2009 National Equality March, Washington, DC

2009 National Equality March, Washington, DC · Posted by MRRiley, 10-12-2009, 04:42 PM

By way of a personal "photojournalistic" assignment I took the opportunity to shoot the National Equality March in downtown Washington, DC. The march started at McPherson Square, proceeded past the White House, then went down Pennsylvania Ave to the U.S. Capital.

K20D & BIGMA

K10D & DA16-45mm f4

K10D & DA16-45mm f4 - Camera mounted on monopod with 2 sec timer set. Raised the rig to get higher POV.

K20D & BIGMA

K10D & DA16-45mm f4

K10D & DA16-45mm f4 - Yes, that IS Lady Gaga...

K10D & DA16-45mm f4

K20D & BIGMA

K10D & DA16-45mm f4 - Camera mounted on monopod with 2 sec timer set. Raised the rig to get higher POV.

B&W conversion of the previous shot...
Mike

MRRiley · 10-13-2009, 06:26 AM

Wow, 14 hours without so much as a peep... So either these shots suck or people are so offended or sensitive to the issue that they are afraid to comment...

*mel* · 10-13-2009, 06:44 AM

I would say probably the latter. You know they don't suck. Did they give an estimate on the crowd? I had a friend who was there. I love the Zsa Zsa Gabor sign.

MRRiley · 10-13-2009, 07:11 AM

Low estimates are in the 20K range with highs in the 150K range. I'd estimate 50-75K personally, based upon crowd density and the fact that the tail end did not leave McPherson Square until almost 2pm (according to what I was told). I suspect that the low estimates only included the people who attended the rally on the West Lawn of the Capital, ignoring folks who bailed out after the march itself.

I never did find my 2 friends who were there. They never heard their phones ring.

Mike

K-9 · 10-13-2009, 07:17 AM

Shots 2 and 3 are excellent captures of the emotions at the march.

Taff · 10-13-2009, 07:54 AM

only gay in the village

*Sailor* · 10-13-2009, 08:39 AM

Hey, Mike - I think you get an "A" on your self-generated photojournalist assignment. You've got close-up, "in the thick of it" shots and the last image - which I think is terrific - puts the details in a broad perspective. I wonder what the last one would look like in B&W.

Jer

RoxnDox · 10-13-2009, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by MRRiley

Wow, 14 hours without so much as a peep... So either these shots suck or people are so offended or sensitive to the issue that they are afraid to comment...

Nah, just didn't see them (CINCHOUSE gets annoyed when too much time is spent on the 'puter...). Good subject, great shots. I particularly like the First Amendment on the building - what building is that? Permanent fixture?

Jim

*skinja* · 10-13-2009, 01:30 PM

Nice work Mike, but the subject just doesn't do much for me. To each their own.

John

*Heinrich Lohmann* · 10-13-2009, 04:10 PM

Michael, these are really good images of the march and whether one agrees with the subject or not is irrelevant, it is good photo journalism. Thanks for posting them.

MRRiley · 10-13-2009, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by mel

I would say probably the latter. You know they don't suck. Did they give an estimate on the crowd? I had a friend who was there. I love the Zsa Zsa Gabor sign.

I thought that sign was hilarious!

Originally Posted by K-9

Shots 2 and 3 are excellent captures of the emotions at the march.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Taff

only gay in the village

???

Originally Posted by Sailor

Hey, Mike - I think you get an "A" on your self-generated photojournalist assignment. You've got close-up, "in the thick of it" shots and the last image - which I think is terrific - puts the details in a broad perspective. I wonder what the last one would look like in B&W.

Jer

Thanks Jer...I got some good practice walking backwards and shooting...

And I'll try that one in B&W... Might make it look more "documentary'y"

Originally Posted by RoxnDox

Nah, just didn't see them (CINCHOUSE gets annoyed when too much time is spent on the 'puter...). Good subject, great shots. I particularly like the First Amendment on the building - what building is that? Permanent fixture?

Jim

Thanks Jim... That's the front of the Newseum, a private museum devoted to the history of the news. The Newseum

Originally Posted by skinja

Nice work Mike, but the subject just doesn't do much for me. To each their own.

John

Thanks for the feedback John... and I understand completely.

Originally Posted by Heinrich Lohmann

Michael, these are really good images of the march and whether one agrees with the subject or not is irrelevant, it is good photo journalism. Thanks for posting them.

Thanks Heinrich. Glad you like the shots and appreciate the comments.

Mike

MRRiley · 10-13-2009, 05:44 PM

West Lawn Overview converted to B&W at Jer's suggestion...

Mike

*mel* · 10-13-2009, 06:43 PM

oooooooo nice!

*Sailor* · 10-13-2009, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by MRRiley

West Lawn Overview converted to B&W at Jer's suggestion...

Mike

Perfect. Reminds me of when I was in college in the '60's.

Jer

LSPhotography · 10-13-2009, 08:52 PM

I would have to agree these are great photo journalism shots, Love the shots up close with the crowd, also love the shots with the mono pod held above your head. I think that would have been a lot of fun to be there with a camera.