Jay Westcott has always had a passion for photography, but it wasn’t until he served in the U.S. Navy that he thought about pursuing it as a career. He worked with a Navy photographer and kept borrowing his camera. The photographer finally said, “Jay, you need to go buy your own camera.” Needless to say, Jay did and was on his way. After a brief career in sales, Jay pursued a degree in photojournalism at The Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington. He has worked as a photo tech/editor at The Washington Post, as a staff photographer at The Washington Examiner as a staff photographer for TBD.com, and most recently as a staff photographer for POLITICO. Based in Washington, DC, he specializes in politics and portraits, and often the two intertwine. His work has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, Newsweek, Time, Washingtonian Magazine and countless other places, including his mom’s refrigerator. When he’s not out shooting photos, he can be found riding or racing bicycles or hiking with his daughter, Lauren.

A few years ago I remember seeing pics on SportsShooter from a Holi festival. The pics were amazing and I thought, “man I’d love to cover that one day.” Well, things like Holi festivals don’t happen in the halls of Congress, which is where I was working at the time.  A couple things have changed since then: I’m now freelancing full time, and the advent of the “Color Run.”

Color runs have taken some aspects of Holi festivals and applied them to a 5k fun run. Essentially it happens like this: runners navigate a 5 kilometer course that has “color stations” where volunteers throw colored powder on passing runners. The festival-like atmosphere continues after the run, with music and dancing and more color being thrown about.

A rep from Run or Dye, a leading organizer of a series of color runs, contacted me last week to be a house photographer for their DC event, which took place on Saturday, June 8, 2013. After a couple e-mails negotiating rights and fees, I secured the gig.

I have read horror stories such as this one when it came to covering a color run. I’m a lowly freelancer and my hand-me-down 5D mk IIs are all I have. I can’t afford to have a lens or body taken out of commission because of color dust.  I took every precaution I could think of to keep my gear safe. I negotiated camera covers into my agreement, which the company provided. I bought cheap filters for the front of the lenses I would be using. And I found an 11th-hour deal on a $70 used 28-70 3.5-4.5 USM Canon lens, which I could write off and throw away after the gig if I had to.

I arrived early (as you ALWAYS should) and contacted the Media Director. I met up with him and ran into a couple familiar faces that were also covering the event for Run or Dye. I was given my camera covers and I quickly broke out my cheapo lens and gaffer’s tape and set my rigs up. THIS SAVED MY ASS. The covers were cheapo Op/Tech clear covers that run for $6 on Amazon.com.  Instead of putting the draw-string closures on the lens as recommended, I put the other end on the lens and double-layered gaffer’s tape to the filter and the covers. The covers were long enough to go up my arm a ways, and I used the drawstring to secure the cover around my arm when I was shooting.

The other trick I used was staying upwind of the dye. If the wind is coming from the right, stay to the right. That way, any dust will blow AWAY from you and not land on/in/near your camera. I shot a lot from a distance with a 70-200, and when I needed to get close I used the 28-70 cheapo lens. I left my 50 1.2 and 16-35 2.8 in the bag.

My instructions were to shoot at the start line, and then the finish line for a bit. I could also shoot the festival from the stage, where most of the post-race action took place.

Two guys were MCing from a riser near the start, so I climbed up and snapped a bunch of pics from above for a bit. I then moved to the ground level of the start line, and then moved to the first color station. Again, I stayed upwind, and made sure to keep the dye powder moving away from me while I shot from a distance. When I did move close, I stayed to the upwind side and used the cheapo lens.

I moved to the finish line when I was asked to, and to be honest it wasn’t my favorite spot. People were rude, mostly, and a lot of them wanted to mug for the camera rather than let me photograph them actually running. As quick as I could I made my way to the stage to make pics of the rest of the festival.

Loud dance music, endorphins, and color dye make people act crazy. Even at 10 am. I was hoping/praying/excited for eye candy, and I wasn’t disappointed.

As the festival wound down, I met up with the Media Director and downloaded my memory cards to his hard drive. 20 minutes later, after 28 gig worth of raw files were delivered, I was done. And here’s the cool part: I was paid upon delivery of the images. When the last file transferred and I closed my laptop, I was handed a check. No waiting, no 30 day lag, none of that. Deliver the images, boom, get paid.

Color runs/Holi festivals can be great to cover. I am happy with my results and more importantly my client was happy with my results. Be smart, be prepared and think before you go and you will be just fine.

