Tim Hetherington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tim Hetherington
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Hetherington in 2011
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| Born |
Timothy Alistair Telemachus Hetherington
5 December 1970 Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
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| Died | 20 April 2011 (aged 40) Misrata, Libya
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| Cause of death | Ballistic trauma |
| Burial place | Brompton Cemetery, London, England |
| Citizenship | British |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Photojournalist |
| Years active | 1996–2011 |
| Known for | Restrepo (2010) |
Timothy "Tim" Hetherington (born December 5, 1970 – died April 20, 2011) was a brave British photojournalist. He was known for his amazing photos and films that showed important stories from around the world. He created books, movies, and even art displays. He also wrote for Vanity Fair magazine often.
Tim was most famous for the documentary film Restrepo (2010). He directed this film with his friend, Sebastian Junger. Restrepo won a big award, the Grand Jury Prize, at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2011. Tim won many other awards, including the 2008 World Press Photo of the Year.
Sadly, Tim was killed while reporting on the war in Libya in 2011. He was hit by shrapnel from an explosion.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Tim Hetherington was born in Birkenhead, England. He grew up in Southport and went to St Patrick's Catholic Primary School. Later, he studied at Stonyhurst College. In 1989, he went to Lady Margaret Hall at the Oxford University. There, he studied Classical studies and English.
After college, Tim used some money he received to travel for two years. He visited India, China, and Tibet. This trip made him realize he wanted to "make images." So, he worked for a few years and took night classes in photography. In 1996, he went back to college to study photojournalism in Cardiff.
His Career as a Photojournalist
Tim's first job was at The Big Issue magazine in London. He was the only photographer there. He took pictures of homeless shelters, protests, and everyday life. He preferred to focus on serious stories rather than celebrities. For about ten years, he spent a lot of time in West Africa. He documented political changes and how they affected people's lives in countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.
Tim also worked as a photographer on films like Liberia: An Uncivil War (2004) and The Devil Came on Horseback (2007). In 2006, he even took a break from photography to work as an investigator for the United Nations Security Council.
In 2007 and 2008, Tim traveled to Afghanistan many times. He was working for Vanity Fair with writer Sebastian Junger. They stayed with a U.S. Army group in a remote outpost. There, they filmed the 2010 documentary film Restrepo. They also made Afghanistan – The Other War for the Nightline TV show. Tim's book Infidel is also about the same group of soldiers. He also created a special video art piece called Sleeping Soldiers.
In 2010, Tim directed a short film called Diary. He said it was a very personal film that showed his experiences from ten years of reporting. It was a mix of images that connected his life in the West to the distant worlds he saw in the news.
His Death
In June 2010, Tim was asked about the dangers of his work. He explained that when he first went to Afghanistan in 2007, he was surprised by how much fighting was happening. He said that being inside a base during an attack was usually safer, unless a mortar hit you directly.
Tim was killed on April 20, 2011, while reporting from the city of Misrata, Libya. He was covering the war when he was hit by shrapnel from an explosion. Another photographer, Chris Hondros, was also killed in the same attack. Other journalists were injured.
Tim had tweeted the day before that there was "indiscriminate shelling by Qaddafi forces" in Misrata. He survived the first blast and was put into a van, but he died from losing too much blood.
Tim Hetherington was buried in Brompton Cemetery in London. He is remembered by his partner, parents, sister, brother, and many nieces and nephews.
Just a few days after his death, the Libyan city of Ajdabiya renamed its largest square after him. Protesters against Gaddafi also marched to the new Tim Hetherington Square to honor him. A Libyan surgeon said, "We have named the square after this hero and I now consider Tim as one of our martyrs."
Senator John McCain sent two American flags to a memorial service for Tim in New York. One flag went to Tim's family, and the other went to Idil Ibrahim, his partner. Soldiers from the 173rd Airborne in Afghanistan, who had been with Tim and Sebastian Junger during fighting, delivered the flags.
Awards and Recognition
Tim Hetherington received many awards for his powerful work:
- 1999: World Press Photo, 2nd prize for Sports stories.
- 2001: World Press Photo, 1st prize for Portraits stories.
- 2007: World Press Photo of the Year for a photo from the Korengal Valley.
- 2007: World Press Photo, 2nd prize for General News stories.
- 2008: Rory Peck Award for Features.
- 2009: Alfred I. duPont Award in Broadcast Journalism.
- 2010: Grand Jury Prize for best documentary for Restrepo (with Sebastian Junger) at the Sundance Film Festival.
- 2011: Restrepo was nominated for "Academy Award Best Documentary – Feature."
- 2011: "Leadership in Entertainment Award" from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), given after his death, for his work on Restrepo.
- 2011: Frontline Club Memorial Tribute Award, given after his death, along with other photojournalists.
His Films
Tim Hetherington directed these films:
- Sleeping Soldiers, 2009. A short film.
- Diary, 2010. A short film.
- Restrepo (with Sebastian Junger), 2010. A full-length documentary.
He also helped make these films:
- Liberia: An Uncivil War (2004). He worked as a cinematographer.
- The Devil Came on Horseback (2007). He worked as a cinematographer.
- Korengal (2014). This film was a sequel to Restrepo. Tim contributed cinematography and photos.
His Legacy
Tim Hetherington's work continues to inspire others.
- The Tim Hetherington Grant is given each year by World Press Photo and Human Rights Watch. It helps photographers finish projects about human rights.
- Sebastian Junger made a documentary film called Which Way Is the Front Line From Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington (2013). It is a tribute to Tim.
- The Tim Hetherington Trust was started in 2012 by Tim's parents. It helps keep his work alive and supports new projects that focus on human rights and social issues.
- The Tim Hetherington Photobook Library is a collection of about 1200 photography books in New York. It includes books donated by Tim's parents and others.
See also
- List of British film directors
- List of film and television directors
- List of photojournalists
- List of people educated at Stonyhurst College
