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Monday, November 26, 2007

Alison Wright - Master Of Disaster

Sure, you've heard of Murphy's Law, but what about Wright's Law?

Murphy's Law states that “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.” Documentary photographer Alison Wright may actually find that statement comforting, especially in light of the fact that, for her, anything that can go wrong, will—at the worst possible moment in the worst possible place.

“It's a joke with my friends,” says Wright. “It's bizarre because they're like, ‘Oh, my god, I'm traveling with Alison!' Editors who travel with me on assignment are also on edge. I've been through more shit than anyone I know. But if you put yourself out there, stuff is going to happen.”

Take a worm in the head from a trip to Thailand or how about being run over by a horse in Mongolia and receiving fractured ribs and a concussion? Beating off wild dogs with a tripod in Jordan? “Thank god for carbon fiber,” quips Wright.

Even flying to location has plagued Wright. While jetting over the Arctic, she discovered her plane needed to perform an emergency landing on the frozen tundra below. Why, you may ask? Well, when your landing gear catches fire, you really don't have much choice.

Then again, a Burmese refugee camp should be safe enough to garner fascinating photographic moments. Maybe so, under normal circumstances, but Wright had a far from normal experience, trapped for two days as grenades from a conflict were going off.

“Please don't ask how many times I've been pickpocketed,” adds Wright to her list of misadventures. “It's just plain embarrassing.”

But then again, don't get caught trying. While in Vietnam, young thugs tried to steal her camera and computer case. “I may only be 5 feet, 2 inches, but touch me or my stuff, and I go ballistic,” says Wright. “I fought back and was able to retrieve it.”