Love of the Common Man

On Wednesday I photographed the BBC World Service Awards. This was a really great honour because not only was Michael Palin the guest presenter but the winner of an Outstanding Contribution award was Alan Johnston the journalist who was captured and spent five months in solitary confinment in Gaza. In fact it was a year ago to the day that he was captured. He told me that he did not know on that day if he would see it through, he felt close to death several times on that night. In the end and what keeps you going is the thought that one day you will see your family again and in time you realise that is all that really matters.

The evening was full of stories of jounalists who had put their life on the line to bring the news. From Bagladesh floods to the protests in Burma.

I was really nervous before the event but I think that was a good thing. I had to go over in my mind all the different types of lighting I might encounter and how I would ensure great photos.

On Thursday I was madly processing the images in order to get them to the right people on time. From my online portfolios I have had some good feedback and the pictures of Alan Johnston appeared on the BBC website.

www.simonjaypricephotography.com