Tim Hetherington (1970-2011)
Tim Hetherington, tireless and lyrical raconteur of global conflicts, is dead, a victim of a Libyan mortar shell.
Many will remember Tim Hetherington as a great photographer, but to call him such would be to pigeonhole his contributions. He himself acknowledged his changing role in a new topography of media: “If you are interested in mass communication, then you have to stop thinking of yourself as a photographer. We live in a post-photographic world. If you are interested in photography, then you are interested in something — in terms of mass communication — that is past. I am interested in reaching as many people as possible.”
And he did. He covered various conflicts in West Africa and contributed to two documentaries on Liberia and Darfur. In 2007, he began a yearlong assignment documenting a battalion of American troops stationed in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley as bait to the Taliban. He published a touching book Infidel, won his fourth World Press Photo award for his coverage, and was nominated for an Oscar for his resulting documentary, Restrepo, which was all too human for it was palpably apolitical. His broad experiences were also recorded an ethereal webvideo, “Diary”.
To the very end, he was determined to reach out to as many people as possible; he began using twitter eight months ago, and his first and last tweet from Libya — posted just hours before he himself was hit — read: “In besieged Libyan city of Misrata. Indiscriminate shelling by Qaddafi forces. No sign of NATO”. It was fitting, if heartrending, epitaph.
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/18497543]
Excepted from the Times of London:
When he was hit he was with [Chris Hondros of Getty], Guy Martin, a British freelance journalist and Michael Christopher Brown, an American photographer. They were covering the bitter fight for control of a bridge over Tripoli Street, which Colonel Gaddafi’s forces are trying to retake to give them a clear route into the heart of Misrata.
The group, escorted by a Libyan guide, were on the front line when the regime forces spotted them and fired a mortar round. Hetherington suffered massive blood loss by the time an ambulance managed to reach him and take him through the cratered streets to the Hikmeh hospital, where doctors did their best to revive him. Hondros, who was due to marry soon, also died late last night, while Martin suffered serious injuries to the abdomen. Brown was hit in the arm and was not believed to be in danger.
Sad loss – excellent post
Mrs D
April 21, 2011 at 7:58 am
A passionate man, succumbed to his passion.
Nice Diary, there’s some hard truth in it.
Alive aLwaYs
April 21, 2011 at 8:10 am
Excellent article…
richannkur
April 21, 2011 at 8:46 am
A fitting obituary for a man who died doing something he was deeply passionate about. Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros were exemplars of their field, putting themselves at the heart of danger in order to get the truth – and the images to support that truth – out into the world.
SquareToSquare
April 21, 2011 at 9:12 am
Great post……
Salute Him…and thank you for such innovative content.
Vishal Sharma
teamjonny7
April 21, 2011 at 9:15 am
Never have understood how they do what they do, have total respect for the likes of people like him and his colleagues.
conalart
April 21, 2011 at 9:31 am
[…] Tim Hetherington (1970-2011) (via Iconic Photos) Posted: April 21, 2011 by aislingkeaveyphotography in Uncategorized 0 Tim Hetherington, tireless raconteur of conflicts across two continents, died today, a victim of a Libyan mortar shell. Many will remember Tim Hetherington as a great photographer, but to call him such would be to pigeonhole his contributions. He himself acknowledged the changing topography of media: “If you are interested in mass communication, then you have to stop thinking of yourself as a photographer. We live in a post-photographic world. If … Read More […]
Tim Hetherington (1970-2011) (via Iconic Photos) « Aisling Keavey Photography
April 21, 2011 at 9:40 am
Sad…..
คอนโด
April 21, 2011 at 9:52 am
It’s a sad loss. He was a great photograpic talent.
D v E
April 21, 2011 at 10:01 am
great post.
publiclyvoidpointducks
April 21, 2011 at 10:20 am
[…] Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros were reported to have been killed in the besieged Libyan city of Misrata the […]
Death of a Journalist | SquareToSquare
April 21, 2011 at 10:29 am
Thank you for sharing this…wonderful tribute!
