I've decided that after watching the city become a burning mess of destruction, that I would never make it as a photo journalist. It was scary and heartbreaking to see people in a frenzy last night, overturning cars, fighting, smashing out windows and basically destroying everything in their view.
What I was able to shoot here, was nothing compared to what happened in other parts of the city, just a few blocks away.
I don't believe for a moment that this is because the Vancouver Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup playoffs (final game) last night, but instead, there were people that came into the city with the intention of starting a riot if there was a loss. We lost more than just a hockey game last night...
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When has our world gone that insane?! It's sick!!! Quite an angle Sharon... I can almost smell and hear all this mess! Take care.
16 Jun 2011 1:55pm
That's so sad and ridiculous.
It's strange and uncommon, from my french point of view, such things can happen in Canada, caused by that kind of event.
As you know, here in Europe, some football (soccer) competitions may degenerate in big battles between supporters, before, after or during the match, in the cities or even in highway areas where coaches full of supporters maybe attacked by the supporters of the other team.
During the eighties (1984), 70 people died in a belgium stadium, crushed during a panic movement of the crowd caused by a battle between supporters of the two teams.
We must live with the idea some people may become mad and dangerous for any reason.
Have a good day, anyway.
16 Jun 2011 2:18pm
I am ashamed to be Canadian sometimes, and I'm also feeling my middle aged perspective when I see idiots like the mostly youthful masses who wreaked mindless havoc last night in your beautiful city. (a city I have visited thrice to play music, once staying for two straight weeks) It is just like what went down at the G20 in Toronto last year, when a vast majority of protesters and marchers had their causes and peaceful ways usurped by the vacuous thugs who wanted only to smash things. I stayed up very late watching your city take a black eye, and my heart is heavy. You're right; this isn't about hockey at all. These pukes came downtown with Molotov cocktails, weapons, and intentions that are the antithesis of the joyous peaceful gatherings that have been the norm during the playoffs. Aside from that, your police force blew it. Where were they, in force, when things began to get rough? This younger generation freaks me out, even the ones not actively damaging or looting, but standing there taking pictures and thinking "this is so cool"... the photo is compelling and sad-making. The poor Canucks, whose achievement of being the best regular season team and making it all the way to an anything-goes game 7 has been marred forever by utter stupidity.
16 Jun 2011 2:38pm
A thoroughly heartbreaking scene and yes, I have to agree with you having seen the footage being played all day on the CBC, that it was mostly "other" elements in the crowd that were inciting everyone and or doing the damage. Disgraceful!
16 Jun 2011 3:25pm
interesting document that reflects the wild may be the silly people such as your team loses. unpresentable's has always been that infiltrate among fans for criminals, excellent information next to the picture, greetings!
16 Jun 2011 4:21pm
Wow that is crazy! I'm a huge sports fan, American football, basketball and to a large extent hockey. When the Capitals got demolished by Tampa this season during the playoffs...nothing of that sort even came close. Although I'm not saying what they are doing is right.. but I CAN see the fans side of things. I don't think that rioting is ever acceptable for stuff like this, considering what has happened in the Middle East (Libya, Egypt), those are WORTH rioting for and those people did in their country. Hockey games...or any game, is not. I think people lose perspective on things, I think this is the case here. I hope to see this kind of passion for things that matter the most in life, not this.
16 Jun 2011 5:43pm
I'm sorry to disagree with you Sharon, I think you've made a GREAT documentary shot here.
(I know your pain.)
16 Jun 2011 6:34pm
that is crazy, I was surprised when I read about it in the news this morning. certainly not something I expected to occur in Vancouver.
16 Jun 2011 7:05pm
This has absolutely nothing to do with sports. Just dumb people who use it as a excuse. So sad.
16 Jun 2011 8:51pm
No way... never would have expected this... because of sport hey?
16 Jun 2011 10:00pm
What a shot, you could be a photojournalist ! (even if i understand it's not at all what you feel). Sports when lived this way by some crazy mind is all i hate. SO stupid, are we human or not ? Those are not, no brain, just the opportunity to let their basic instinct (prehistoric ones) emerge. Disgusting. Everything with competition when people are badhearted provokes this. We're in 2011 ? Mhh... but then before BC (BlueChameleon ;) great eye !
Thanks for sharing, Sharon, and hope you'll have a calmier end of week. Hugs*
17 Jun 2011 5:32am
What a terrifying thing to witness. I doubt the violence has much to do with sport any more than street disturbances here have relevance to increases in university costs, caps on pay or cuts in pensions. Such issues are willfully used by the deranged as an excuse to riot. We even had a firebombing because a grocery chain opened a new store too close to an existing business. All so sad.
17 Jun 2011 7:40am
Insane.. when are these people going to stop and think WHY? Very sad..
