Working the Wire

Caption: In this long exposure photograph, a volunteer announces the end of the 25th Big Shot, as students and volunteers using flashlights and camera flash units light up the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian for a photography project by the Rochester Institute of Technology, on the National Mall in Washington, on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. The Big Shot, which is made after dark, uses a technique known as painting with light. The landmark is lit by hundreds of volunteers using a long exposure, after which only the lit up building and grounds are seen in the image.  (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Got to relive my college days tonight in shooting RIT’s Big Shot, this time for the AP and not as a student. Despite the rain it was a good time, even saw some of my long lost fellow alumni. Above is my shot from the opposite angle, trying to show the crowd participation as well as the handheld lights dancing on the building.

Thanks to @10000words for highlighting my portfolio among his top 20 photojournalism portfolio’s! I designed it myself so I’m very happy to be featured here! Also featured are several of my favorite photojournalism peers. Have a look!

Happy Memorial Day, thanks to all the veterans for your service.

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Obviously I am sorely in need of a blog update, but just real quick I am happy to have had a photo that landed in the Washington Post’s Photos of the Day (from Thursday). Pirate fighting, arr!

Also, I am now twittering, follow me if you’re interested @jacquelyn_m

You can also follow WPOW on twitter @wpownews

I promise the next update won’t take 3 months.

My coverage spot at the Inauguration of Barack Obama was a ticketed spot in the standing section on the Capitol grounds, the purple gate was the entry point. Because it was not a special media position I had to stand in the line with everyone else. To our dismay, despite arriving at dawn, thousands of people with purple tickets were unable to enter the gate. Why is still unclear, what is clear is that there was no communication to the massive crowd about the situation. There were no signs or volunteers to help. Worse, there was misdirection that led several thousand people to spend inauguration morning in the 3rd Street tunnel that goes underneath the National Mall. The crowd patiently waited in good humor for their chance to watch history in person. Sadly, they didn’t have the chance – not even to find a different spot. Purple people, these pictures are for you.

All photos are copyright the Associated Press and may not be redistributed. Thanks!

More photos can be seen in this slideshow HERE.

Slideshow I shot and produced for the AP taking a look at the Obama Wall, a series of panels that were put up near the Lincoln Memorial that prompted an outpouring of public writings to president-elect Obama.

Wow. I feel so privileged to have been in this city at this time in history. It was an amazing night with 20 hours of it spent working.
 
This photo is from the instant the students at Howard University, a traditionally black college in DC, realized that Obama had won the presidency.
 
The room exploded into so much noise that it went silent.

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

And then there was crying, hugging, shouting, more crying, and lots of calling Mom. It was so touching to be there hearing these students say things like “Now we can do anything” that I cried a little too.
 
So now when people ask me what the “best thing” I’ve photographed in my career is, it will definitely have been this moment on this night.

Just one day until election day…..

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

To avoid missing voting because I’ll be working like a maniac tomorrow, I voted today! It felt rather empowering I must say, especially since this is such an impactful and historic election year.

I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to photograph all the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates in the last couple months (fortunately for me I cover northern Virginia!), in my first presidential election season with the AP. I even covered the outgoing President last week!

The candidates, and the President:

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

And in today’s Virginia news, a decided lack of prophylactics:

Pam Semler, of Fairfax, Va., works the register at DMC Pharmacy in Chantilly, Va. on Monday, Oct. 20, 2008. The pharmacy bills itself as “pro-life” and carries no contraceptive products. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

AND some Obama-rama, (ok, it’s from the day after), where an estimated 30,000 people came out to see the Presidential nominee speak in Leesburg, Va:

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Btw – I’m in NYC for two days to check out the Photo Expo. If you’re around holler at me!