Mikalee Byerman
April 21, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Lovely tribute to a man that documented the truth.
leadinglight
April 21, 2011 at 11:18 am
The guy lived on the edge and obviously did nothing half measure. He had a lot of guts being where he was because that bridge is obviously a key to the city center and he was in close proximity to the combat. I guess an observer for Quadaffis side spotted them and
may have thought they were fighters of the rebels. It was probably a mortar barrage of more than one mortar bomb and one of them hit the mark. May he and his lost
fellow reporter rest in peace. In this crazed world of
zealous fanatics there are gonna be more Misratas and
more lost reporters.
thor27
April 21, 2011 at 11:49 am
I learned about Time Hetherington from tv news yesterday. Thanks for expanding my knowledge of him. Truly awesome and heartfelt.
successisthebestrevenge
April 21, 2011 at 11:59 am
Thanks for sharing this and reminding non-journalists what terrible risks Tim, Chris and hundreds of others take every day in every war zone to try and tell the stories we need to hear, see and feel.
As a career journo, who numbers Chris’ boss among my friends, I know how brutal this death is for him as well. The editors who send such talent back out again and again know all too well the risks. We’re devastated.
And, yes, it will happen again.
broadsideblog
April 21, 2011 at 12:15 pm
[…] Tim Hetherington (1970-2011) « Iconic Photos. […]
Tim Hetherington (1970-2011) « Iconic Photos « Wife During Wartime
April 21, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Thats so sad😦
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MathematicalMagician
April 21, 2011 at 12:38 pm
Thank you for posting this wonderful eye into Tim’s world. I hope he and his colleague’s deaths somehow influence UN and American policies in Libya and they will not have died in vain.
ohzoey
April 21, 2011 at 12:49 pm
[…] Tim Hetherington (1970-2011) […]
Tim Hetherington (1970-2011) « greyverses
April 21, 2011 at 1:08 pm
So sad. I agree with “ohzoey”, and hope some good will come from this tragedy.
Gloriadelia
April 21, 2011 at 1:15 pm
[…] Tim Hetherington (1970-2011) (via Iconic Photos) By eastcoastxuan Tim Hetherington, tireless raconteur of conflicts across two continents, died today, a victim of a Libyan mortar shell. Many will remember Tim Hetherington as a great photographer, but to call him such would be to pigeonhole his contributions. He himself acknowledged the changing topography of media: “If you are interested in mass communication, then you have to stop thinking of yourself as a photographer. We live in a post-photographic world. If … Read More […]
Tim Hetherington (1970-2011) (via Iconic Photos) « 东岸
April 21, 2011 at 2:02 pm
[…] Tim Hetherington (1970-2011) (via Iconic Photos) Posted on 21 April, 2011 by PatoBlog Tim Hetherington, tireless raconteur of conflicts across two continents, died today, a victim of a Libyan mortar shell. Many will remember Tim Hetherington as a great photographer, but to call him such would be to pigeonhole his contributions. He himself acknowledged the changing topography of media: “If you are interested in mass communication, then you have to stop thinking of yourself as a photographer. We live in a post-photographic world. If … Read More […]
Tim Hetherington (1970-2011) (via Iconic Photos) | PatoBlog
April 21, 2011 at 2:04 pm
[…] were also recorded an ethereal webvideo, “Diary”. – Iconic Photos Which you can watch. That guy doing the reviews of Fenix flashlights and the JakPak took me to Eagle’s Nest […]
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April 21, 2011 at 2:06 pm
Great post.
