Every May, we remember and celebrate those servicemen and woman who served our beloved country and paid the ultimate sacrifice, as we observe Memorial Day. Here in St. Louis, thousands descend upon Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery to pay their respects and reflect on loved ones gone on. I decided to take a trip this year to capture these special moments of mourners as they spend the day.
I was a little cautious initially because these are very sensitive moments. Private and very vulnerable to say the least, but still a beautiful human story. Beloved mothers, fathers, grandfathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles, they are all there. It was amazing to see headstones of veterans who served in American conflicts from World War I to Korean, to the Iraq and Afghanistan War.
When I arrived, I kept telling myself to tread lightly, respect people’s space and moment with their loved ones. So in other words, 400mm lens. It turned out to be a perfect solution for grasping the emotion, but from outside the bubble. You could liken it to fishing. I would walk to a certain spot on the grounds and just sit on it and take what the moment would give you. Most of the morning, I tried to get creative with the angles of the headstones until more family began to arrive.
As you make your way through the cemetery, you discover these private special moments. Some all alone to their thoughts, families huddled together around a headstone, to little ones being introduced to their loved one and being told their story. It was beautiful to say the least.
After walking around for awhile, I managed to locate one of the dozens of JBNC staff and actually had them locate my loved ones that are buried there and managed to pay them a visit too.
It was an amazing experience to be out there today, to witness the raw human emotion and celebration of life. As a photojournalist, I really want to work on how to gain rapport, engage them to not just say “Sorry for your loss”, but rather “How was he/she?” and hear the stories of these loved ones and what they meant to them. It will certainly be an annual thing for me.
What’s undoubtably one of the most storied traditions among the African American community in St. Louis, The 94th annual Annie Malone Mayday parade was more than just your typical parade down Market St. this year, it was a display of black culture, talent, art and excellence.
The Annie Malone Children and Family Services Center has been a long standing staple in the community for over 100 years that offers various community programs and services that include Crisis Care and Emergency Residental Placement, Parenting Education and most notably, the Transition Living Program, geared to helping youth that age out of the foster care system to be self-sufficient, determine career plans and developing life skills for independant living.
Organized in 1888, the “St. Louis Colored Orphans Home” was founded by a group of women to address the issue of how orphans of color were treated in St. Louis and was renamed Annie Malone Children’s Home in 1946 after philathropist, Annie Malone assumed the role as Board Chairman in 1919 and donated $10,000 of her own money to further cultivate the successes of the home for colored children. Malone served in that role until 1943 and along with her volunteer efforts, warranted the home and foundation be named in her honor.
Now in 2015, the community needs programs and services such as Annie Malone now more than ever. In addition to rampid unemployment, social inequalities, and poverty, the community needs an overall morale boosts. You can always find that boosts in a few hours every May when the foundation hosts its annual May Day Parade, which also acts a fundraiser to decrease homelessness and prevent child abuse and neglect.
For me, this year was different. I’ve walked in this parade in high school as a part of a youth guide right program, but this was my first year to really see it as a photojournalist and show how beautiful of an event this truly is. After covering the events of Ferguson, I really saw first hand how the media can spin stories and affect public perception of a community thus brewing negative stereotypes. Though there are “bad apples” just as there is with all colors and creeds of people, that doesn’t reflect the image of all the people.
On this beautiful day, there was a full display of beautiful black talent, potential, families, smiles and positive vibes. Sure this isn’t the answer to all the communities problems, but just for a few hours under the mild St. Louis sun, you saw everything you could and should wish for from our youth and community. Boy, was it a sight to see…
Every since the coverage in Ferguson began to slow down, I made it a goal to get to Washington to have an opportunity to meet all the wonderful people I spent the last 8 months getting to know at Agence France-Presse. After some further encouragment from other colleagues, I finally got an opportunity to book a ticket.
