French photographer mortally wounded in Syria described adrenaline in war

FILE- This Jan.5, 2013 file picture shows French freelance photographer Olivier Voisin at an undisclosed location in Syria . Olivier Voisin, who was seriously wounded in Syria last Thursday , died of his injuries in Turkey, France’s ministry of foreign affairs confirmed on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Haytham Pictures, Edouard Elias, File) (The Associated Press)

PARIS – Olivier Voisin listed work in 15 countries, half of them war zones. He described the rush of bearing witness to a conflict that otherwise could go unrecorded.

On Sunday, the 38-year-old French freelance photographer became the 23rd journalist killed in fighting in Syria after he died of shrapnel wounds sustained days earlier.

Christophe Deloire, head of Reporters Without Borders, was among those remembering Voisin on Monday. He said that freelance photographers covering the conflict in Syria do so to bear witness, even without knowing whether they will be able to sell their work.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius also honored Voisin, saying that "France reiterates its dedication to freedom of the press."

In addition to 23 professional journalists, 54 citizen-journalists have also died in Syria.