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Akintunde Akinleye's best photograph: the aftermath of a Nigerian pipeline explosion Akintunde Akinleye's best photograph: the aftermath of a Nigerian pipeline explosion
(about 9 hours later)
I had only been working as a photojournalist for about five years when this explosion happened in 2006. It's a very common problem in Nigeria: people will go out in the middle of the night and burst oil pipelines so they can siphon fuel. In this case, they went behind the sawmill where the pipeline ran and started pumping out the fuel. But there was a spark somewhere …I had only been working as a photojournalist for about five years when this explosion happened in 2006. It's a very common problem in Nigeria: people will go out in the middle of the night and burst oil pipelines so they can siphon fuel. In this case, they went behind the sawmill where the pipeline ran and started pumping out the fuel. But there was a spark somewhere …
When someone told me about the fire, I grabbed a bike so I could get there are quickly as possible. There was a lot of traffic in the way, and the streets were full of people.When someone told me about the fire, I grabbed a bike so I could get there are quickly as possible. There was a lot of traffic in the way, and the streets were full of people.
I got there 10 minutes after the fire started. The air was thick with smoke, and there was confusion everywhere. There were a lot of wrecked cars, and the ground was littered with the jerry cans that people had been siphoning fuel into. There were a lot of burnt bodies. Officially, 269 people died. The place was full of security and relatives, but there was no time to stop and talk. When you have such a big story you have to move around to see the drama, the anguish, the pain.I got there 10 minutes after the fire started. The air was thick with smoke, and there was confusion everywhere. There were a lot of wrecked cars, and the ground was littered with the jerry cans that people had been siphoning fuel into. There were a lot of burnt bodies. Officially, 269 people died. The place was full of security and relatives, but there was no time to stop and talk. When you have such a big story you have to move around to see the drama, the anguish, the pain.
I was walking around when I saw this man approaching from afar. He was trying to douse the fire around him with his bucket of water. After he had tipped it out, he used what was left at the bottom to wash his face. That was what made me want to take his picture. I was so lucky; out of all the photographers there, I was the only one standing at that spot. It was like a special moment, planned out for me.I was walking around when I saw this man approaching from afar. He was trying to douse the fire around him with his bucket of water. After he had tipped it out, he used what was left at the bottom to wash his face. That was what made me want to take his picture. I was so lucky; out of all the photographers there, I was the only one standing at that spot. It was like a special moment, planned out for me.
I took about five or six frames of the man and kept walking. That photo is the last frame I took, and it was the best. I never spoke to him: there was no time. I don't even know his name.I took about five or six frames of the man and kept walking. That photo is the last frame I took, and it was the best. I never spoke to him: there was no time. I don't even know his name.
When I got back to the Reuters office, I sent the editor all my photos – except that one. Can you believe it? I thought photojournalism shouldn't be too artistic and I thought it was too beautiful, too dramatic to be good. I sat there for about half an hour debating whether I should send it. I was at a crossroads.When I got back to the Reuters office, I sent the editor all my photos – except that one. Can you believe it? I thought photojournalism shouldn't be too artistic and I thought it was too beautiful, too dramatic to be good. I sat there for about half an hour debating whether I should send it. I was at a crossroads.
Eventually I decided there was no crime in sending it: who knew what the reaction would be? Five minutes later, my editor sent a text to me, saying, "You have taken a world-class picture." By the following day there was this fantastic compilation of magazines, newspapers and news outlets worldwide that had used my picture: the New York Times, Le Monde, the Guardian … Since then it has been used in books, calendars, even postcards.Eventually I decided there was no crime in sending it: who knew what the reaction would be? Five minutes later, my editor sent a text to me, saying, "You have taken a world-class picture." By the following day there was this fantastic compilation of magazines, newspapers and news outlets worldwide that had used my picture: the New York Times, Le Monde, the Guardian … Since then it has been used in books, calendars, even postcards.
Reuters named it one of the best photos of the decade. It is so amazing that the photograph I initially despised came out to be my best picture ever. I knew it was good, but the heights it reached? I never knew that would happen.Reuters named it one of the best photos of the decade. It is so amazing that the photograph I initially despised came out to be my best picture ever. I knew it was good, but the heights it reached? I never knew that would happen.
CVCV
Born: 1971, Lagos.Born: 1971, Lagos.
Studied: Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.Studied: Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.
Influences: "Yousuf Karsch. That man inspired me even before I went to university. He took photos of influential people but he was influential himself." Influences: "Yousuf Karsh. That man inspired me even before I went to university. He took photos of influential people but he was influential himself."
High point: "When I won the World Press Photo Spot News prize in 2007 for this picture"High point: "When I won the World Press Photo Spot News prize in 2007 for this picture"
Low point: "In 2003, I was working in local media when the Nigerian vice-president's guardsmen beat me into a stupor and broke my camera. Apparently I got too close. The last thing I remember was someone saying, 'He's dead.' I was in hospital for a month."Low point: "In 2003, I was working in local media when the Nigerian vice-president's guardsmen beat me into a stupor and broke my camera. Apparently I got too close. The last thing I remember was someone saying, 'He's dead.' I was in hospital for a month."
Top tip: "Believe in yourself. Work hard and tell visual stories that would define history."Top tip: "Believe in yourself. Work hard and tell visual stories that would define history."