The trip was originally just intended to be strictly networking. I even toyed with the idea of not even taking a camera…’Toyed’. I just wanted to be in their element, see what they do and how they operate. Since I recently landed some pretty monumental assignments with them, such as being in the pool to cover Hillary Clinton’s initial campaign stops in Iowa after announcing her presidential candidacy, I figured that I might be getting a little “hot in these streets” and needed opportunity to let them put a face with a name and be fresh in their minds going forward in consideration for things in my region.
Monday, April 27, 2015.
After taking a insanely early flight and connecting through Midway in Chicago, I arrived into Reagan National Airport around 11am. It was a cloudy day, typical of what I always see when seeing images of Washington, DC. Lots of people jogging, exercising and on the move, I actually felt bad because I was on a mission to try some cuisine that’s unique to Washington. My buddy, Sam Corum, who’s based in Washington with Anadolu Agency, recommended Ben’s Chili Bowl. A classic eatery with a rich history in the black community in Washington, known for their ‘Half Smoke’ and signature chili. President Obama made frequent visit here during his presidency and his face and images are all over the wall. The ‘Half Smoke’ was ok, I really enjoyed the ambiance. I spent the rest of the day getting my bearings right and knowing my surroundings.
OK, so back to the good stuff….
Tuesday, April 28, 2015.
So after reaching the city, I found a parking spot about 5-6 blocks away from the AFP Offices… So me, my ‘first impression blazer and loafers’, along with 25lbs of cameras, laptop and gear, made the walk. After signing in and being directed up the secure elevators, I arrived at AFP North America Bureau Newsroom. It was probably the first, of many more, surreal moments of the trip. I was greeted by a familiar voice, Eva, whom I’ve worked with directly a great deal since Ferguson, and proceeded to be given the tour around the office. The biggest rush was being given huge kudos from editors and other staff when they heard my name. It was an amazing feeling to be that well-recognized amongst the staff for my work thus far for the agency.
So the first opportunity I got was to sit and shadow the photo editors as they were awaiting photos from the joint press conference with the Japanese Prime Minister and President Obama in the Rose Garden of the White House. Time to go into ‘sponge mode’. I took the opportunity to ask questions about captioning, how they crop and all the various fields that need to be correct when transmitting images in.
After hanging with the editors for a few hours, I managed to finally see my friend, Loic. Loic is one of the staff video journalists that I trekked around town chasing all things Ferguson since August. We really became good friends as a result of the madness we were a part of. I often say we died at least 3 times together from the heat the day of Michael Brown’s funeral…lol. You have no other choice but to develop a bond after that. He was quite excited to have me in the office and really championed for me to get considered for things with the editors. The rest of the day, drinks at Georgia Brown’s, dinner at Saigon City Vietnamese Cuisine in Springfield, VA.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015.
Ok, so today’s the day things begin to get real interesting…
I accompany Eva to the Capitol Building to pick up her new annual credential for the year. While there, I’m introduced to AFP staff photographer, Brendan Smialowski. Brendan proceeds to ‘show me around’ the capitol building to see all the secret stairwells and entrances that the normal everyday person would never see in addition to the photo galleries on both the Senate and House side respectively. It was amazing to see all the iconic photographs that have come out of these offices over the past few decades and hear the stories and history that has taken place there. The house press gallery has one of the most comfortable couches in the building.
Making your way around the capitol building can be exhausting and confusing. One of the cool things about making you way around the building is the underground tram system, they have 2. One that’s more modern and one that’s been around for sometime, fully equipped with a top down ride.
When we make it back to the office after spending the majority of the day at the Capitol, there are early rumblings among the editors that I would be getting access to the White House on Thursday to shadow the staffers there, Mandel Ngan and Jim Watson, but the opportunity to photograph the President was on life support, depending on his scheduled events and if they were open press or not. Dinner at Busboys and Poets in Shirlington, VA.
Thursday, April 30, 2015.
The day my life would change. Nothing would be the same….
I received notification that my credential would be approved for the White House and instructions on how to access the grounds. Riding the train in from Virginia, I was totally consumed with excitement that grew and grew with each approaching stop on the line. Once I arrived at the McPherson Square station, I was totally lathered up in anticipation of what the day would bring.