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April 21, 2011 at 2:16 pm
Thanks for this – it’s in all the British press. Very sad indeed that folks loose their lives so we can read (a journalist died with him) and see the truth.
debramoolenaar
April 21, 2011 at 3:08 pm
I hadn’t heard of him before this, but I really wish I had😦
Abby
April 21, 2011 at 3:16 pm
[…] Heatherington, an exceptional photojournalist and human being, was killed today in Libya. Also killed was Chris Hondros, a photojournalist for Getty Images. Two other journalists, […]
A Pensive Post | A Backward Smiley Person
April 21, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Such tragic news. He left a powerful legacy, documenting the state of the workd with his camera.
I Made You A Mixtape
April 21, 2011 at 3:48 pm
This is sad news. Restrepo was a great doc.
thejamminjabber
April 21, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Died with his boots on in the nastiness of boys who play war.
nearlynormalized
April 21, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Wow, this is really sad.
And also kind of scary.. I’m going to be in NW Africa soon..
Taylor Elizabeth-Rose
April 21, 2011 at 3:55 pm
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As verdades do século XXI
April 21, 2011 at 4:09 pm
Died with his boots on…Why?
nearlynormalized
April 21, 2011 at 4:13 pm
I became of fan (if you will) of Hetherington’s after seeing ‘Restrepo’ at Sundance, where it won for best doc. Hetherington had a real gift for picking out some truly moving moments and images- pulling in the casual viewer, and making them care. Hopefully more people will be inspired to sift through his work (including the marvelous ‘Diary’) and act accordingly.
Liz
April 21, 2011 at 4:22 pm
So sad…but thanks for sharing!
ournote2self
April 21, 2011 at 4:23 pm
So tragic … I wonder if we will ever learn to stop doing this to each other.
thorsaurus
April 21, 2011 at 4:32 pm
A tragic loss to humankind.
Jennifer Avventura
April 21, 2011 at 4:48 pm
I didn’t know Tim. This is my first seeing of his work and this deeply affects me as I sit in my apartment in Brooklyn(ready to go out and take some shots of graffiti when I saw this post one the cover). I see this and I’m kind of think of my work as fickle nonsense
. Photojournalists are unappreciated, even with the awards and accolades. Sometimes I wonder why someone would be willing to risk thier lives to do this line of work. I supposed I’ve yet to reach that level of passion and understanding. I hope to know and be brave enough to become engaged one day. All of those who were hurt or died this week were remarkable people, not just for putting themsevles out there; for being people wanting to move outside of their comfort zones to tell stories.
clianthaaward
April 21, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Чем он так напуган?
Слава
April 21, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Wow, this is really sad.
And also kind of scary.. I’m going to be in NW Africa soon..
Toyota, โตโยต้า, รถยนต์โตโยต้า, ราคารถยนต์โตโยต้า
April 22, 2011 at 2:59 am
[…] Tim Hetherington (1970-2011) (via Iconic Photos) By eastcoastxuan Tim Hetherington, tireless raconteur of conflicts across two continents, died today, a victim of a Libyan mortar shell. Many will remember Tim Hetherington as a great photographer, but to call him such would be to pigeonhole his contributions. He himself acknowledged the changing topography of media: “If you are interested in mass communication, then you have to stop thinking of yourself as a photographer. We live in a post-photographic world. If … Read More […]
Toyota, โตโยต้า, รถยนต์โตโยต้า, ราคารถยนต์โตโยต้า
April 22, 2011 at 3:45 am
Thanks for sharing this and reminding non-journalists what terrible risks Tim, Chris and hundreds of others take every day in every war zone to try and tell the stories we need to hear, see and feel.
As a career journo, who numbers Chris’ boss among my friends, I know how brutal this death is for him as well. The editors who send such talent back out again and again know all too well the risks. We’re devastated.
And, yes, it will happen again.
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April 22, 2011 at 8:17 am
[…] Society Foundations / VQR / PhotoShelter / Fotocrazia / Empire / GQ / The Hollywood Reporter / Icon / Mirror / Vice / Newsweek Japan / Aperture / […]
In memoria di Tim Hetherington e Chris Hondros | Not Only Photography
April 22, 2011 at 2:56 pm
He clearly was a amazing man who left know stone unturned in his efforts to portray what he had personally witnessed and seen back to people all over the world he clearly should be rememberd for all this good work and his professionalism and bravery right to end. god bless him may he rest in peace .and may he never be forgotten ,condolenses to his family and his wife to be.
