Mt Panorama Riot

[Raskill]

Ahoy folks.

I've just rolled out of bed after last nights Mt Panorama Riot.

Didn't hear about it oon the news huh?

Thats cause it was a training exercise, held oddly enough, on top of Mt Panorama. It was the biggest ever exercise the NSW Police have held, approximately 500 - 600 personel, involving all emergency services, army and other organisations.

It was the single hardest thing I have had to photograph. The conditions were terrible, windy, drizzle, extremely low light, very high ISO, low shutter speeds and a malfunctioning speedlight made it woeful. Also, being hit twice with a baton and once with a shield made the experience more than a tad painful.

I'm pretty happy with the results, so I'll post a few quick ones. The first two, other than cropping, are straight out of the camera, the last has a small amount of PPing (brightness, contrast and cropping).

Please feel free to comment.



Public Order Riot Squad ride into battle. No PP.



Operational Support Group, lit by one of the many flares fired at them. No PP.



Not just a riot officer, a person to. PP'ed - brightness, contrast.

Forgot to mention, I was the 'official' photogragher for the day.

[!~DeViNe~DaRkNeSs~!]

looks like a great opportunity for u, seems alotta fun too!
i really like the first one but i think u should try dim the headlights just a tiny tiny bit, i find them a tad to attention grabbing.

[Alpha_7]

Looks like some really tough shooting conditions mate, but you've done well and I'd love to see a few more. On my LCD at work the last looks like the guy is a little overflashed but I guess its a matter of taste.

[MCWB]

All great Alan! Interesting, hopefully they clean up the top of the mountain a bit.

[Raskill]

Cheers folks.

I agree about the 'overflash' in 3, but it was extremely hard to meter for anything, most of my flash images were taken in complete darkness, with the focus assist on my sb600 having failed. I had to shoot in manual and hope for the best. Also, perspex shields and face shield are curved, and reflect light well, as well as show every scratch.

It was a lot of fun. I'm pretty sore and sorry today, and my gear is covered in grime, but yeah, it was fun!

[Raskill]

All great Alan! Interesting, hopefully they clean up the top of the mountain a bit.

I think you will see a fairly 'large' Police presence this year. I'm sure it's no coincidence where this training exercise was held.

[Glen]

Very impressive images, especially 2.

[radar]

Alan,

great series here and I love the second, it has a great feel to it. I think with a bit of PP, the first one will also really come out great.

Cheers,

André

[Old Bob]

You have done well, considering the conditions you had to work under. I wonder how the rest of us would go, with someone trying to clout us with a baton.

Bob

[Kyle]

Number 2 is POTW for sure Alan!!!! :D


All fantastic though, very well done


Pay me my money too fool

[dawesy]

Just to be different, love #2.

Lived in Bathurst for 2 years doing Uni and still have a lot of mates up there, so your heading got me a tad nervous!! That mountain is very well policed I can tell you. Only place I've ever been pulled up while not doing anything wrong!

[bimborocks]

I love the 2nd one the best

[Oscar]

Great work Alan. All good. My faves are #1 & then #2.

Well done.

Cheers, Mick

[Raskill]

Thanks for the words of encouragement folks!

Heres a couple more images:



Public Order Riot Squad at sunset.



It's not just the guys who step up to the task of riot police.



If your voicing your 'opinion' in an aggressive way, this might cool you down. NSW Police Water Canon Truck.

[Hudo]

The second set, 1st pic is awesome.. Nice one......

Hudo

[foonji]

oOo i've done a few of these exercises... ive played the rioter, riot control and phot role... been interested each time for sure... especially when i played the phot role and was in the middle of it and nearly copped a few frozen bottles of water. haha. gotta keep that other eye open and watch wats happening!

Great shots indeed!

[michael_]

haha that water canon truck is awesome, photoshoot

[Louie]

I love #2 in the first set - can imagine movie makers going to great lengths to achieve this and you've managed it without PP.

Hope this is the only time they have to do it!

[who]

#2 in the first set looks reminiscent of some old northern ireland footage.....

Awesome, any other pics liek that from your shoot?

The water cannon truck will have problems if it turns muddy I reckon..... bit too much of a road tread for that usage.

[Matt. K]

Great shots Raskill!
I got to shoot a similar event involving the federal Police about 8 weeks ago but unfortunatly I'm comitted to not publishing any of the images. It was a pretty rough exercise with some injuries sustained. Riot control against an aggressive crowd is very hard work.

[rflower]

These are good photos. I especially like the 2nd shot in Set 1, and the 1st shot in Set 2. It's all about being in the right spot at the right time (or being available to be in the right spot ... )

Well done.

[sirhc55]

Excellent pics Alan - it’s just fortunate that an exercise always bears fruit whereas the real thing normally gets stuffed up

[Jeff]

What can I say Alan.It has all been said ,great shots well down.

Jeff

[chrisk]

ditto. awesome stuff mate.

[daniel_r]

The conditions were terrible, windy, drizzle, extremely low light

So normal Central West July/August weather then
(grew up in Orange...)


You've got some great photojournalism work here Alan. You're showing the story and the people who are part of it - and offer a view in to an event that we may not normally get to see.

Thanks for sharing.

[Bindii]

This is the best set I have seen in a long time... I was still oohing and aahhing over the forst few images when I scrolled down to the next lot and was totally blown away once again...

you say you were happy with them... personally I would be stoked!

[Raskill]

Thanks folks. I'm a little shocked at the number of nice comments!

I've given the images to the Police (well, some). Hope they like them as much. I may be having other images I took used on the cover of the Police Forces annual report.

There were a few injuries during the training, from objects being thrown and punches. The Police got pretty firey, which is great for this sort of training, you need a nice level of controlled aggression!

I'm going to appraoch the Police and see if there is a way I can cover more 'tactical' policing for them.

Full gallery here:

http://awbphotos.smugmug.com/gallery/3244453

Thanks for the comments again!