Oftentimes photographers put themselves in very dangerous positions in order to get that perfect shot. Sometimes they find themselves in that position completely by happenstance, but other times it’s actually their chosen career path that puts them actively in harms way. So what are some of the most dangerous photography jobs out there? Take a look at this plethora of careers that intrepid photographers can choose from.
Wildlife Photographer
Warzone Photographer
Photojournalism is one of the most widely known careers for a photographer and one of the biggest headlines of our day are the ongoing wars across the globe. This is not only one of the most dangerous photography jobs out there, but it’s also known as one of the most deadly jobs on earth. Sometimes photographers attach themselves to military units, which provides them a bit of protection, but sometimes they travel independently to war torn regions and put themselves in the thick of it all on their own.
Weather Photographer
Skydiving Photographer
Sports Photographer
This might not be the first thing to come to mind when one thinks of dangerous photography jobs. How much danger do you feel when sitting in the stands of a football game? Not much. But photographers put themselves right in the action, much closer to the potential danger than those sitting in the stands. They might run along the sidelines of a football game, for example, and potentially get trampled over if players get tackled in their direction. Motorsports is probably the most dangerous sport for photographers. They are constantly standing right next to very fast moving metal objects that can get thrown off course by the slightest bit of debris on the track or driver miscalculation. Professional photographers are usually smart enough to stay out of harms way, but accidents do happen and the photographers on the sidelines are the closest spectators when things go wrong.
Underwater Photographer
Cave Photographer
Like underwater diving photography and skydiving photography, cave photography comes with all the dangers of the activity plus the added distraction of trying to snap the perfect shot. Even the most experienced spelunker can fall victim to a dangerous fall or getting wedged in a tight spot. Add in a distraction and you are far more likely to have an accident. Asphyxiation is also a common accident for many cave explorers, whether they are distracted or not. If you go too deep into the cave you might not have enough time to climb out by the time you realize that your oxygen is running low.
Photojournalism
Modern day photojournalists put themselves into dangerous situations right here on the home front every day. Superman’s Jimmy Olsen, perhaps the most famous fictional photojournalist, never thought twice before heading straight towards super villains to snap a picture for the Daily Bugle. Sure, that’s a fictional photojournalist, but Jimmy’s real life counterparts face situations that are equally as dangerous right here in the non-fiction world. Hostage situations, high speed car chases, gunmen, fires, the list goes on. They put their lives at risk to make sure there are photos to go in tomorrow's daily paper.
Travel Photography
Traveling to popular tourist destinations isn’t usually terribly dangerous, but the adventurous traveler often finds themselves far off the beaten track. Being in an unfamiliar location with limited access to resources can put anyone at risk. There’s also a potential language barrier, which makes navigating these remote areas even more difficult. As a photographer, being in an unfamiliar setting with expensive equipment can also make you a target for thieves. So not only are you by yourself far away from resources and having a difficult time communicating with people, but flashing around expensive equipment can also put a bullseye on your back. But for some thrill seekers, this might sound like the perfect vacation.
So if you’re a photographer and a thrill seeker, you might want to consider one of the above careers. You can get your adrenaline pumping and take some amazing photographs at the same time. But don’t get too distracted by taking the perfect shot. You are in a very dangerous situation, after all, and you don’t want that picture to be your last.
Also Read: 41 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULDN’T DATE A PHOTOGRAPHER
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