DEBBIE HILL - Photographer

If you look inside a photographer's bag, next to the camera equipment you'll usually find a roll of gaffer's tape and extra batteries, maybe a piece of black velvet in case the shutter jams. Debbie Hill carries an onion, "for the tear gas," she says. Having emigrated from West Virginia only two years ago, she has been forced to learn a lot of lessons the hard way.
She tells me about a riot in Jericho days before the Israeli withdrawal, and how, when she could not see to focus, could not in fact breathe, she ducked into a fruit store to find everyone looking back at her with onions pressed against their noses. "The owner gave me one. It really works!"
Other tips. Debbie has other tips for riot photography: stay low and close to a wall, bring a friend to watch your back. And, if you’re looking for action, watch for small things, "like what kinds of shoes the Palestinian kids are wearing. If they have on their street shoes, more than likely there’s not going to be a riot; if they have on their sneakers, then they’re ready to run."

Also, be prepared for a long day. "Once it starts you’re there. You can’t decide you’ve had enough and go. If stones are flying one way and rubber bullets are coming from the other, and you’re stuck in the middle photographing - you can’t take your camera and go home. You’ve got to stay till it stops."

Shoot with the Pack