A little snow doesn’t put the kibosh on President Obama’s schedule; in fact it was a pretty busy day at “Casa Blanca.”

DC-based photographer Mary F. Calvert shares photos of the naturalization ceremony that President Obama hosted at the White House.

It was a beautiful spring day at the White House. That is if you like cold wet snow because that’s what dumped on DC and the surrounding region.

See more photos on Mary’s blog.

Twenty-eight active duty service members and civilians took the oath of allegiance to become US citizens in the East Room at the White House with President Obama in attendance.

A slightly more hassle-intensive venue than the average government office, what with all the security and leaders of the free world and such, but, all-in-all, a pretty exciting place to raise your right hand and go about swearing your allegiance.

There was a little news wrapped into the event when President Obama made a statement about immigration reform during his remarks.

Luke Sharrett is a Washington, D.C. based contract press photographer for the New York Times. He covers politics inside the beltway at the White House, Capitol Hill and wherever else the campaign trail takes him. When not photographing political events, he can be found eating cheesesteaks, doing pushups, and watching trains.
 

The White House North Lawn at sunrise.

The big day started with a 4am wake up call. Because I was assigned to be in the White House travel pool on Inauguration Day, I got to sleep in. My co-workers at the New York Times had to be at the U.S. Capitol by four, thus dictating an even earlier wake up call. This was my first inauguration “inside the bubble,” but not my first altogether. In 2008 I road-tripped from Western Kentucky with friends and classmates from my photojournalism classes to cover President Barack Obama’s first inauguration. We awoke long before the crack of dawn and stuffed ourselves into overloaded subway cars like sardines. By the time we got to the National Mall we couldn’t get any closer to the Capitol than the Washington Monument.

Fearing another challenging commute into downtown, I hurriedly dressed, slung my gear over my shoulder, and set off for the nearest Metro stop inside the Beltway. Upon descending underground into the Metro system I was surprised to see a nearly completely empty Metro train pull into the station. Metro was running trains every two minutes, but because of a much smaller than expected turnout, they were largely empty. It was a stark contrast compared to four years ago when millions descended on the Washington area, stretching its infrastructure to the breaking point.

I arrived downtown in less time than the same commute requires at rush hour. My next goal was to navigate a number of security checkpoints that ringed the White House in concentric circles. With a lanyard ladened with a sickening number of credentials, I passed through what seemed like countless concrete barriers, road blocks, security checkpoints manned by city cops and Secret Service agents. After an EOD sweep and one last trip through the magnetometers, I was finally where I needed to be to cover the days festivities.

My editor at The New York Times had asked me to stick with President Obama throughout the whole day. Our first event was a photo spray of The President and his family arriving for a church service at St John’s, an Episcopal Church one block North of the White House on Lafayette Park. As I waited with other photojournalists I photographed cabinet secretaries and other important folks arriving through the side door for the service. While not a spectacular photo-op by any measure, this was the world’s first chance to see who First Lady Michelle Obama was wearing. Speedily transmitting the photos was of the essence, as fashionistas and industry bloggers the world round waited breathlessly for photos.

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their daughter Sasha Obama arrive at St. John’s Church near the White House for a church service.

Vice President Joseph R. Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden, greet the Reverend Dr. Luis León outside St. John’s Church.

Secret Service limousines belonging to President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph r. Biden sit outside St. John’s Church.

After church we returned to the White House and formed up with the motorcade to travel to the Hill for a re-enactment swearing-in on the West front of the U.S. Capitol. Military personnel stood at attention saluting along the parade route as we traveled down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol. During the re-enactment swearing-in the White House travel pool held in a Senate hearing room and watched a television feed of the ceremony in real time.

President Barack Obama’s motorcade assembles on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House before traveling to Capitol Hill.

Law Enforcement Officers mill about as parade goers begin to fill in the stands along Pennsylvanian Avenue.

Next the still photographers bundled up and loaded onto flatbed photo trucks from which we would cover the Inaugural parade. There were three trucks (TV, pooled stills, and unilateral stills) that would “dance” and jockey for position in front of the Presidential Limousine for the duration of the parade. No news event in Washington would be complete without a few hours of waiting around in the cold, so we occupied the time with much Instagramming and story sharing. The parade started over an hour late, allowing for nice golden light to break through the clouds and dot the parade route. The highlight of the parade is when The President and First Lady emerge from their limousine and walk a block or two waving to the ecstatic crowds who line Pennsylvania Avenue. All you can do is be prepared and hope the show isn’t blocked by other photo trucks, Secret Service Agents, or government photographers. While we were blocked by any combination of the three, there were thankfully a few moments for us to make semi-clean frames of the First Couple’s walk.

