Shooting the Darkness : Iconic Images of the Troubles and the Stories of the Photographers Who Took Them

Photographers of the Troubles reveal how they captured pivotal moments, detailing got-the-shot methods, costs, ethical dilemmas, and emotional fallout while showcasing iconic images and their impact.

Based on the acclaimed RTÉ documentary, Shooting the Darkness, this landmark book presents the stories of leading photographers – Alan Lewis, Paul Faith, Martin Nangle, Stanley Matchett, Trevor Dickson, Hugh Russell and Crispin Rodwell – whose images captured some of the most important events of the Troubles. They talk, many of them for the first time, about the photographs they took – how they got the shot; what it cost them to take the photograph; and reflect on whether it was worth it.

More broadly, they talk about what it was like to be a photographer during the Troubles: how the paramilitary groups dealt with them, the ethical dilemmas they faced, and the emotional fallout they experienced. The book includes the stories behind iconic images such as Bishop Edward Daly waving a blood-stained handkerchief on Bloody Sunday, Sean Downes being shot and killed by an RUC plastic bullet in Andersonstown in 1984, and the brutal attack of corporals Derek Wood and David Howes in March 1988.