When your pictures don't make it to the page

Today I'm left feeling a bit frustrated after a story I covered yesterday didn't even get a mention, let alone any of my pictures get used in today's editions of the Sunday paper I was on commission for. I accept and am more than used to commissioned pictures not making it to the page, it's all part of the job but yesterday something happend that made it personal, it was a bit like being pinched and reminded me of one of the reasons why I got in to photography.

In Manchester yesterday there was an anti-war demo in protest at what is happening in Lebanon and Israel. I got the call just after mid day and I got there as quick as I could, which actually took quite a bit of motivation after a very long previous day on a story in Germany flying via Stansted but that another story. As I arrived at the demo it was going along Oxford Street and progressed into Albert Square in front of Manchester's magnificent Town Hall where many demos have their conclusion with speeches or where where Manchester United parade their silverwear, whenever they can actually achieve their fans expectations.

The march and resulting gathering all went peacefully but was marred, thankfully only minorly by a group of about 30 hate fueled pro-israel counter demonstraters. Demonstrations quiet often have an extremist element which usually provided good fodder for us photographers, print journos and radio and tv but this group of post middle aged, right-wing zelots reminded me of the facists at a National Front demo outside a religious temple in south London that I photograhed a few years ago.

Who in their right mind protests againsts a peace demonstration and abuses the people gathered to support it? Whilst with recent wars many people may agree or disagree over government's policies and actions, most people, well those in their right mind, only actually seek an end to suffering and a more peacful world, unfortunately not these pro Israely activists though. Carrying the flag with the star of David and aided with mega phones they verbally abused anyone in earshot in Albert Square and for me at least reflected and reinforced my discust at Israel's steam roller approach against any disent to they aggresive behaviour.

A few times during the demonstration, the journalist that I was working with pointed out how the Police EG team, teams of two still and video camera equiped, uniformed Police officers acting as Evidence Gatherers, seemed to film only the anti-war demonstraters and not the pro israel biggots who were clearly inciting racist hatred. It was only at the end of the demonstration, when i witnessed the zionist leaders of the counter demo abuse a lone arab looking couple with young children, that I woke up from my "been there, seen it before" protest and riot experienced photographers mindset.

These people who in between chanting their racist slogans were just a bunch of bullys, a reflection maybe of the state they support?

During my short stay in Germany all the local people that I met or came in to contact with were extremly friendly and hospitable and more than once I wondered if the English would have shown the same welcome to the German fans had roles been reversed? So, even though I'm not the biggest footie fan in the country, I was disappointed to see the World Cup 2006 hosts get knocked out byt Italy.

Here's one of my pics of a happy German fan partying with the English fans in Stutgart after the Ecuador match.

Back on home turf in Manchester at the big screen at the Castlefield Arena and they think its all over.........well unfortunately, it is now and so it'll be a trip to Manchester airport on Sunday to try to photograph the players returning like Messers Rooney and Gerrard and accompanying WAGS, rather than a return journey by me to Baden Baden as had been penciled in.