U.S. Air Force Airmen walk down Constitution Avenue during the inaugural parade on the afternoon the 57th Inaugural.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama’s motorcade progresses down Pennsylvania Avenue during the inaugural parade on the afternoon the 57th Inaugural on Monday, January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

A Secret Service Agent in a decoy limousine watches President Barack Obama’s limousine intently in his rear view mirror during the Inaugural Parade.

Parade goers watch from a rooftop as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama travel down Pennsylvania Avenue during the inaugural parade.

Upon reaching the White House, the photo trucks disbanded and I made my way to the parade media stand in Lafayette Park in front of the White House. From there I transmitted my best photos from the photo truck and tried to keep an eye out for any interesting pictures happening in front of me as the parade meandered by. President Obama, Vice President Biden, and their families watched from a posh reviewing stand enclosed by ballistic glass directly across Pennsylvania Avenue from us. Near the end of the parade I walked to the New York Times DC Bureau and changed into a dark suit to cover The Inaugural Ball that evening.

President Barack Obama watches a NASA space capsule roll down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Presidential Reviewing Stand.

Once again we loaded the motorcade, this time traveling to the Washington Convention Center for the Inaugural Balls. We held in the buffer for performances by Brad Paisley and the band Fun as we waited for the Inaugural dance between POTUS and FLOTUS. Finally they emerged onto an ornate set and slow danced as Jennifer Hudson sang “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green. After the First Couple left we scrambled back to the motorcade and I transmitted in hopes of making the late edition of the paper. We got back to the White House around 10:30 and were finally finished for the day.

President Barack Obama’s limousine idles in the basement of the Washington Convention Center after arriving for The Inaugural Ball.

Press photographers await the arrival of The President and First Lady on stage.

A sound man from White House Television waits for POTUS to arrive.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama dance to Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” as performed by Jennifer Hudson at The Inaugural Ball on the night of the 57th Inaugural on Monday, January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

To end the day right I met up with my wonderful girlfriend and my super-talented New York Times colleagues for a late late dinner and a beer. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to finish my year as a contract photographer for the NYT than to have a front seat to history with a camera in hand. I’m now back at Western Kentucky University finishing my last undergrad semester, but am so grateful for the love and opportunities afforded to me by mentors Doug Mills and Stephen Crowley and all the photo editors in New York. You guys and gals are the best of the best. Thank you for affording the opportunity of a lifetime to someone who never deserved it in the first place.

DC-based photographer Seth Rubin shares photos of supporters gathering for the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama.

What a great time to be back and settled in DC. As you’re likely aware, this past Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 President Barack Obama was sworn into his second term in office . . . and on Monday, the 57th Presidential Inauguration was held on the steps of the Capitol Building and echoed down the National Mall. And with significant international news coverage, you’ve probably seen numerous photos of the Obama family and Monday’s events printed in newspapers, on television reports, and surely circulating the web.

Continue reading and see more photos on Seth’s blog.

Jay Westcott has always had a passion for photography, but it wasn’t until he served in the U.S. Navy that he thought about pursuing it as a career. He worked with a Navy photographer and kept borrowing his camera. The photographer finally said, “Jay, you need to go buy your own camera.” Needless to say, Jay did and was on his way. After a brief career in sales, Jay pursued a degree in photojournalism at The Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington. He has worked as a photo tech/editor at The Washington Post, as a staff photographer at The Washington Examiner as a staff photographer for TBD.com, and most recently as a staff photographer for POLITICO. Based in Washington, DC, he specializes in politics and portraits, and often the two intertwine. His work has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, Newsweek, Time, Washingtonian Magazine and countless other places, including his mom’s refrigerator. When he’s not out shooting photos, he can be found riding or racing bicycles or hiking with his daughter, Lauren.

The sun rises over Washington on Monday, Oct. 1st, 2012. (Photo by Jay Westcott/Politico)

On Friday I was let go from Politico, where I had worked for the last two years. It was unexpected, to say the least. They are undergoing changes and eliminated my position. I was the most recent hire in the department and, in turn, the first to be let go.

