Unconventional
8 days, 2,000 miles, 2 parties, and zero certainty in the country’s future
The fire marshal had closed the floor at the Democratic National Convention. The crowd was so tight that all I could see was the back of a man’s jacket while security hissed at me, “You can’t stand there!” With the floor closed I couldn’t leave, but my credential was an hour overdue for renewal, which meant it would probably be taken away. My camera was broken and I only had one frame left. I’d just been told on the sly that Hillary Clinton would be coming out unexpectedly with President Obama in what was sure to be the biggest moment of the DNC, perhaps even the climax of both conventions, which I’d spent the last two weeks working feverishly to cover. I was fucked.
In my madness, my mind wandered, why was I here? This was my sixth straight national convention — I’ve photographed every one since 1996. Why? To engage in the ultimate voyeurism? To make my mark (ha!)? Ultimately, I realize I am still trying to find the truth of my high school education, how they said America was the greatest democracy in the world. (How many wars have been justified with those words?) As I get older and really look, it’s scary what I see: special-interest-funded conventions, Citizens United, superdelegates, gerrymandering, and two dominant political parties.
This year’s conventions felt more dramatic. Bernie Sanders supporters continued to protest even after the Democratic National Committee was exposed as a shill for Hillary. Ted Cruz supporters claimed fraud after a raucous roll call vote. Days later their candidate was booed off the stage. Meanwhile the marchers marched, interestingly, in seemingly smaller numbers than in the past. Protestors were the first people I ever heard speak any truth to America. They were right about the Iraq wars, the prison industrial complex, that black lives matter, American inequality … the list goes on.
The democrats and republicans say this election is a fight for America’s soul. How touching to think anybody still believes America’s soul is worth fighting for, after Sandy Hook and Iraq and Afghanistan and Trayvon Martin and on and on. How can anyone still believe in American exceptionalism or that America can be repaired, that it can be made just? But here it is in front of me. Protesters shout for change, for justice, for “a new America,” while those inside scream with pride “USA!” And the billionaire candidate who comes from a family worth hundreds of millions runs a campaign scapegoating the poorest of the poor for America’s problems. The other candidate stands framed in signs of “together” after deleting 31,000 emails from a private server.
It’s virtually impossible to edit down the 11,024 images I shot in the last two weeks to just a few photographs and convey what I want to say. I love the photographic medium for its ability to capture a single moment to be examined outside of its context. This allows me to utilize it as my tool to expose myths, create odd juxtapositions, and to reflect my personal vision. In many images here I used a handheld flash pointed at my subjects in harsh and bizarre ways. This allows me to create madhouse lighting. It accentuates the exaggerated emotions that surround me, making them creepier, and for me, more real. My best pictures are both funny and serious at the same time. They live in a world between photojournalism and fine art, and subvert the message of the subjects to create new ones.
No value assignedJuly 21, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: Republican Party Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s mouth on the screen during his speech on the final night of the Republican National Convention.
No value assignedJuly 28, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Democratic Party Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton watches the balloons and confetti fall on the final night of the Democratic National Convention.
No value assignedJuly 21, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: Republican Party Presidential candidate Donald Trump addresses the crowd on the final night of the Republican National Convention.
No value assignedJuly 19, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: The floor of the Republican National Convention after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s speech, which laid out the Republican case against Hillary Clinton being qualified to be president. During the speech the crowd repeatedly chanted, “Lock her up.”
No value assignedJuly 20, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: A woman from the Revolutionary Communist Party gives the finger to the police. “Fuck the police,” she said before rushing to the sidewalk as police warned protesters to get out of the street.
No value assignedJuly 25, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Bernie Sanders supporters prepare to march at Philadelphia’s city hall.
No value assignedJuly 18, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: Donald Trump stands at the back of the stage before introducing his wife, Melania Trump, at the Republican National Convention.
No value assignedJuly 19, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks at the Republican National Convention.
No value assignedJuly 21, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (glasses) on the floor in the front row of the New York delegation on the final night of the Republican National Convention.
No value assignedJuly 19, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: California delegate Tina Hillstrom from Beverly Hills, California, on the floor at the Republican National Convention. “I am so passionate for Donald Trump since the start of his campaign. My grandfather and son are veterans and I am afraid if people continue to be allowed to come here illegally our country will wither away,” she said.