17 Jun 2011 8:09am
You definitely could become a photo-journalist, this shot gives us a real testimony of the scene !
17 Jun 2011 9:01am
Una escena muy triste, Es una pena que el deporte pueda llegar Ha provocar este tipo de actos
Cordiales saludos
17 Jun 2011 9:32am
Here - from Boston - we watched in horror and dismay what was happening in Vancouver in the wake of the hockey game. So sad that people feel the need to engage in such destructive behaviors!
17 Jun 2011 12:27pm
@Marcie: It wasn't even about hockey. Inside Rogers Arena hockey fans were cheering the winners of the cup -- one of the key players for Boston being from Vancouver. It's a shame that the instigators of this riot were able to whip so many into a frenzy. This was an intentional attack by a handful of people. We are all still in shock here...I will say though that the volunteers who are helping to clean up this city, the messages being left for the public, the police and those that tried to stop the riot are just amazing. It does restore some faith in human nature.
Sharon - this is an incredible capture. So very sad, you are right but I do agree with Curly. You were able to rise above your emotions and capture a moment which documents the mood of the times all over the world. In my opinion, that is the true definition of a good photographer!
17 Jun 2011 12:39pm
une image triste qui témoigne de la bêtise humaine .bravo pour cette prise qui nous montre que le niveau est élevé!!!
17 Jun 2011 1:00pm
Great capture of an emotional and powerful image, Sharon. I find that most times I truly don't understand riots. They seem useless, heartbreaking, frightening and dangerous to those around who aren't partaking of the destruction. It's ridiculous and I'm sorry your city had to go through it. But you already are a photojournalist as well as an artist, don't you know? You capture wonderful, thought provoking images of people in their everyday lives and that seems to me to be the essence of both photojournalist and artist. Well done...as always.
17 Jun 2011 3:01pm
Sharon, so sorry to hear and see this. I wouldn't make it as a street journalist either.. too much heartbreak and loss.
17 Jun 2011 3:51pm
I had similar thoughts - we were at Stages Lounge on Broadway and decided <em>not</em> to venture downtown. I had brought my camera, charged my battery, and packed extra cards. I had a feeling that if we lost, "something" might happen. And I was curious. But when it came to it, I couldn't bring myself to get down there. I had this thought: "a real photojournalist would be already down there, pouncing on the opportunity." But I was dejected and beat - full of my own emotions (big Canucks fan). And when we learned that rioting had started, I kept thinking to myself: "Could I really be down there taking photos?" I'm just not sure I'd have what it takes to commit myself to the role of documenting something when horrible things are happening. Fight. Flight. Freeze. But I'm glad people took photos. I'm glad it's on record and is helping with the justice of it all. Your photo here illustrates the mess and chaos really well, and the black and white is a poetic choice.
17 Jun 2011 7:14pm
@Chris Yakimov: Thank you Chris. You were smart in not coming downtown. I live downtown and this was taken from my balcony...it was frightening to have a riot going on right at your doorstep. As much as I was appalled by the scene in the news of everyone with their smart phones and cameras taking photos of themselves and their friends with the rioters, in front of burning cars and smashed windows -- I'm grateful for it as well. It's such a good feeling to know these people are being found and charge for their actions by their photos online. Now the news it's saying it's a group of anarchists that started this whole thing.
Hooligans aren't unique to Vancouver which in my experience is a fine city. So, the people of Vancouver need not apologize for the action of nitwits. This photo should make any photo journalist proud. Nice work, Sharon.
18 Jun 2011 3:00am
It's a mad world. But lets not lose sight of the fact that its only the minority of small, pathetic individuals who probably feel they are not part of normal society and only in packs can they gain enough courage to vent their frustrations of ineptitude in the hope of becoming someone important. Maybe one day they'll look back at what they did in shame, as violence is nothing to be proud of.
Take care of yourself Sharon.
18 Jun 2011 12:26pm
@Ian Smith: Thanks Ian. You are right...all of the comments left here are how I feel as well. What bothers me is how the media is making us here look to be a bunch of sore losers, when it really had nothing to do with the Stanley Cup (I believe now this would have happened no matter the outcome of the hockey game) but instead of the crime of rioting against this city. There was so much tension in the air before the game even got underway, we all felt it.
A beautiful shot of a tragic event....you've wonderfully captured the mood and destruction here.
A fine bit of photo-journalism, but I can understand why you'd not take that up as a profession !!
19 Jun 2011 6:34am
it does look intense though.. some say they're from seattle.. :)
19 Jun 2011 10:15pm
Terrible what was happening, but a terrific shot of it.
20 Jun 2011 4:20am
Impressive scene. I was believing that such riots only happened in Europe with soccer fans! Terrific!
Have a nice day.
22 Jun 2011 4:29pm