Anton Hammerl
Encyclopedia
Anton Hammerl was a South Africa
n freelance photojournalist. He was shot and killed by troops loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi while covering the 2011 Libyan civil war
on April 5, 2011. Hammerl’s family, friends, and colleagues did not learn of his death until over a month later, on May 19, 2011. They believed he was alive, well, and being detained in Libya as a result of assurances given by the Gaddafi regime. Hammerl’s remains have not been located and returned to his family.
, where he met fellow photojournalist Ken Oosterbroek
, who mentored him. Later, Hammerl received several prizes, such as the 1997 World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass, the Abdul Shariff Humanitarian Photographer of the Year Award in 1997 and 1999, the Mondi Shanduka Photographer of the Year in 2005, and the Fuji Africa News Image of the year in 2006.
On September 16, 2011, the South African National Editors' Forum honored Hammerl at the Nat Nakasa
Award ceremony, which is an annual award recognising integrity in South African journalism. The award normally goes to a living, working journalist, but the judges chose to recognise Hammerl for his bravery and dedication to photojournalism.
1992–1995: Hammerl was mentored by the late Ken Oosterbroek
, who was also a South African photojournalist, and member of the Bang-Bang Club
. Thereafter, he began to freelance for Associated Press and various local, and international agency’s covering the democratisation of South Africa and the fall of Apartheid.
1995–2006: Hammerl worked as a senior photographer for several independent newspapers in South Africa: the Saturday Star, Sunday Independent
, and The Star
. In 2001, he became the picture editor and chief photographer at the Saturday Star.
From 2006 until his death in 2011, Hammerl went back to being a freelance photojournalist in London
.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n freelance photojournalist. He was shot and killed by troops loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi while covering the 2011 Libyan civil war
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
on April 5, 2011. Hammerl’s family, friends, and colleagues did not learn of his death until over a month later, on May 19, 2011. They believed he was alive, well, and being detained in Libya as a result of assurances given by the Gaddafi regime. Hammerl’s remains have not been located and returned to his family.
Professional background
At the end of his photographic studies in the early 90s, he began his career in newspapers. He first worked as a freelancer for The StarThe Star
The Star may refer to:* The Star , a 2002 Russian film* The Star , a 1952 Bette Davis film* The Star , a casino in Sydney, Australia* The Star , a Thai singing competition reality television show....
, where he met fellow photojournalist Ken Oosterbroek
Ken Oosterbroek
Ken Oosterbroek , was a South African photojournalist and member of The Bang-Bang Club. He worked for The Star in Johannesburg, which was South Africa's biggest daily broadsheet...
, who mentored him. Later, Hammerl received several prizes, such as the 1997 World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass, the Abdul Shariff Humanitarian Photographer of the Year Award in 1997 and 1999, the Mondi Shanduka Photographer of the Year in 2005, and the Fuji Africa News Image of the year in 2006.
On September 16, 2011, the South African National Editors' Forum honored Hammerl at the Nat Nakasa
Nat Nakasa
Nathaniel Ndazana Nakasa better known as Nat Nakasa was a South African short story writer and journalist.He was born in Durban but moved to Johannesburg to work as a journalist for Drum magazine...
Award ceremony, which is an annual award recognising integrity in South African journalism. The award normally goes to a living, working journalist, but the judges chose to recognise Hammerl for his bravery and dedication to photojournalism.
1992–1995: Hammerl was mentored by the late Ken Oosterbroek
Ken Oosterbroek
Ken Oosterbroek , was a South African photojournalist and member of The Bang-Bang Club. He worked for The Star in Johannesburg, which was South Africa's biggest daily broadsheet...
, who was also a South African photojournalist, and member of the Bang-Bang Club
Bang-Bang Club
The Bang Bang Club was a name primarily associated with four photographers active within the townships of South Africa during the Apartheid period, particularly between 1990 and 1994, from when Nelson Mandela was released from jail to the 1994 elections...
. Thereafter, he began to freelance for Associated Press and various local, and international agency’s covering the democratisation of South Africa and the fall of Apartheid.
1995–2006: Hammerl worked as a senior photographer for several independent newspapers in South Africa: the Saturday Star, Sunday Independent
Sunday Independent
The Sunday Independent is a broadsheet Sunday newspaper published in Ireland by Independent News and Media plc. The newspaper is edited by Aengus Fanning, and is the biggest selling Irish Sunday newspaper by a large margin ; average circulation of 291,323 between June 2004 and January 2005,...
, and The Star
The Star
The Star may refer to:* The Star , a 2002 Russian film* The Star , a 1952 Bette Davis film* The Star , a casino in Sydney, Australia* The Star , a Thai singing competition reality television show....
. In 2001, he became the picture editor and chief photographer at the Saturday Star.
From 2006 until his death in 2011, Hammerl went back to being a freelance photojournalist in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.