Tuesday, November 8, 2016
There is nothing harder for me to photograph than politics and political affairs. Not that the subject matter is hard it is more about the ethical quandary that I always find myself in when I do.
Growing up through photojournalism school it was repeatedly hammered into our brains that we were to show no bias.We were to cover events as they happened and you leave your personal beliefs at the door. What you say? All you have to do is turn on CNN or Fox News and you want to talk about bias you say? Well I like to romanticize that print journalism is slightly different. After 16 years in it however I am not so sure. I have seen things that I don’t agree with and it makes me completely relive all of what I have been taught. All of that said however, I did take all of the lectures and all of the ethical debates and examples to heart. I believe I can leave my beliefs at the door and cover an event responsibly to the readers of whatever publication I am working for.
I say all of this before mentioning that last night I covered the Republican Election Party in Denver. The GOP was holding a mass party for the state at the Doubletree Hotel in Tech Center and needless to say it was fairly well attended. All of the news outlets were in attendance as well as the night started in favor of Hillary Clinton and took a sharp turn to the right ending in Donald Trump being named our next President.
Throughout the night, Republican supporters were taken on a roller coaster ride of emotions. There were smiles, tears, laughter, jeering, boos, slurs, cursing, kissing, dancing and more as people watched two large television screens following along while Fox News covered the polls. Local race candidates took to the stage with remarks about making America great again. Some won and some lost their races.
The end result after 7 hours of working the room looking for genuine moments to capture and share is that Donald J. Trump will be our next President and Congress is set to move his agendas along. The GOP won a victory and time will tell whether the country, that has been so divided over the past two years, will be able to come back together…
Steve Collier (right) shows polling results to Skylar King (left) using his phone during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Beth Lippa takes photos of poll results as they come in during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
A.J. McMillen (center) talks to his father Seth (right) as they watch poll results come in during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Laurel Imer (left) and Robyn McMillen get a little emotional as they watch poll results come in during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. “All of our hard work is paying off,” said Imer. “I see that we’re taking back our country,” said McMillen.
Leelee Fertig (left) claps and cheers as states are called Republican during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
A.J. McMillen (center) and his father Seth (right) watch poll results come in during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Colorado GOP Chairman Steve House speaks to the crowd during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Dalton Walker (left) cheers as he holds up a Trump/Pence sign during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Colorado GOP Chairman Steve House speaks to the crowd during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Mia Hofmann (center) reacts during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Colorado Senate Majority Leader Mark Scheffel speaks during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Jen Usery (left) reacts during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Leelee Fertig says a little prayer during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
The crowd reacts as FOX News calls Ohio for Trump during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Caitlyn Buchanan (right) holds onto her mother Amy as they watch Fox News coverage during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Leelee Fertig (left) reacts as Florida is called Democratic during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Denise Drager (right) reacts as states are called Republican during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Dede Laugesen reacts as states are called Republican during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Dede Laugesen (center) claps and cheers as states are called Republican during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Rep. Mike Coffman speaks to the crowd during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Rep. Mike Coffman speaks to the crowd during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Dalton Walker (left) and his mother Audrey cheer during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
The crowd cheers during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Walker Stapleton speaks to the crowd during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Carey McGrath (right) and her daughter Esther speak to WWII veteran Sidney Walton during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Trump supporters take over the stage during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Derrick Wilburn speaks during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Shaun Dashjian waits for the final states to be called during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Brooke Sorenson (left) reacts during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Colorado University Regent Heidi Ganahl speaks to the crowd during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Dede Laugesen (center) says a little prayer during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Destiny Washington (left), Brooke Sorenson and Leelee Fertig react as the Clinton campaign tells their supporters to go home for the evening during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
The crowd reacts as Donald Trump is named President elect during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Robyn McMillen (right) and Laurel Imer react as Donald Trump is named President elect during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Dalton Walker (right) and Jacob Lynch celebrate Donald Trumps’ win during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Weston Imer (right) cries as he celebrates Donald Trumps win with his mother Laurel during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Claire Sorenson (left), her sister Brooke (right) and Denise Black react as Donald Trump is named President elect during the GOP Election Party at the Tech Center Doubletree Hotel in Denver on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.