Mister Pink Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 (edited) As a photographer, this is one of those photos I wish I could have taken. This could have went in the photography topic but I thought I'd share with you guys here. One of the best photos I've seen this year and I hope the photographer gets recognition for it. Lying in the street and seemingly locked in a kiss as chaos erupts around them, a young couple appear oblivious to the charging crowds and baton-wielding riot police. The photograph, taken amid Vancouver's hockey riots, has been tweeted around the world. But the photographer who took it is still not sure what the picture really shows. Canada-based photojournalist Richard Lam took the photograph while covering the riots that followed the Vancouver Canucks' 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup. The photographer was being buffeted by rioters and riot police when he spotted the couple. "I was about 20 or 30 yards away," he said. "There were these two people on the ground in this empty street. Initially I thought one of them was hurt." He took a few shots and then the moment was lost. "It was complete chaos. Rioters set two cars on fire and then I saw looters break the window at a neighbouring department store," he said. "At that point, the riot police charged right towards us. After I stopped running, I noticed in the space behind the line of police that two people were lying in the street with the riot police and a raging fire just beyond them. "I knew I had captured a 'moment' when I snapped the still forms against the backdrop of such chaos but it wasn't until later when I returned to the rink to file my photos that my editor pointed out that the two people were not hurt, but kissing." "Everyone has been asking who they are," said Lam but he has no idea and never had the opportunity to speak to them. Even now he's not sure whether the picture shows a couple kissing or whether one of the two people is hurt. "I keep looking at the picture but I don't know what I think any more," he said. [This update was inserted on 17 June 2011: After publication of this Guardian article, further details about the couple and the incident emerged. A subsequent Guardian online piece is headlined Vancouver kiss couple 'were knocked down by riot police'.] Officials in Vancouver said almost 150 people required hospital treatment and almost 100 were arrested during the riot. A spokeswoman for the local health authority said three stabbing victims had been admitted and an one man was in critical condition with head injuries after a fall from a viaduct. Rioting and looting left cars burned, stores in shambles and windows shattered over a roughly 10-block radius of the city's main shopping district. Police Chief Jim Chu said nine officers were injured, including one who required 14 stitches after being hit with a thrown brick. Chu said some officers suffered bite marks. He said 15 cars were burned, including two police cars. He called those who incited the riot "criminals and anarchists" and said officers identified some in the crowd as the same people who smashed windows and caused trouble through the same streets the day after the 2010 Winter Olympics opened in 2010. "These were people who came equipped with masks, goggles and gasoline," he said. "They had a plan." Chu said those who stood by and filmed and cheered also bear some responsibility. Assistant Fire Chief Wade Pierlot said people had to be rescued from rooftops and bathrooms where they had hidden for safety. He said some people moved burning dumpsters away from buildings to prevent further damage. • This article was amended on 17 June 2011 to insert an update. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/1...tograph-mystery Other articles with alternate photos... Thanks to pizza guy for this link. bbc news story Thanks to Miss Cloud for these ones. http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2011...straight/38925/ Couple Identified Edited June 17, 2011 by ThePinkFloydSound ＲＵＢＢΣＲ░Ｊ♢ＨＮＮＹ （スオッ） Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I saw this on the news yesterday morning after the riots, and as the article mentions, there's a bit of a debate over what exactly is going on, whether one of them is hurt, or they're just spontaneously making love. Either it, it's a great photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTA 360 Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I'm starting to worry about you now Ryan, your avatar is gone! OT yeah, right place right time I suppose. (The photographer not the ''couple'') Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bates_GTA Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 That's incredible. Like you said i hope the right legit photographer gets the credit for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I'm starting to worry about you now Ryan, your avatar is gone! That's because the Vancouver Canucks lost in the Stanley Cup Final, which was the cause of all these riots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pizza guy Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 bbc news story It seems it may have been an injury, but as you've said previously, alot of mixed stories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Pink Posted June 17, 2011 Author Share Posted June 17, 2011 bbc news story It seems it may have been an injury, but as you've said previously, alot of mixed stories. That's interesting. The other photo of him does make it look more like she got hurt but it's like her boyfriend comforting her or something. I'll add your link to the OP. ＲＵＢＢΣＲ░Ｊ♢ＨＮＮＹ （スオッ） Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirsty Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 (edited) A great photo for such a chaotic scene. The girl looks kind of out of it to me in all the photos. If you see this other source someone took a photo from a rooftop, she looks injured there too. http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2011...straight/38925/ Edit: according to this update, they've been identified and she was knocked down by a riot police shield http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2011...entified/38937/ Edited June 17, 2011 by MissCloud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Pink Posted June 17, 2011 Author Share Posted June 17, 2011 Wow, well there you go. Thanks for the link/info. ＲＵＢＢΣＲ░Ｊ♢ＨＮＮＹ （スオッ） Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Probably slipped in the tongue. Y'know, for extra comfort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KilnerLUFC Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 “She had actually been injured,” Brett Jones told the Star Friday morning from his home in Perth, Australia. “She had been knocked down by a shield” from the riot police. “He lay down next to her to comfort her. She was crying and he just kissed her to calm her down.” If you look close enough, they don't appear to be kissing on the lips, more him kissing her on the cheek, which would go to prove that he was comforting her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icarus Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 This photo was the only joy I got out of that night; y'know, it was nice to see some form of love and not violence. Apart from that, I was upset that the Vancouver Canucks lost, but that pales in comparison to how pissed off I was (and still am) at the morons who decided to go on a rampage in Vancouver and broadcast to the world that Canadians are sore losers (which isn't completely true, but because of them, we're going to be painted with the same brush). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGModder Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 At least someone in Vancouver can score on the road. Seriously though, the picture is initially funny/interesting, but the media is making such an unnecessary fuss about something so stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trip Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I must admit I was bummed out when I found out it was the chick's brother coming to her aide, and the famous shot is just because of the angle. My crappy games at MyCrappyGames.com Free copy of Save The Puppies and Kittens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthYENIK Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Yeah, way to crush that awesome scene, and turn it into a sad picture of police brutality. Sweet ass, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ska Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Yeah, way to crush that awesome scene, and turn it into a sad picture of police brutality. Sweet ass, though. Agreed. But still, I think I'll go with the original assumption that it's a couple kissing instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drift-Kingz Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I'm starting to think it's CPR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirst Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Despite the chaos it's really quite cute! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHCharls Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Very interesting but I am just worried about the riot in Canada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lithium Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Yeah, way to crush that awesome scene, and turn it into a sad picture of police brutality. Sweet ass, though. I agree. Likin' those short shorts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTA 360 Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 I'm starting to worry about you now Ryan, your avatar is gone! That's because the Vancouver Canucks lost in the Stanley Cup Final, which was the cause of all these riots. Didn't you have a Z at one point? OT I wonder how long it will be before all the rumours clear up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrpain Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Beautiful picture indeed. mrpain drools over the epic ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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