FBI Shooting in Orlando (May 22nd)

A member of an FBI evidence recovery team photographs the building following the shooting of Ibragim Tidashev, 27, in the 6000 block of Peregrine Ave., in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday, May 22, 2013. An FBI agent with two Massachusetts State Police troopers and other law enforcement personnel were interviewing  Tidashev in connection with the Boston Marathon bombing investigation when a violent confrontation occurred. During the confrontation, the individual was killed and the agent sustained non-life threatening injuries, said Special Agent David Couvertier, Public Affairs Officer for the FBI's Tampa Field Office.

(David Manning for The Boston Globe)

Its always fun when the phone wakes you up.

In this case, it was the Boston Globe. The FBI shot and killed a man allegedly connected to the Boston Bombing.  I'm an hour from the scene. You get out the door in five minutes and hope to hell I don't hit traffic.


First things first. If you aren't following Wesley Lowrey on twitter, you need to be. Fantastic journalist to work with.

Second.  This is an active crime scene involving the FBI.  They're a very professional bunch that would prefer the press take their photos and do their reporting from ELSEWHERE and nowhere near where they are working and I get that and understand it.  Of course theyre going to put up a giant tent over their crime scene and of course they're going to try and keep you blocks away. Makes you wonder what they don't want you to see....

The apt complex it took place in was not very happy about the sudden media encampment and when journalists were found on their property, they were asked to leave.  Orlando PD was cool about it and would give us about 30 seconds to make a photo before politely asking us to go elsewhere.

So what does a photojournalist do with restricted access?  Find a way around and be discrete and respectful.  You break away from the pack. You don't draw attention to yourself.  You make your photos and get what you can.

   

And then, sometimes life gives you a moment.

A member of an FBI evidence response team looks at Marylin Paulus, right, who was walking her dog following the shooting of Ibragim Todashev, 27, in the 6000 block of Peregrine Ave., in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.