4valentines4words4poetry4you
April 23, 2011 at 8:26 am
Wow! Powerful video.
I have to admit, I was not familiar with Tim Hetherington before his death, but this work is truly monumental. I really hope his messages will be heard now.
Thank you for posting this fitting, and moving obituary.
Best Wishes
rossharrison
April 24, 2011 at 10:52 am
My Dear Friends and Comrades,
Tim Was a REAL Combat Journalist.
All you whippersnappers who think you know all about Combat need to see his film, “Restrepo”. That will straiten you out if nothin else will. I can tell you, The way these armchair Journalists in London say he got hit?, it was most likely ten times worse and filled with more agony then their paper could ever hold. Tim was no Spring Chicken and knew the dangers of Combat well. So, let that be a lesson to all who decide on the path to high adventure: If someone like Tim Hetherington could buy the farm, then anyone can, at any time. Know the true risks before you buy that Canon 7D and a set O Marspec from Sportsmans guide!
On a Battlefield the enemy just shoots and asks questions later. Thats a Fact and nobody is immune and no sign that says “Journalist, dont shoot” can save you from an Artillery officer who’s Four Miles away sippin Tea while he’s a readin the Mecca Times.
You know, Tim had quite a good run…Better than Most and never lied to try to build himself up. The Stark reality of War was his canvas and his paint was the Blood, Sweat and Tears of its Victims. Hellofa Artist…Hellofa Man.
May he rest in Peace in the everlasting Glory of God Almighty. We will all Miss his special Elixir of Honesty, Simplicity, Horse Sense and Courage.
Your Obt. Svt.
Col. Korn,
Chief O Mayhem In the Great WW-2 and the Cold War,
Now Chief O Sanitation, Security an the Complaint Dept.
OXOjamm Studios,
http://WWW.OXOjamm.Com.
(P.S. See his film, “Restrepo”, Hear me?!)
Col. Korn
April 25, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Tim Hetherington (1970-2011) (via Iconic Photos) Posted on 21 April, 2011 by PatoBlog Tim Hetherington, tireless raconteur of conflicts across two continents, died today, a victim of a Libyan mortar shell. Many will remember Tim Hetherington as a great photographer, but to call him such would be to pigeonhole his contributions. He himself acknowledged the changing topography of media: “If you are interested in mass communication, then you have to stop thinking of yourself as a photographer. We live in a post-photographic world. If
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April 26, 2011 at 7:21 am
It is a sad loss, when someone dies to keep the rest of us informed of what is happening.
photomi7ch
April 26, 2011 at 4:12 pm
sad!
Jailson Rainer
April 27, 2011 at 12:02 am
RIP.😦
I’ve seen some of his images, but never knew the name behind the camera.
The Reel Foto
April 28, 2011 at 11:03 am
[…] of American Photo Magazine, wrote a tribute to all the war photographers we lost, from Capa to Hetherington and Hondros: (To that list, we must now add Anton […]
To Those We Lost « Iconic Photos
May 25, 2011 at 12:06 am
Thanks for this – it’s in all the British press. Very sad indeed that folks loose their lives so we can read (a journalist died with him) and see the truth.
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May 26, 2011 at 6:52 am
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May 30, 2011 at 10:15 am
Thanks for sharing content to read.I’m happy to read it.
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June 21, 2011 at 10:07 am
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September 19, 2011 at 6:37 am
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December 19, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Tim Hetherington,you are in our souls ….oohhh,how many young people die too early? and, for what ????
Maria
March 17, 2013 at 8:29 pm
RIP. Respect for ever.
ike
October 12, 2015 at 8:43 am