Snotober Sessions

The Blocks: Tour of future elementary school

Bird

The Viewing

Previously convicted of a 1999 raping of an exotic dancer, and having served an 8-year maximum sentence, William DeCato stood trial today in Manchester, New Hampshire on more than 30 charges, including felonious sexual assault, alleging numerous crimes carried out on August 25, 2009 at a home in his neighborhood.

In 2007, DeCato was the first person New Hampshire looked to civilly commit as a violent sexual predator near the time of his release from state prison, but the case fell apart.

On the first day of the trial, jurors were bused around Manchester to key locations deemed important for the case by the prosecutors and/or the defense. They visited the former home of DeCato, the neighborhood, the victim's home, and a path through the nearby woods. Some places where evidence was found during the investigation. Opening statements were made and the trial will resume Tuesday. *No one identifiable is a member of the jury. It is the Judge, members of court security personnel, attorneys in the case, or William DeCato.*

Biden's a hugger

Joe Biden files for 2012 Primary

Ah yes, the halo trick

Boycotting Nevada

Huntsman files

Supporters line the hallways on the second floor of the State House as Jon Huntsman and his wife Mary Kaye, center, work their way to Bill Gardner's office, New Hampshire Secretary of State, to file for candidate for president on Monday afternoon, October 17, 2011.

Occupy Boston

On Saturday evening, I decided to head south to Boston after reading about the Occupy [insert city name] and world wide protests happening that day. Rome was turning violent, days earlier there were arrests in New York and Boston saw their share too. I'd been loosely paying attention to the movement until I decided to go and check it out for myself for a few hours. I made a few photos, nothing crazy.

Niagara...I mean, Williamsburg Hospitality House + Farmer's Market + Mother's keen eye for swan gourds

Dartmouth College Republican Debates

I covered the Republican Presidential Debates at Dartmouth College on Monday night for Corbis and it was one of the most difficult assignments thus far with the primaries in New Hampshire. Access inside was pretty sparse. A photo 'spray' was set up as the candidates entered the auditorium and before the cameras started rolling live. If you haven't done a 'spray,' you're not missing much. Basically, myself and about 20 other photographers stood around waiting for some PR folks to walk us down into the auditorium, at which point we were allowed to go to one of three areas. An aisle on the left, the middle, or the right. Initially, I chose the middle and planted myself, at first.

I knew from the CNN Debates a few months earlier, that, for one, the whole thing was going to be very quick and, two, it was going to be a shit-show for about 2 minutes. It was important to anticipate a spot, get there, and stand my ground. During the CNN Debate, I was one of the last photographers in the pack so the 'good' spots were taken by the pros, a few students who decided to stand up once they were in front of other photographers, and some photographer that asked the candidates to wave. I think half the minute I spent looking at the pack, back at the audience who were amazed at the cluster-fuck, and then at the candidates. I shot for about 15 seconds then casually dismissed myself before the PR people could feel me up and tell me to leave in a way that made you feel like you were doing something wrong. I am a monster, after all, so getting the jump on the whole situation and as far from it as possible, was very comforting.

Jump forward to Dartmouth College debate on Monday, I noticed the left side was practically empty so I quickly relocated from the middle and was closer to the stage and the side the candidates would eventually enter. Coincidentally Chris Christie, the governor from New Jersey who that day endorsed Mitt Romney, was seated in the first seat to my left. The calm didn't last long. One guy noticed too, and subsequently 'went to town.' I mean, he motor-drove the shit out of the sitting man. Then another joined, and another. Suddenly, cluster-fuck numero dos commenced and I was fortunate to be in the middle. Squished between people 'just doing their jobs,' ticket-holders, and family-members of the candidates. All deciding that they would all at once converge upon the left aisle. I took a few shots of Christie when Ann Romney (Mitt Romney's wife) walked past to her seat.

The candidates came out, stood around waiting for us photographers to shoot their photos, then we were ushered out. All accounted for...several times by several PR folk. No swirly photographer was going to accidently lag behind with these hawks. They were, in fact, very nice and helpful. So helpful that we were even told where the best photo would be taken. They showed us on the back of their camera how they scoped out THE spot for THE photo. Thank god for that.

But like during the CNN Debate, I knew the photos were before and after this 'spray.' That's when it was time to be creative and time to work. It's challenging because you want to shoot all the candidates and most times to me it's not obvious who did the best during the debate or who is going to be 'the talk of the town' the next day. I heard Perry was heading to visit a fraternity following the debate, so that seemed like an opportunity to get him visiting with people on the ground, something he hasn't done much in New Hampshire in comparison with the other candidates I've covered. So I went there after a quick visit to the 'spin room,' and skipping a student watch party. I arrived just in time, but it was a quick visit with a lot of people.

So as the primaries pick up, and as I'm becoming familiar with the players and their staff, I'm beginning to become familiar with the photos I've been making and want to stop making them and push myself more. Everyone has seen the hand-shakes, the grip and grins, the shot of the candidate in the middle of a crowd, any crowd, shot with a wide angle. In fact, that's my default mode and it needs to be broken.