I went to Washington D.C. to document the presence of the National Guard deployed to our nation’s capital.

I walked around taking pictures with @benjancewicz and Rosemary Ryan

It ended up being quite surreal.

#DCLockdown #WashintonDC

The first thing that struck me, after watching this jogger ask for directions during road closures, was how everyone seemed like this was “normal.”

Don’t mind the heavily armed guards on the corners, just a regular Saturday.

#DCLockdown #WashintonDC

Speaking of road closures, there were these medium tactical vehicles for troop and supply transport blocking of numerous intersections.

I mentioned to @benjancewicz how it was “almost dystopian.” He rightfully corrected me that it IS dystopian.

#DCLockdown #WashintonDC

Quick note on shooting with @benjancewicz, I absolutely loved going out with another photographer. Especially when they’re one of my best friends. We are drawn to the same scenes but our styles, compositions and interests are different so we come away with different perspectives.

Back to D.C.

Watching the National Guard patrol “inside the wire,” inside the United States, inside the nation’s capital, was sad and surreal.

#DCLockdown #WashintonDC

*DYSTOPIA INTENSIFIES*

It started feeling like I was walking around in a video game I played as a teenager.

The police, Soldiers, Secret Service, weren’t really able to tell us too much but were all talkative on superficial subjects and were either just chilling or tired of it all.

#DCLockdown #WashintonDC

It also felt wrong getting really good at taking pictures through riot fencing and between military vehicles.

#DCLockdown #WashintonDC

Trucks and trucks of new fencing lined multiple streets (foreground right) while troops stood guard while they were unloaded and set up.

#DCLockdown #WashintonDC

A lot of the police and secret service didn’t want their photos taken, one of them decided to side step mid-shot (though he side stepped right in to about 183727 other photographers to the right )

#DCLockdown #WashintonDC

But I also had a wide angle lens

During our ~7 mile trek around the fencing we made decided to go the mall. There was a checkpoint to get in, like an outside airport.

#DCLockdown #WashingtonDC

We thought we would be able to eventually cut through at some point, however, it was a maze full of dead-ends each way we went.

#DCLockdown #WashintonDC

When the cops wanted a little more buffer from the pedestrians they strung up some police line tape which forced those passing by into to street.

#DCLockdown #WashintonDC

Some places among the miles of fence had a squad, others only a few or single soldiers guarding. They didn’t care about photographers but did seem to straighten up a bit when we lifted the camera for a shot.

#DCLockdown #WashintonDC

I was suddenly struck by the thought that 12 years ago this would have been me. Deployed to D.C. to guard the capital after an insurrection. I asked one of the soldiers about their feeling when they got their orders “I was like WTF. Well, ok, I guess this is what I’m doing now.”

People were out either getting it for the ‘gram or tourists who thought this was a normal Saturday in D.C. Both ideas are a sad reminder of where we are right now.

#DCLockdown #WashintonDC

As we headed back @benjancewicz and I noticed that roads that had been open only a couple hours ago had new riot fencing up which made getting back to the car much more difficult. I can’t imagine how it is for the residents.

#DCLockdown #WashintonDC

This inauguration is going to be much different than any previous. I hope this doesn’t become the norm.

#DCLockdown #WashintonDC

It was a strange, sad, and surreal day seeing the militarization of D.C.

#DCLockdown #WashintonDC

If there are any reporters or newspapers looking for photos please feel free to reach out, me DMs are open (not you, Fox, not you).

#photography #WashingtonDC #DCLockdown #Photojournalism

Also, @benjancewicz has some amazing photos and incredible write-up of the day. Go follow him and check out his thread https://twitter.com/benjancewicz/status/1350665823044710400

Finally, I am now painfully aware that I clicked the first hashtag that came up that was missing the “g” in Washington throughout my thread. So, there’s that.

#WashinGtonDC