As I wrote in a letter to management, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I learned a lot and felt I was able to contribute to the team not only with photographs, but with reporting and storytelling. I have always considered myself a photojournalist; a reporter with a camera. I was able to flex my reporting skills, work sources, and chase leads. I was never prouder to represent an employer than I was at Politico.

I understand that Politico’s future is evolving and going in new directions. I’m excited to see the future of journalism continue to shift away from stories that publish in a print edition the next day to stories that publish immediately on the web and on tablets. I believe that the possibilities are limitless and the future is bright, especially for photography. The new media landscape will be more visual than ever before. I think where the folks at Politico and I differ is in the importance of original, staff-generated visual storytelling that goes beyond a simple collection of wire photos. Going forward, I will continue to produce compelling images and storytelling multimedia features.

So, what’s next? I’m going to keep doing what I do best: photograph politics and portraits. I know how to cover Capitol Hill. I have sources, I have connections, and I know who to know. I have access. I have a style that is different from other photographers; I know how to separate myself from the pack. I think I make some pretty compelling images of politics.

Protesters converge on the Key Bridge connecting Arlington, Va. and Washington, DC on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011. (Photo by Jay Westcott/Politico)

Occupy protesters descend on K St. on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011 in Washington. (Photo by Jay Westcott/Politico)

I also love to shoot portraits. I like interacting with people during a portrait session and making a connection. In my opinion, that’s the key to making a good portrait. At the end of the day, the portrait is just a sliver of time like any other picture. What is represented in that portrait is the connection that is made. If given the opportunity, I will make an engaging, insightful portrait.

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), poses for a portrait in his office on Capitol Hill in Washington on Friday, Sept. 23, 2011. (Photo by Jay Westcott/Politico)

Here is a collection of some of my favorite photographs from my time at Politico. I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed making them: http://jaywestcott.photoshelter.com/gallery/Best-of-Politico/G0000I0xD4UmS.mM/2/C0000LcoC_MonpWE

An unidentified member of Congress heads to the House chamber for the first round of votes on Tuesday, December 20th, 2011 in Washington. (Photo by Jay Westcott/Politico)

]]> http://thephotobrigade.com/2013/01/onward-by-jay-westcott/feed/ 0 http://thephotobrigade.com/2012/11/street-view2012-election-day-in-washington-d-c-by-messay/ http://thephotobrigade.com/2012/11/street-view2012-election-day-in-washington-d-c-by-messay/#comments Sun, 11 Nov 2012 18:04:03 +0000 admin http://thephotobrigade.com/?p=12089 do_sud_thumb("http://thephotobrigade.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Messay-Election2012-DC-4.jpg","Street View…2012 Election Day in Washington, D.C. – by Messay")

DC-based photographer Messay shares photos of the election day in Washington, DC.

Over the last few weeks, I have thought about ways to cover the 2012 Election Day in Washington, D.C. I wanted to capture scenes starting from early morning until late evening when final results would be announced. Here are a few ideas I threw around before heading outside with my small 35mm camera.

Plan A: Cover the different polling locations throughout Washington, D.C.

Covering different polling stations across the city seemed to be the most obvious thing to do on Election Day. But, it does not take a genius to discover that taking pictures of people standing in line to cast their vote is not that exciting. No fist fights and bloody noses to make for dramatic photo imagery. The most drama you will see is just frustrated citizens waiting on long lines in the bitter cold to fulfill their civic duties. After visiting four different “uneventful” voting locations in the city I started to think that the horizon for my photo adventure on Election Day should expand beyond Washington, D.C. and into the “red” zone of Virginia.

Continue reading and see more photos on Messay’s blog.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a campaign fundraiser at the New Amsterdam Theater in New York City, N.Y. on Monday, June 4, 2012. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

DC-based political photographer Luke Sharrett spent the summer covering the White House, traveling with President Obama, and other cool assignments.

This summer in Washington has been one of transitions. I began transitioning from covering Capitol Hill and general assignments to cover the White House almost exclusively as members of the New York Times DC Bureau were overseas for the London Olympics or out on the trail with Mitt Romney. Another transition was in the amount of time spent traveling with President Obama to campaign fundraisers. While The President has been fundraising off and on since January, June saw him traveling to places like Hollywood, San Francisco and Las Vegas on the West Coast and Chicago and New York City back East to restock his campaign coffers.

