I really LOVE this. I love that you are able to view and represent a perspective that may not be a match to yours. I love how your photos express the diversity of expression, and how they sum up the basics. We are all human, we are all the same far more then we are different. Amazing!
The photos are brilliant, and I very much appreciated the commentary. In posting photos of Republican candidates that I've taken, I've had a few people comment on how could do such a thing.
I photographed at numerous Trump rallies (all as an amateur) and had very similar experiences. For the most part people thought I was a Trump loyalist which made me feel like an imposter, and as such I have not posted some of the pridefully posed images that included very nasty homemade posters etc. I did tell one woman who asked that I was a Democrat, and had a good conversation with her. Although I found that people were friendly, courteous etc. I wonder if this was based on them thinking I was a loyalist. I also had an angry woman start photographing me as well. The rub is that a Trump rally does offer more colorful and dramatic photo opps than a typical Democratic rally. I greatly appreciated Dina's approach to include regular looking folks as well as the more notable. I always felt like I had an emotional hangover for a long time after being at these rallies.
Thank you for sharing your experience with shooting. I was sure it's not just me who is getting such suspicion and vitriol, and in the end, who the photographer votes for shouldn't matter either for the subject or the viewer.
Thanks for this - really interesting to hear about your experience. I live just 17 miles from Times Square on LI and it is Trump country here. It always surprises me when people talk about NY being blue through and through because that is not my experience at all - and I’m only a couple of miles from the city border.
That philosophy of purposefully not making people out to look evil, even if you vehemently disagree with them, is a good one. And one I’d follow if they’d ever let me into a Trump rally. I got denied for every event I applied to shoot here in Iowa.
I really appreciate your perspective on this. Regardless of political affiliation, these events are important to document. I always love reading about your process and your photography is a huge inspiration to me!
While our political views are different, I appreciate your reportage of this event. Thank you for your valuable perspective. Whatever the outcome, may God bless America.
Dina, your photos of.both events were amazing. You allowed history unfold and recorded it without judgement, but simply took us into those events to see the people on the other side. I admire your work and your ethos in taking this pictures so much.
Brilliant photographs and wonderful writing, Dina. Both capture the incomprehensible complexity of what we are witnessing and participating in. Thank you!
It's interesting how the comments sections on political photos rapidly turn ugly. There's another couple of photographers I follow on Instagram who get similar rants, because people can't imagine a working photographer would have to photograph things they don't align with/believe in etc. I can only imagine the luxury of having a job where you only have to do exactly what you like!
“I kept this in mind when looking for subjects to photograph, searching not only for the most conspicuously dressed but also for the most ordinary.” A clever sentence I will remember. The picture close by shows how powerful that approach can be. Strong and so important photos! What a great job you have, being there in the eye of the storm of history in so many instances.
I really LOVE this. I love that you are able to view and represent a perspective that may not be a match to yours. I love how your photos express the diversity of expression, and how they sum up the basics. We are all human, we are all the same far more then we are different. Amazing!
Thank you!
Really appreciate this perspective. I'm nervous about the outcome of this one. And the aftermath either way.
The photos are brilliant, and I very much appreciated the commentary. In posting photos of Republican candidates that I've taken, I've had a few people comment on how could do such a thing.
I photographed at numerous Trump rallies (all as an amateur) and had very similar experiences. For the most part people thought I was a Trump loyalist which made me feel like an imposter, and as such I have not posted some of the pridefully posed images that included very nasty homemade posters etc. I did tell one woman who asked that I was a Democrat, and had a good conversation with her. Although I found that people were friendly, courteous etc. I wonder if this was based on them thinking I was a loyalist. I also had an angry woman start photographing me as well. The rub is that a Trump rally does offer more colorful and dramatic photo opps than a typical Democratic rally. I greatly appreciated Dina's approach to include regular looking folks as well as the more notable. I always felt like I had an emotional hangover for a long time after being at these rallies.
Thank you for sharing your experience with shooting. I was sure it's not just me who is getting such suspicion and vitriol, and in the end, who the photographer votes for shouldn't matter either for the subject or the viewer.
Nice write up. I'm glad you took the approach you did. You are the best.
Well done. Appreciate your approach and your nuance in doing this type of work, and your candor about the choices you make.
Thanks for this - really interesting to hear about your experience. I live just 17 miles from Times Square on LI and it is Trump country here. It always surprises me when people talk about NY being blue through and through because that is not my experience at all - and I’m only a couple of miles from the city border.
That philosophy of purposefully not making people out to look evil, even if you vehemently disagree with them, is a good one. And one I’d follow if they’d ever let me into a Trump rally. I got denied for every event I applied to shoot here in Iowa.
I got denied access for MSG as well, but the most interesting photos are almost always outside when people come in or out of the event.
I really appreciate your perspective on this. Regardless of political affiliation, these events are important to document. I always love reading about your process and your photography is a huge inspiration to me!
While our political views are different, I appreciate your reportage of this event. Thank you for your valuable perspective. Whatever the outcome, may God bless America.
Thank you, Adam!
Dina, your photos of.both events were amazing. You allowed history unfold and recorded it without judgement, but simply took us into those events to see the people on the other side. I admire your work and your ethos in taking this pictures so much.
Well considered post. Thanks for that. And the photographs.
Brilliant photographs and wonderful writing, Dina. Both capture the incomprehensible complexity of what we are witnessing and participating in. Thank you!
Thank you, Joanna!
It's interesting how the comments sections on political photos rapidly turn ugly. There's another couple of photographers I follow on Instagram who get similar rants, because people can't imagine a working photographer would have to photograph things they don't align with/believe in etc. I can only imagine the luxury of having a job where you only have to do exactly what you like!
How could you not like to photograph the Trump movement. It’s so influential and still so little understood.
“I kept this in mind when looking for subjects to photograph, searching not only for the most conspicuously dressed but also for the most ordinary.” A clever sentence I will remember. The picture close by shows how powerful that approach can be. Strong and so important photos! What a great job you have, being there in the eye of the storm of history in so many instances.
Another excellent, thought-provoking article. Thank you.
Love your work Dina, both images and words.