September 30, 2007
Akintunde Akinleye, a Reuters photographer in Nigeria, shot the devastating fire ignited in December 2006 on the outskirts of Lagos when an illegally tapped oil pipeline exploded. At least 269 people died. Akinleye calls this photo "Hell From Heaven," because "we are rich from oil and yet we are still poor," leaving many of Nigeria's poorest to scavenge for oil. For the photo, Akinleye, 36, won first place in the World Press Photo competition for a spot news single picture. It depicts a man attempting to douse flames that burned his shop.
How did you find this shot amid the chaos of the pipeline fire?
"I saw him trying to wash his face using the rest of the water from the bucket. He used the last water from the bucket to wash his face.... The fire was still going on, still burning. We had all these winds, these heavy winds blowing smoke, so you had the smoke in the background covering the people.
"I think smoke and water are very important elements of a photograph. Water and smoke: They produce lots of effects for a photograph.... Anywhere you see smoke it makes your picture look so artistic. That's what I felt. It's going to be so beautiful to get this."
» Akinleye's photo essay, "The Troubles of a Blessed Country," will be on view at the National Geographic Society Oct. 4-7 as part of the All Roads Film Project.
PHOTO: Akintunde Akinleye - Reuters; WEB EDITOR: Julia Beizer - washingtonpost.com
