By Andrea Young
Those whose vocation depends on being on the front lines become accustomed to difficult and dangerous situations. Nothing instigates conflict like a war. When the media becomes involved the individual associated with the press must be adventurous and courageous when accepting assignments with exotic locations or tumultuous settings because what will await them is dangerous.
Photographers like Philip McMaster know from experience that capturing great images requires bravery because pictures from the sidelines are a dime a dozen. McMaster, a Concordia University graduate in applied human sciences and teacher at Dawson College's Centre for Imaging Arts and Information Technologies for courses like Event, Sports and Adventure Photography (ESA), is a freelance photographer who covers various parades, protests and events.
"I covered the Stanley Cup riot in 1994 for La Presse so I know the risks," he says. On Saturday McMaster, who has founded organizations like Cool to be Canadian, was back on the scene again for the peace protests, which took place on Rene Levesque Street marching towards the U.S. Consulate.
McMaster was in the middle of the action between protesters and riot police attempting to capture the emotion and sentiment from being sandwiched between conflicting parties.
"The whole concept of ESA photography is about attitude and mindset; to get up close and passionate photos, to get involved and to capture the right image at the right time," adds McMaster. "You can't get the same image as you would when you can actually see the expression on a person's face."
There were hundreds of thousands demonstrations throughout the world to march in opposition to the US / British lead strikes on Iraq this weekend. In Montreal the rally did not keep the peace as demonstrators threw mud, sticks, ice and rocks to riot police who were positioned near the American Embassy. Their message was to stop the bombings in Iraq, which are causing the many civilian casualties.
When situations get violent and out of hand, those in charge of keeping civility within large numbers of people may not take the time to differentiate between violent protesters and others at a rally who have different purposes for attending.
McMaster who, although was not participating in the violence, became targeted by police because his presence was perceived to apparently pose a threat.
"I was discussing good photo composition and demonstrating photographer positioning with a one of my ESA students at the rally," says McMaster. As the protesters became rowdier he was thrust into the front of the rally and then directly faced riot police. This began what was a misfortunate series of events.
"I dropped my umbrella and before I had the chance to retreive it, the police kicked it behind their lines. They refused to return it," he adds. When McMaster pointed to where it was and adamantly asked for it back, riot police grabbed his arm and used brutal force to take down his six-foot-one athletic frame.
"There is no question that I didn't pose a threat to [the police] but they chose to pull me through the police line and beat on me, knock me down and tear up my knee, causing a great deal of pain in both ears by pressing their knuckles under the earlobes," he adds.
He was arrested subsequently with eight others who were also on the front lines. According to Lynne Labelle of the media relations office for the MUC Police, nine people were arrested for illegal assembly and three of the nine were charged with resisting arrest. "Intervention teams were on the scene and two police officers were injured."
Olivier D'Amours, who accompanied McMaster in the paddy wagon after the rally, holds that those arrested were demonstrating quietly. "We were arrested because we were scapegoats for those behind us who were too far out of reach and were throwing objects at the police," says the second year Université de Montréal student studying philosophy. The experience left McMaster disillusioned and concerned because the way he was treated by police has now permanently changed his views on authority's abuse of power.
"I was dealt in a childish and ridiculous way. Although I was not one of the protesters, I now have a deeper understanding of demonstrators' complaints against the police," he says. "We pay them with our tax dollars to be servants of the people and to keep us safe from harm."
He attempted on various occasions to ask for treatment for his bloody knee and to get the badge number of the officer who head butted him but was ignored on every occasion. Upon his release from Station 20 on Sunday morning, McMaster headed to the Montreal General Hospital to treat the injuries inflicted on him by the riot police. "[They] were serious enough that doctors at Montreal General did a CT scan of my abdomen, apparently gave me morphine for the pain and kept me there for observation until late that afternoon."
According to McMaster, photographers who expose themselves to risk have an advantage over any picture being taken by embedded journalists or through satellite images. The shots up close are unique which is the credo of ESA. "Taking the pictures is part of what keeps us honest."
Besides being left with a court date in April, the experience has also broadened his perspective on those who were incarcerated with him. "I really did see a side of the world I didn't see before; the side of the protester," he adds. "I don't agree with everything they said but it's their right."
McMaster's career has enabled him to travel around the world to capture images that have made an impact on publications for which he was working for as well as himself. He never thought however that he would face so much opposition from those who are hired to serve and protect us while trying to teach students how to get exceptional ESA photos.
"The sad conclusion of this experience is that as the founder of Cool to be Canadian, an effort to encourage "good civic behaviour" (which includes freedom to associate, freedom of the press, freedom to participate in a peaceful demonstration) I no longer trust the police," he says. "It's a serious thing and it scares me this happens in our country." His general sentiments are that of intimidation and fear though he previously mentioned that, being an adventure photographer, he was never afraid of getting in the centre of conflict as most other photographers would try to avoid. "We should be able to exercise that experience of being up close of involved without the fear of reprisal and believing that the authorities are on your side."
While he recovers from his battle wounds, the teacher, adventurer and photographer is now in the delicate position of pondering his stance on figures of authority and his previous beliefs towards being a free Canadian.
If you are interested in ESA Photography, visit www.cool.ca/esa.
Click Here to register for the next Event, Sports & Adventure (ESA) or Public Relations (PR) courses beginning in late April.