A Photojournalist’s Field Guide: In the trenches with combat photographer Stacy Pearsall

Foundation Training for High-Risk Environments

Before you set boots in the danger zone, it’s imperative that you arm yourself with the necessary training so you’re prepared for the unexpected. In the end, knowledge is the most powerful weapon a photographer can bring to any conflict. It’s what may save your life if the situation turns dire. There are a number of dedicated war training courses that will teach you basic medical techniques, survival skills, and situational dangers you may encounter while on assignment. It doesn’t matter whether you’re going to document war, or photographing a street riot in your home city; in dangerous places, you must protect your life.

In many countries around the world, photojournalists put themselves at high ...