’ve been a TV news photojournalist for about 10 years.
So, it’s really easy for me to say that due to the physical demands and the importance of gathering video and sound for the purpose of informing the viewing public, the TV news photographer is the hardest working individual in TV news.
With all that said, turn your attention to a story that has affected everyone in some way, shape or form here in Southern California, especially here in San Diego: the 2007 Wildfires.
During times of crisis, we in TV news step up even more so to do everything we can to inform the public on what’s going on.
In this case, where’s the fire? Is it in my neighborhood? Will I have to evacuate my home?
At my station, NBC 7/39, I work with some of the best photojournalists, and it showed in the images that were captured as their cameras rolled.
They, along with their reporters, were right there battling the high winds, intense smoke, and violent flames for the sole purpose of telling the viewer what’s happening with this fast breaking story.
Covering a story, like an intense brush fire, can be dangerous.
There is saying in our business: No story is worth risking your life.
Our job is to update and inform the viewer, however, we don’t want to get hurt doing our job either.
There was time covering this story where I was met with a dangerous situation.
On day two of this wildfire, at around 4 a.m., my reporter and I were in the Barona area, about 2 miles away from the Barona Casino.
The area had to be evacuated due to the fast approaching fire.
At one point, my camera was live, on the air, as I focused on the hypnotizing flames.
All of a sudden, the winds intensity sent the smoke and flames in our direction, fast.
Without warning, the dark skies lit up with the brightest orange and yellow I’d ever scene.
With that, the heat was absolutely unbearable.
At that split second, I cut the live picture from my camera and we moved to safer ground.
Once again, we want to inform the public, but we don’t want to get seriously injured or killed in the process.
I know my family and close friends would appreciate I get home in one piece.
There’s a great line from a movie: “Courage is tested when you’re up against it.”
This quote is right on target when describing the actions of the TV news photographer, who battled the smoke, wind and flames to order to gather images, sounds and information to the viewing public.
I’m very proud to be a TV news photographer and I’m very proud of my fellow photogs at NBC 7/39 for their courage of covering the wildfires of 2007.
Copyright 2007 by NBCSandiego.com. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
