Sniper Image by Rick Findler, Photojournalist

• What story does this image capture that a viewer might not see at first glance?

  The image, taken in Aleppo, Syria in 2013 shows a frantic scene of a boy running from sniper fire. Whilst the image showcases the destruction and the fear of being in Aleppo at the time, it does not directly show the viewer the entire story. What the viewer will learn is that this is actually a boy who should be at school, however there is no school because the city is reduced to rubble and is in the midst of a violent civil war. The boy spends his days filming the clashes on the front lines of combat with his trusty handycam video camera, rather than playing with his friends at school. 

• What do you remember most vividly from the moment it was taken?

  I remember most vividly the idiotic decision to run with the boy for this image. We were only allowed to run across this junction one at a time, so it would make it harder for the sniper to hit us. However I really wanted this shot, so had to run along side him. While I was taking the pictures I wasn't really thinking of anything else other than this is a really dumb idea. 

• Looking back, what does this photograph mean to you now?

  Looking back this photograph reminds me of how carefree I was, or should I say careless. I didn't have first aid training, hostile environment training or even have travel insurance. It was a time of my life with no cares, no responsibility, running around Syria with my best mate Benji Hall who has since been severely injured covering the war in Ukraine.