2012 Photo Contest, People in the News, 3rd prize

The Fight for Tahrir Square

Photographer

Jan Dago

<em>Jyllands-Posten</em>

05 February, 2011

Demonstrators kneel for evening prayers, beside a protective cordon of tanks placed by the Egyptian military around Tahrir Square.

About the photographer

Jan Dago

Jan Dago was born and grew up in Denmark, where a childhood interest in visual expression began. At first, he made short movies, but the power of the still image gripped him more...

Background story

Cairo, Egypt

Demonstrators kneel for evening prayers, beside a protective cordon of tanks placed by the Egyptian military around Tahrir Square. Peaceful demonstrations against the leadership of Egypt’s president Hosni Mubarak, on Tahrir Square in Cairo, turned violent in late January and early February, when Mubarak supporters attempted to storm the square and attack the protesters. Tahrir Square—with a high international profile, and large enough to accommodate masses of people—became the hub, as well as a symbol, of the protest movement. Although the police had previously clashed with protesters, the Egyptian army made it clear they would not fire on demonstrators, and eventually placed a cordon around the square.

Technical information

Shutter Speed
1/30 sec
Focal length
23 mm
F-Stop
f/3.2
ISO
2000
Camera
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV

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