At best, they'll only be left with a little pain, or have a temporary conflict with the authorities for entering a forbidden place. At worst... they could die beaten, crushed, frozen, drowned, wrapped in flames, or eaten by something bigger than them. Many photographers out there risk their lives to capture the perfect shot, and the simple act of documenting their efforts deserves its own category.
The best image in a photographer's life can come spontaneously, as it happened to Charles O’Rear with his famous Bliss, or be the result of days of waiting, facing the elements, going hungry, defying gravity, solving technical problems, and struggling with light. Why do they take such risks? The most common answer is that they're professionals, but personally I prefer to say they simply love photography and give it everything they have. In fact, I don't think the label of "professional photographer" is mandatory. All you need to get started is a camera, the knowledge to get the most out of it, and to pour your best into every shot. That said, let's see what some photographers have done to get the perfect image...
The gallery