I arrived at the White House at 8:30am. Since the repeated breaches of perimeter of the White House, the Secret Service has a increased buffer area that pushes people back past Lafayette Square and away from the White House fences. I initially had to explain to the Secret Service personnel that I was there for a Press Appointment and was directed to the gate to be checked in. I can’t lie, I was nervous as hell. Once I proceeded to the first gate, I submitted my ID and was allowed in to be screened. Once screened (yes, I did trigger the alarm and was hand checked), I was on my way through and proceeded to the Press Briefing Room. I honestly was closely moved to tears as I proceeded up the walkway because never in a million years would I think I’d be granted such an opportunity and also the highs and lows I’ve experienced in my career as a photographer, only to finally ascend to this very moment.
Once I regained my composure, I proceeded into the Press Briefing Room and adjacent press office. After about 30 minutes, Mandel Ngan, the AFP Staff Photographer, arrived. He began to give me the tour of the office and showing me all the things that happen when reporting the White House on a daily basis. Of course, I found my home in ‘Still Country’, the reserved area for all the still photographers covering the President…
9:30ET, it’s time for Mandel to depart for the President’s event at a elementary school in Anacostia, VA. Before he leaves, he mentions that there’s a possibility that I could be granted the chance to photograph President Obama as he signs S.535 Bill, The Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015 at 2:55ET, we would just have to wait for Eva’s approval. After about 45 minutes, I receive a message that I was approved for the opportunity of my dreams. I always thought if I ever got the chance to photograph the President, it would be on the tarmac of Air Force One, or at some event, waaaay in the back, but NEVER at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office of the White House, a place many photographers rarely have the opportunity to go, especially a 3rd year stringer photographer from the Midwest, who just happened to be in-town for the week…
Once I was inside 2 hours before it’s time to get it done, I got warmed up by shooting the afternoon press briefing. I figured why not, it would be cool to be a part of it, especially if you don’t know when you’ll make it back…
Ok, it’s 2:30ET, the moment arrives, after all the captions are checked and ready, custom white balance has been set and all the rules, both written and unwritten, are explained, it’s time to line up and be lead to the colonnade walkway just to the outer door of the Oval Office. Escorted by White House press personnel and armed Secret Service Agents (not officers, there’s a difference), we wait outside the door, ready to essentially rush to position. In the back of my mind, I’m telling myself, “Don’t get caught up in the moment! Don’t overthink it! Don’t get starstruck! Don’t be clumsy!…and most importantly, “DON’T BUMP THE DESK WITH YOUR CAMERA!!!”….No Pressure.
3:15ET, Oval Office door opens. I file in with media, take a knee at the desk….and there he is….
For the record, I have not a clue what he said. I was too consumed with not screwing up and getting the shots I needed. The entire Pool Spray lasted 4 minutes. Next thing you know, he and the Senators and Representatives were clapping after the signing, then we’re being asked to leave. As I was leaving, I looked to my left, and there’s Pete Souza, Chief White House Photographer, standing shoulder to shoulder with me. Of course, the request to leave didn’t apply to him in the least bit, I whispered “Hey Pete”, he didn’t respond, but it’s ok. Shortly thereafter, President Obama has come around the desk and is jokingly shooing us out of the Oval Office. And just like that, it was over…
(Here’s some outtakes of us getting pushed out of the Oval Office)
So shortly after getting in my pictures to the desk, I just sat back and enjoyed the moment and just soaked it all in. I was able to achieve a short term goal of mine, that just a week ago, I had no clue on how I would ever get a chance to get it done. Now I will be able to share this story for the rest of my life and career and this photo means so much to me…
After a short downpour, it was time to leave and the day was over. I stopped by AFP offices to say my final goodbyes and talk about my future with Agence France-Presse. Great to say that I’ll be back for Hostile Environment Training in two weeks.
Here’s to the Best Week EVER!!! See you next time D.C.!!!
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