Love In A Time Of Riots
Thursday, June 16, 2011 ;)
Photo Credit: Rich Lam/Getty Images, Click To Enlarge
Getty Images photographer Rich Lam writes....
I was covering last night's Stanley Cup Playoffs for Getty Images when Vancouver erupted in riots after the Canucks' Game 7 loss to the Boston Bruins. It was complete chaos. Rioters set two cars on fire and then I saw looters break the window at a neighboring department store. At that point, the riot police charged right towards us. After I stopped running, I noticed in the space behind the line of police that two people were laying in the street with the riot police and a raging fire just beyond them. I knew I had captured a "moment" when I snapped the still forms against the backdrop of such chaos but it wasn't until later when I returned to the rink to file my photos that my editor pointed out that the two people were not hurt, but kissing.
Vancouver Kissing Couple: It Seemed Like The Best Thing To Do
Reader Comments (39)
this is photoshopped. no way is this real.
Nothing like a little imminent death to remind us what really matters.
It was in a major metropolitan city. Last night.
Nobody was in danger of death, and if you were watching the live footage last night you would probably understand what was going on.
Those two were REALLY drunk, so they decided to lay down and make out in front of the (pretty much harmless) police line.
Amanda, I know people who were there last night and this IS in fact a real photograph despite the strange circumstances around them. As a Vancouverite who was shocked by the actions of certain civilians last night, I am glad to see at least two people (intoxicated or not) out of harm and showing an act of love instead of breaking down walls and windows...
The "many worlds" interpretation of quantum physics, which has been proven just like evolution, states that anything that CAN happen DOES happen...including my sister getting felt up on the street there for an audience of police officers. This was totally real, although it was photoshopped in an alternate universe.
Amanda,
Yes, Pres is correct... it isn't a Photoshopped image. Quite the amazing picture!
We must remember that it was a small group of idiots that instigated the riot! With all the footage shot by both amateur and professional photographers | videographers, hopefully, the majority of these criminals WILL be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law possible.
Regarding the game, Boston clearly deserved to win the game. Congratulations and kudos to them for their play!
White Power
this is a beautiful shot. it sucks when somebody comes in and ruins it with "this is photohshopped"
shame
but wonderful photo none the less.
STAGED.
Not staged, and the girl was injured by the goon squad who should have been gunning for the idiots breaking windows, not harmless bystanders. Kent State?
Literal "Make Love not War" I love it.
This isn't staged nor was it a "Make Love not War message". The girl was simply hurt and to comfort her the boyfriend leaned down and kissed her. The photographer managed to catch this photo at just the right time and it is absolutely beautiful.
I like how people are saying they were drunk and making out. In reality the girl had been knocked down by one of the riot shields, and her boyfriend kissed her to comfort her. The photographer happened to catch it at the perfect moment, as a good photographer should, thus making it look as though they were making out.
Canada Riot? somethings wrong here...
this is just fucking aweseome photoshoped staged or real...
Do you people not watch the news? It's a real photograph and it story has been all over the news for the past two days.
It is a real photo, but it is NOT a kiss, I live in Canada it's all over the news. The girl and boy were thrown down by the police and the girl was injured. The angle caught only looks like they're kissing.
This is definitely real, but the girl was hurt. They weren't trying to make a statement.
Real. And wrong. The girl WAS hurt. Her boyfriend fell on top of her and she smashed her head. They weren't 'making love'. Research is a good thing to do before you put an article out for people to see.
They weren't making out in some sort of protest. He was comforting her after being trampled.
The couple behind the photo were found and here is the real story.
http://gawker.com/5813260/mid+rio--make-out-couple-discovered