It was a great surprise to win the Human Rights Press Award for this series of photos taken during the protests in Hong Kong last year. It’s quite a strange feeling to be chosen as a winner, because I believe that all the other photographers who took part in the coverage are also deserving of awards. It’s hard to express that strongly enough.
We all put everything, physically and emotionally, into documenting these events on a daily basis, sometimes with little to no sleep or food and water. But there was always somehow energy and motivation that we all gained from the presence of each other.
Many of the photos taken by the incredible shooters who work for local newspapers won’t ever get seen outside Hong Kong, so I encourage you to search those out. I know I couldn’t have done some of my pix without the knowledge of this community and I truly thank all HK local shooters for sharing their intel, in person and within the various whatsapp groups.
Just wanted to also take this opportunity to thank my HK bureau colleagues. It’s a small, but super tight operation. Yan Zhao, XQ QX, Elaine Yu, Jerome Taylor
And also thanks to the AFP photographers, local and from overseas, who backed me up. I felt so lucky to have such an amazing team and am so grateful to each of them and also to my bosses at AFP News Agency who made it all possible.
Dale De La Rey
Ed Jones
Hector Retamal Photojournalist
Isaac Lawrence
Laurel Chor
Lillian Suwanrumpha
Manan Vatsyayana
May James
Mohd Rasfan
Nico Edison
Fong Ka Yuen
Vivek Prakash
Ye Aung Thu
Thank you finally to my amazing wife Sophie Martin. It can’t have been pleasant welcoming me back home stinking of tear gas, sweat, drain pipes, or pepper spray. But welcome me back she did!
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