No value assignedJuly 18, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: A man bows his head during the benediction on the first night of the Republican National Convention.
No value assignedJuly 18, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump after Melania delivered her speech at the Republican National Convention.
No value assignedJuly 20, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: Texas United States Sen. Ted Cruz speaking at the Republican National Convention. At the end of his speech he was booed relentlessly for not endorsing Donald Trump in the speech.
No value assignedJuly 28, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: A woman holds her USA sign upside down on the final night of the Democratic National Convention.
No value assignedJuly 26, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Retired navy commander and California Hillary Clinton delegate Zoe Dunning between her state’s Sanders and Clinton delegates. “I appreciate their energy,” she said of the Sanders delegates, “but some of them are disrespectful anytime they mention Hillary’s name from the stage they boo and chant. Even when they were doing the invocation they were booing when they said Hillary’s name.”
No value assignedJuly 21, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: “I have been a Trump supporter ever since he said he would get rid of the illegal immigrants,” Trump supporter Shane Gierke said. “I have a friend who was killed by an illegal immigrant who had two DUIs.”
No value assignedJuly 18, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: Ellie Mae, who lives in Cleveland, brought this blow-up doll to the “Stop Trump Rally.” She said she brought the doll to the rally and march because “it is indicative of the ridiculous situation we find ourselves in with Trump being the GOP nominee for the American presidency. This is the most ridiculous thing I could think of to bring to the protest,” she said.
No value assignedJuly 27, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The crowd at the rally “A Day for Bernie” in downtown Philadelphia.
No value assignedJuly 25, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The floor of the Democratic National Convention.
No value assignedJuly 26, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Vermont United States Sen. Bernie Sanders looks out from the crowd moments after saying, “I move that Hillary Clinton be selected as the nominee of the Democratic Party for president of the United States,” during the roll call vote at the Democratic National Convention. The statement ended his presidential bid and sealed Clinton’s nomination as Democratic presidential candidate.
No value assignedJuly 25, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: A Bernie Sanders delegate sits with tape over her mouth and the word “silenced” written on the tape.
No value assignedJuly 25, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Bernie Sanders supporters shout at people entering the restricted zone at the Wells Fargo Center on the Democratic National Convention’s first night.
No value assignedJuly 28, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Members of the group Moms of Black Boys United. “We are here to express our concern, fear, and frustration with black men and boys killed by law enforcement. We have been patient, we have waited for the justice system to take action but it has not come. If you want to get something done, ask a busy mom to do it,” said Depelsha McGruder, Brooklyn, New York, the organization’s founder.
No value assignedJuly 19, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: Trump’s children (from left) Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, and Tiffany wait for the New York roll call vote. Donald Jr. cast the final votes to solidify his father as the official Republican presidential nominee.
No value assignedJuly 21, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: Pierre Nappier on the edge of the secure zone at the Republican National Convention. Nappier lives in Cleveland and says he wears his shirt in memory of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old boy who was shot and killed by Cleveland police in November 2014.
No value assignedJuly 18, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: Geraldo Rivera gets out of his car near a protest during the Republican National Convention. When asked about the difference between the Democrat and Republican conventions he said, “The republicans party harder and the democrats are more serious.”
No value assignedJuly 28, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Wisconsin delegates on the final night of the Democratic National Convention.
No value assignedJuly 25, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: First Lady Michelle Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention.
No value assignedJuly 27, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The crowd during President Barack Obama’s remarks at the Democratic National Convention.
No value assignedJuly 27, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: At the end of President Obama’s speech, Hillary Clinton came out and gave the president a hug and the two left the stage together.
No value assignedJuly 21, 2016 - Cleveland, Ohio: Donald Trump during his speech on the Republican National Convention’s final night.
No value assignedJuly 28, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Hillary Clinton during her speech on the Democratic National Convention’s final night.
No value assignedJuly 28, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Ava Massena, 3, from Brooklyn, New York, lets out a scream during Hillary Clinton’s remarks on the final night of the Democratic National Convention.
No value assignedJuly 26, 2016 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The final prayer on the second night of the Democratic National Convention.