Tragic, heartbreaking news from Libya that Tim Hetherington was killed and and photographers Chris Hondros and Guy Martin have severe injuries after being struck by a rocket-propelled grenade.

I interviewed Tim just before he left for Libya for an Outside magazine piece. I hope to publish parts of our conversation soon. My prayers and thoughts go out to the photographers families and friends.

NYTimes.com story.

Update: Interview with Tim from November 2010.

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16 Comments

  1. RIP Tim. :-(

    You and your work are irreplaceable.

  2. Thank you, Tim, for all the great work you did…work that will live on. I’m just so sad right now. But I do look forward to reading your your Outside magazine piece, Rob.

  3. there are no words. prayers and support go out to all.

  4. I felt like I was in the Korengal when I read ‘War’ and saw ‘Restrepo’. Great work and you will be sorely missed.

  5. Chris Hondros has also died of his injuries.

  6. This is incredibly sad. What the jackanory played a large part in my photographic education. A truly tragic loss ):

  7. Oops, wrong Hetherington. My mistake.

    Still, tragic.

  8. A sad day. God bless those left behind, comfort them.

  9. Cost of war, cost of witness. Tragic, my condolences to their families.

  12. No words to describe how terrible I feel now. I am not a photojournalist or documentarian, but Tim’s work has pulled my into a genre that has given me an ability to draw real inspiration for my own work. I’ve been such a fan of his work that I feel I’ve lost a family member. Rest in peace friend.

  13. Incredibly sad. Rest in peace Tim and Chris.

  14. That’s what happens when you go into war zones! You photographers need to realize what’s more important, your life, or a still frame… What do you choose? I’m not sorry, but that’s the honest truth.

    • @Calvin,

      I agree with you Calvin, I think any logical photographer realizes the dangers of entering these places, but It may not be about the still frame, it may not be about ones own life, but the citizens of the world. As a photographer you become addicted to getting great images, but in my opinion the majority of photographers in these situations, the image is a byproduct of bringing awareness to subject which deserves world wide attention. You need great images to give a voice to a cause, but it is the cause which brings people there. They do it because they feel they have too. There are other variables that play into the why, but “because they have to” would be a common response if you were to ask conflict photographers/ reporters. This is why all artists create.

      This definitely could open a lengthy conversation, and has been widely debated. Nachtwey vs Sontag is a notable conversation about exploiting impoverished communities for great images. Kevin Carter couldn’t handle the stress of it, but he felt compelled to shoot until he took his own life.

      These are a few examples of why photographers are compelled to go to these places. These two photographers died doing what they thought they had to do. An argument can be raised it wasn’t their place but that is a different conversation.

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