Friday, January 30, 2009

Armertine Robinson

My photos of Armertine Robinson and her husband, Douglas, ran in The New York Times on January 23, 2009.

Armertine and her husband Douglas are going to lose income protection that affords them home healthcare under new federal legislation. Armertine is likely going to be forced into a nursing home to protect their families' assets.

Jewish Home Lifecare contacted me after the article was released and will be using the image to lobby state officials to fight the impending legislation.

Disclaimer: Photoshop was used heavily in the creation of the third image in this gallery.





Wednesday, January 28, 2009

America: In A New Light

There were a lot of people on The National Mall that day. Two million. And yet I'll never forget the relative order with which they waited: for hours, with no ropes, no arrows, no official line minders. Just thousands of people standing one behind the other, patiently waiting their turn. Those who tried to cut were booed loudly. "Obama can see you!" I yelled at one cheat. Obama's New Era of Responsibility was already taking shape.

Once the proceedings were underway, the number of times that the inaugural ceremony called for those present to "please be seated" was a constant reminder that this is not an event typically put on for the standing masses. And yet when Obama spoke, he spoke to all of us.

"For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies."

It was cold in Washington on January 20, 2009. As Obama thrilled the crowd ("... know this America, they will be met!"), the clapping of two million gloved hands sounded less like applause and more like an enormous herd thundering in a new direction.

The following portraits were taken in Washington D.C. the day before and the day of the inauguration. I asked my subjects a simple question: What does Barack Obama's election mean to you?

The weather outside on the ride down had been bleak: temperatures in the twenties, snowy. Gusts of wind had battered our bus across multiple lanes as we rolled down the New Jersey Turnpike. The return trip was different: same landscape, same towns, but under fairer skies. So what does Barack Obama's election mean to me? It means America still, but in a new light.

The following is a selection of images from this project.















Thursday, January 22, 2009

Illegal Wedding

Jonathan Self and Marianne Van Pelt spontaneously (and illegaly) convened their wedding ceremony in Grand Central Terminal at 4:32 just east of the information booth, the exact place and time where they'd first met years before. My photos ran in The New York Times Sunday, January 11.















Wednesday, January 14, 2009

95-Year-Old Ruth Taube

My photo of 95 year old Ruth Taube ran in The New York Times Saturday, January 10.







Monday, January 12, 2009

Neediest Fund Case Rene Blas

My photo of inspiring young Rene Blas ran in The New York Times December 29 and was republished on Fox News the same day. Even Fox News has a heart around the holidays!