Behind the shutter: How photographer Ronaldo Schemidt captured one of the defining images of the Venezuela crisis

by Guest Thu Mar 01, 2018 9:22 am

José Víctor Salazar Balza catches fire amid violent clashes with riot police during a protest against president Nicolas Maduro in Caracas CREDIT: RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP

José Víctor Salazar Balza is engulfed by flames as he and thousands of other protesters clash with riot police in Caracas.

It is May 3, 2017 and the 28-year-old is one of the many Venezuelans who took to the streets to oppose moves by President Nicolas Maduro widely interpreted as an escalation towards dictatorship.

"A motorcycle of the National Guard exploded during a clash between demonstrators and government forces during a protest on the streets," AFP photographer Ronaldo Schemidt told The Telegraph. "It was lying on the floor, on fire, surrounded by young people. One of them hit the tank, sparking an explosion."

That's when Mr Salazar caught fire. The photographer was standing a few metres away with his back to him. Feeling the heat of the flames, he pulled his camera up, turned around and shot "something".

"All that, took just a few seconds, so I didn’t know what I was shooting. I was moved by instinct, it was very quick. I didn’t stop shooting until I realised what was going on. There was somebody on fire running towards me."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/01/behind-shutter-photographer-ronaldo-schemidt-captured-one-defining/