Occupy DC Black and White Photography

On the day after Halloween, I made my first visit to the Occupy DC tent city at McPherson Square in Washington DC.  I continue to visit the camp every couple of weeks to document the changes in the camp – like the next shot – my last visit found the University of the 99% was established.  I can’t tell you about enrollment or faculty.  Sorry.

I was intending to hold on to these shots for a while, then publish a series.  However, after reading the news yesterday, of the protestors building a two story wooden structure that eventually led to a conflict with the DC police and several arrests, I decided to share several of the photos.

The guys above and in the next shot were new additions upon my last visit, and had a nice new white enclosure from which they were able to talk to passersby about their economic perspective – and hand out flyers for their landscaping business.

The eclectic gathering of people that make up the Occupy DC protestors is quite interesting.  I was happy to find the Latinos were well represented.

I have a whole pocket full of photographs from McPherson Square.  I intend to continue shooting as long as they save.  Come back soon for more from Occupy DC.

Have fun and go make some great photography.

Craig

Bound for Life–Protesters at The Supreme Court Part II

These are some additional photographs of the Bound for Life group holding vigil at the Supreme Court.  Other than being the subjects in the photography, this post is not about the group Bound for Life.  More generally, this post is about protesters and photography.

First, photographers and protesters make a good match.  Protesters want to be seen and heard – photographers are usually willing to play along with the “being seen” part.  Many photographers find it difficult to approach people, begin a conversation, and get permission to include them in a photograph.  Protesters short circuit this ritual – they are there to be seen and (mostly) expect to be photographed.

Second, protesters are usually involved in some extraordinary behavior.  Whether carrying a sign with spelling errors, holding a bible up to the Supreme Court, or shouting their message at passing tourists, something interesting is sure to happen, or a unique juxtaposition emerge if you are patient.

Third, protesters are normally in interesting places – particularly here in Washington DC.  Having a nice back drop like the Supreme Court, the White House, the Capitol Building, or even the Department of the Interior, is a nice prop for the photography.  Thanks protesters.

Speaking of the Department of the Interior, my wife was in lock down at the DOI HQ building yesterday at the precise moment I was shooting the protesters in front of the Supreme Court.  DOI was locked down due to protesters that were less well behaved than the silent and respectful protest of Bound for Life.

I am accumulating a sizeable portfolio of protests, marches, rallies or individuals marching around with battered signs while looking for that beer they lost leaving them one bottle short of a six pack.  Most of my encounters have been happy coincidence.  What I really need is a way to easily know the schedule of all these events in advance.  An iPhone app for that would be very cool.  I believe I will begin my own protest demanding a protest app.

Have fun, and go make some great photography!

Craig

Bound for Life–Protestors at the Supreme Court

In my last post I made note of the new lens I acquired just yesterday (Canon 24-70 f/2.8L).  This afternoon I decided to take a walk around Capitol Hill and enjoy some shooting with my new toy.  With all the flowers and trees in full spring bloom, my thoughts were on a relaxing stroll and some pretty pictures.  I was successful and promise to share some of these.  However, as I walked past the U.S. Capitol Building and the Supreme Court, my shooting took a big right turn.

Not an uncommon occurrence in DC, the protestors were out in force at the Supreme Court.  But the term protestor does not fit well.  I’ve seen plenty of the boisterous protestors in DC and these do not fit that mold.  These were more along the line of folks hanging out showing their support or disapproval on some issue – not really protesting, just being there for the purpose of being present.

The photographs show the three issues at play today.  First is a group known as Bound for Life which is a right to life group that claims to have had a presence at the steps of the Supreme Court every day for the last seven years.  Their objective is overturning Rowe vs. Wade.

The next two were individuals rather than a group.  First is the guy with the sign claiming that i4i destroys secretaries.  I’m guessing this is in reference to the case between Toronto based tech firm i4i and Microsoft set to be heard by the Supreme Court this year.  It is unclear to me how i4i destroys secretaries (do “secretaries” even exist anymore?), but there you have it in black and white.

The third in this small herd of “protestors” was a guy relaxing in a camp chair claiming that marriage is between a man and a woman, and only one of each.

I have opinions on the bookends, but don’t have a clue about i4i and the destruction of an apparently extinct species.  But this is a photography blog, and I will leave you to your own thoughts.  More on the rest of my stroll, some more shots of the Bound for Life folks, and my thoughts on the new lens will be forthcoming.

Have fun and go make some great photography!

Craig