Commercial/Editorial: Selma 50th Anniversary Bridge Crossing Jubilee – Selma, Alabama

To keep things simple, I typically limit my blog posts to wedding and portrait related images.  While you might see travel photography added to the mix on occasion, I rarely write a post about commercial work.  But since the Selma 50th Anniversary Bridge Crossing Jubilee was such a historic event, I thought some of the pictures and a few tidbits about them should be shared.  My part in the story began with an assignment to spend a few days following Secretary Julián Castro of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (aka HUD) during his time in Selma to attend the Jubilee.  Now before I go any further, let me issue a quick disclaimer: any comments I make here are not intended to endorse or denounce the politics of any of the people I photographed.  When I’m working, my objective is to take the best pictures I can of what happens to and around the people I’m assigned to.  That’s all.  I don’t ask brides how they feel about Social Security or Obamacare before I shoot their weddings.  So take my commentary here as simple observation and nothing more. 🙂

Since I had driven to Selma several times in the past, I knew what the routes were like and that traffic could potentially be gnarly with the crowds that were expected.  So I arrived extra early and took a little time to walk around.  It was long before most visitors would arrive, but there was already a “buzz” in the air that something big was coming.  Selma is small, and even though the jubilee happens every year, the events scheduled for the 50th anniversary were on another level.  News crews were EVERYWHERE.  Bleachers were being trucked in, and a steady stream of cars came across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.  Our first scheduled photo op and meeting place was at the Selma Interpretive Center, where Secretary Castro arrived with Congresswoman Terri Sewell and Mayor George Evans.

Next we boarded a small Wallace Community College bus to visit several different public housing projects in Selma.  At the last stop, Secretary Castro was able to go into one of the unoccupied units, then attend the resident meeting that evening after a short press conference.

Later that evening, he spoke with four local youths as part of President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative.  He shook each of their hands and asked them what profession they’d each like to have as adults.  They were a bit shy at first, but Secretary Castro told them a funny anecdote about himself and his twin brother, and was able to discuss their goals and challenges with them.  When he wrapped up the conversation, I noticed he referred back to their individual introductions, and had made a point to remember what they had each told him they wanted to be when they grew up.  It was a nice thing to witness.

Next, we were off to the Martin and Coretta King Unity Breakfast, where attendees listened to a variety of speakers and witnessed awards being given, while enjoying a traditional Southern breakfast.  Some very recognizable faces were in attendance, including Martin Luther King III, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and Reverend Al Sharpton, who spoke immediately before Secretary Castro.  Reverend Sharpton is small and slight in person, but has a very big presence on a microphone.  He knows exactly how to draw people in, and I admit, I was curious how Secretary Castro would do since he was up next.  It was a tough act to follow, but he was no slouch.

The last event on our schedule was delayed a few hours, but I was able to pass the time chatting with some of Secretary Castro’s staff and Secret Service, as well as visitors who had come from all over and happened to be sitting near us.   Unfortunately, the final photo op ended up being cancelled, but it was still a great experience (even if I did have to remind myself not to use the word “shoot” as casually as I normally would).  Secretary Castro, his staff, and Secret Service were lovely people to work with, and I’d be happy to do it again.