Along with campaigning for re-election, the demand of the President’s official duties didn’t let up. We visited wildfire damage in Colorado Springs and covered the response to the Supreme Court’s decision back in Washington to largely uphold the Affordable Care Act.

See more photos on Luke’s blog.

President Barack Obama meets firefighters who battled wildfires in the Mountain Shadows neighborhood of Colorado Springs, Co. on Friday, June 29, 2012. The fires ravaged some homes but spared others in a seemingly random pattern of devastation. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

Marine Corporal Bob Johnson of the HMX-1 Helicopter Squadron looks through night vision goggles while flying in CH-46 Phrog Nighthawk 4, a presidential support helicopter, during a lift from the Wall Street Helipad in Manhattan to John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday, June 4, 2012. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

Vietnam Veteran and George Allen supporter Al Cuppett stands for the Pledge of Allegiance with other supporters of Republican Senate candidate and former Virginia Governor George Allen during a Madison County Meet and Greet at Beasley’s Park in downtown Madison, Va. on Wednesday, April 4, 2012. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

One of two month-old Cheetah cubs sits on a Cheetah stuffed animal nicknamed Mom during the cubs’ noon feeding at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, or National Zoo, on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 in Washington, D.C. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

Melissa Golden lives in the DC metro area, but she isn’t really from anywhere in particular. Her nomadic childhood, courtesy of the United States military, has led to a life marked by continuous change, renewal and wanderlust. Her work is influenced by all the places she’s called home at some point- the brazen oddity and beauty of Southern California, the tradition of the Deep South, the storm light of rural Florida, the heady intrigue of the Middle East and the stiff formality of the District of Columbia. She may not know where she’s going next, but her pictures help her to keep track of where she’s been.

Check out ONA on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

I’ve never had much of a shoe or purse fetish, but I do have a bit of a thing for camera bags.  I bought a large red leather roller once because I thought it was commanding yet feminine.  I used it once and it’s been languishing in my closet ever since, waiting for just the right occasion when I require aesthetics over utility.

The Brooklyn, by Ona, is a thing of loveliness.  It’s a satchel that fits beautifully with my 1930s Parisian street photography fantasy. I feel like I should be drinking absinthe in a cafe along the Seine when I look at it sitting in my office, begging me to take it for a stroll and some casual inebriated afternoon snaps.  It is a bag that looks like it should contain a notebook and a sketchbook and a flask and a pearl-handled knife.  It is a romantic bag.

I took it out for a day in Washington, DC- America’s most European city.  It wants to be worn as a cross-body bag, but I found it to be uncomfortable in this position.  I opted to use it as a shoulder bag instead and after an hour, I decided to take some things out of it.  It works and feels better when it is not overloaded.  The cushion on the strap is well-made, but I do wish it could be adjusted to a shorter length.  Leather is meant to be well-worn and molded to one’s will, and it would be simple to make a few more holes along the strap.

This is not a bag for the working photojournalist or anyone who needs quick and easy access to gear.  It doesn’t hold a great deal, nor should it.  This is a bag for leisure or for personal extras when one has the luxury of multiple bags and a place to put them while working.  It smells nice, it’s pleasing to the eye, and I think there is a place for it in my pantheon of camera bags.  I’d love to see what it looks like after five years of use.  Bags may be born pretty, but they have to earn their “ruggedly handsome” status.

Luke Sharrett just finished his last full month interning for The New York Times in Washington D.C.

July was my last full month interning for the New York Times in Washington, D.C.
Every trip, every sweaty motorcade movement, and yes, every Pelosi press conference was cherished.
I hope these photos reflect my best work from the month, but I know deep down that the photos I will treasure most are those of my friends and colleagues in the travel pool. I have learned so much amongst this group of professionals, and am most grateful to have shared a few beers with them over the past few months.

Check out more photos on Luke’s blog.

Washington DC-based photographer Melissa Golden visits a religious theme park in Orlando called the Holy Land Experience.

Last summer, I made a pilgrimage of sorts to a place I’d seen in a movie.  I caught half of Bill Maher’s “Religulous” and saw a scene in which he interviews a man who plays Jesus at a theme park in Orlando called the Holy Land Experience.  I was stupefied that such a place existed, not too far away, at that.  I had to go.

Continue reading and see more photos on Melissa’s blog.