Six tips for aspiring protest photographers
- Text by Miss Rosen
- Photography by Michael A. McCoy
After completing two tours of duty in Iraq in 2008, U.S. Army combat veteran Michael A. McCoy turned to turned to photography as a therapeutic tool to deal with the horrors of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. With a camera in his hands, McCoy could escape from the memories of being inside a war zone as photography enabled him to be full present in the moment, bare witness, and share his story with the world.
The 2014 death of Mike Brown at the hands of Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson changed everything. The protests that raged across the city sparked a movement against police brutality and the killing of black men, women, and children at the hands of law enforcement officials. For McCoy, Ferguson was the moment of truth.
“I started photographing protests because I wanted to start documenting history,” he explains. “I realized that I could use my camera as a tool and amplify the issues affecting myself and my community that need to be heard. I could have been Mike Brown, Freddie Gray, Trayvon Martin, or Eric Garner.”
His experiences in combat have prepared him for the battles on our streets, and he is invested in sharing this knowledge with the emerging generation of youth activists. Here, McCoy shares six tips for aspiring protest photographers.
‘I can’t believe’ Photo by Michael A. McCoy. Freddie Gray Protest, Baltimore, MD, 2015
COME PREPARED
Bring pens and paper, voice recorder, or use cell phone to take notes. Also pack water and snacks, a fully charged cell phone, camera batteries, and portable phone charger. Women should bring a pee cup. Take camera equipment appropriate to the situation but try to pack light. It’s better not to be carrying weight in case something pops off and you have to exit quickly.
BRING A PARTNER
Have a travel partner and set up rally points to create accountability. This helps you to avoid getting lost, losing power, or getting caught in some sort of emergency.
‘Standoff’ Photo by Michael A. McCoy. Baltimore Uprising, Baltimore, MD, 2015.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
Know the area. Have an exit point in case shit hits the fan. Come early and leave late so you can document people preparing before the protest and having conversations afterwards.
REMEMBER CONTEXT
Photograph both sides of the story. Cover as much contextual ground as possible. Capture the emotion and significance of a scene to create an iconic photo. Good subject, composition, environment, and emotion will create a great photograph.
‘Untitled’ Photo by Michael A. McCoy. Baltimore Uprising, Baltimore, MD, 2015
WATCH THE POLICE
Always stay alert to the police. Watch your surroundings. Stand close to police radios so you know what’s going on. Know your rights but obey the orders of the police even if it is disrespectful and inhumane. Make sure to get their badge number in case you need to file a report afterwards.
HARNESS THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA
If possible use a Wifi camera and Wifi memory cards to get your photos onto social media as quickly as possible in order to tell the story and spread the news. You never know who is looking and you might have a Devin Allen Instagram moment.
‘7’ Photo by Michael A. McCoy. 1000 Ministers March, Washington D.C, 2017
‘Untitled’ Photo by Michael A. McCoy. Baltimore Uprising, Baltimore, MD, 2015
‘Freedom Walk’ Photo by Michael A. McCoy. Black Lives Matter NYC, NYC, 2015
‘Parade of Life’ Photo by Michael A. McCoy. Dick Gregory ‘Parade of Life Parade’, Washington D.C, 2017
See more of Michael McCoy’s work on his official website, or follow him on Instagram.
Follow Miss Rosen on Twitter.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
You might like
The last days of St Agnes Place, London’s longest ever running squat
Off the grid — Photographer Janine Wiedel spent four years documenting the people of the Kennington squat, who for decades made a forgotten row of terraced houses a home.
Written by: Isaac Muk
As salmon farming booms, Icelanders size up an existential threat
Seyðisfjörður — The industry has seen huge growth in recent years, with millions of fish being farmed in the Atlantic Ocean. But who benefits from its commercial success, and what does it mean for the ocean? Phil Young ventures to the remote country to find out.
Written by: Phil Young
How Japan revolutionised art & photography in the ’60s and ’70s
From Angura to Provoke — A new photobook chronicles the radical avant-garde scene of the postwar period, whose subversion of the medium of image making remains shocking and groundbreaking to this day.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Artifaxing: “We’ve become so addicted to these supercomputers in our hands”
Framing the future — Predominantly publishing on Instagram and X, the account is one of social media’s most prominent archiving pages. We caught up with the mysterious figure behind it to chat about the internet’s past, present and future, finding inspiration and art in the age of AI.
Written by: Isaac Muk
The lacerating catharsis of body suspension in Hong Kong
Self-Ferrying — In one of the world’s most densely packed cities, an underground group of young people are piercing their skin and hanging their bodies with hooks in a shocking exploration of pain and pleasure. Sophie Liu goes to a session to understand why they partake in the extreme underground practice.
Written by: Sophie Liu
What we’re excited for at SXSW 2026
Austin 40 — For the festival’s 40th anniversary edition, we are heading to Texas to join one of the biggest global meetups of the year. We’ve selected a few things to highlight on your schedules.
Written by: Huck
