Image 72 of 100: CATHAL MCNAUGHTON, Northern... - One love, one life, one chance.
Image 72 of 100: CATHAL MCNAUGHTON, Northern Ireland “On the eve of the July 12 parades in Northern Ireland, bonfires are lit in Loyalist areas to mark the start of the festivities. Communities vie to build the biggest bonfire and, despite new regulations, these dangerous, towering piles of pallets and tires are still found in staunchly Protestant housing estates. I’d been keeping an eye on this bonfire site which took over a week to build. But as soon as I got out of my car, local youths who are in charge of protecting their fire, confronted me suspicious that I was from a rival estate and wanted to burn down the fire before the big night. On the days leading up to the Eleventh Night, local gangs protect their bonfire 24 hours a day – even sleeping beside them on old sofas. As tensions are running high, it’s not safe for an outsider to hang around so I had some work to do to convince the kids that I just wanted to take a picture. I worked quickly as they warily watched my every move. Their outright suspicion of me actually added to the mood of tension.” Lens 17-35mm at 35mm, f10, 1/800, ISO 400 Caption: Youths pose near their bonfire in Ballykeel housing estate, in Ballymena, Northern Ireland July 11, 2011. Northern Irish Protestants traditionally light bonfires on the 11th of July to celebrate their culture. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton

Image 72 of 100: CATHAL MCNAUGHTON, Northern Ireland

“On the eve of the July 12 parades in Northern Ireland, bonfires are lit in Loyalist areas to mark the start of the festivities. Communities vie to build the biggest bonfire and, despite new regulations, these dangerous, towering piles of pallets and tires are still found in staunchly Protestant housing estates. I’d been keeping an eye on this bonfire site which took over a week to build. But as soon as I got out of my car, local youths who are in charge of protecting their fire, confronted me suspicious that I was from a rival estate and wanted to burn down the fire before the big night. On the days leading up to the Eleventh Night, local gangs protect their bonfire 24 hours a day – even sleeping beside them on old sofas. As tensions are running high, it’s not safe for an outsider to hang around so I had some work to do to convince the kids that I just wanted to take a picture. I worked quickly as they warily watched my every move. Their outright suspicion of me actually added to the mood of tension.”

Lens 17-35mm at 35mm, f10, 1/800, ISO 400

Caption: Youths pose near their bonfire in Ballykeel housing estate, in Ballymena, Northern Ireland July 11, 2011. Northern Irish Protestants traditionally light bonfires on the 11th of July to celebrate their culture. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton

7/2/12
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