Toughening Up

The week peaked with the coolest event on Tuesday. However, I've stayed busy since then and have photographed the press conference announcing the Tea Party as an official caucus, a press conference with Senators Reid and Kerry, and a hearing where Ken Feinberg was testifying. He matters because he's managing the $20 billion fund being distributed to those who were affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Throughout the internship, I have seen my photographs morph. As another intern pointed out, he feels they have gone from snapshots to photos with artistic interest. Not only have I learned from myself, but I've also learned from the impressive crowd of photographers I'm shooting with. I take note of what the AP photographers are doing and how they approach a subject. I also try to do things differently than them because ultimately they're who I'm competing against in trying to get my photos published. And even though all of the guys shooting for AP, Getty, and Reuters have far more experience than I do I'm occassionally successful in beating them out to get published. On Wednesday, I had one of my photos published of the press conference with Prime Minister Cameron and President Obama in the San Antonio Express-News. Before I go to Capitol Hill or the White House to shoot an event one of our editors often asks me if I've sharpened my elbows today. He knows the competitive nature of DC photographers and has told me he's been impressed with how I've kept up with them, despite coming away with bruises after many events.

At this point, I've got two weeks left in this town and I plan to make the most of it. I know I'm giong to have a great weekend because two great friends from Berry are coming to visit me! It will be a marathon weekend of site seeing and with a heat index of 110 degress on Saturday I'm just praying we survive. Look for pictures of the weekend on Monday, but for now I'll include the photos from the events I mentioned earlier. From top to bottom, Rep. Michele Bachmann at the Tea Party press conference, Ken Feinberg at a subcommittee hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Senators Reid and Kerry at a press conference outside the Senate Chamber.