KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source | DOWN HE GOES!!

DOWN HE GOES!!

Posted 7/16/07

Our own little moments.  We photographers are terrified of exactly this.  It's not so much the pain.  Well I take that back.  It is.  It's the pain of being subjected to humiliation.  My friend and KTVA photographer Ken Fankhauser, bless his heart, is currently being drug through the local television comedic ringer because he inadvertently introduced the back of his legs to a small concrete retaining wall outside the federal courthouse last Monday afternoon.  Tom Anderson had just been convicted on a throng of charges.  He's facing enormous fines and possibly years in jail.  The media horde moved along with the exiting defendant.  In the overall context of this scene, Ken probably could have chosen a more appropriate time to entertain all of us.  But on the other hand humor does have its place in serious circumstances.

I thought MY guy, Brad Hillwig's (Brad is on the left in the plaid shirt), video was funny until I saw these photos.  ADN ace photojournalist, Eric Hill, captured Ken's spill.  Of the two I'm not sure which one I like better.  Eric's first image tells the story.  Ken's going down and there's nothing anyone can do about it.  The second picture is classic because in the midst of a bleak situation no one knows what to do.  They're frozen.  They want to laugh...but should they?  It just doesn't seem right.  Watch Brad's video.  You can see Anderson crack a little smile.  It's like he's thinking, "Yes.  This is the worst day of my life.  But damn!  That's funny.  Thank you camera monkey for making me snicker."  Kudos to Anderson's attorney Paul Stockler.  Who says lawyers don't have heart?  Other than Anderson, Stockler has been the most visible character during the course of this ongoing trial.  He stopped the press corps and helped Ken to his feet.  Only in Alaska.  When this happens in L.A., the Kens of our world get trampled.

Ken wants everyone to know he did his duty.  Under these circumstances, the photographer code dictates we must protect the camera.  Ken's didn't even have to visit the engineering room.  Ken gets a gold star.  Conversely the reporter code says, "If at all possible watch your photog's back."  There's an investigation into whether KTVA reporter Matt Simon did all he could.  But really who cares.  Ken wasn't hurt too badly.  And the rest of us get a little chuckle out of the deal.  It all ends up good.  Another part of our code has to do with karma.  I have a feeling I'll be on the receiving end next time.  And when I am, you'll be able to take a moment and see it right here.

Contact Scott Jensen at sjensen@ktuu.com