Comments | wha: Keeping Busy.... With Pictures!

wha

Keeping Busy.... With Pictures!

Jan 08, 2007 22:47

Happy new year everyone. I hope the holiday season found you all well and in good spirits, surrounded by your loved ones. My holiday was nice and quiet until, with the passing of Former President Gerald Ford, I was hired by CBS to go down and help with their coverage of the funeral process as it passed through Washington DC. What follows are the ( Read more... )

Comments 10

bigdee January 9 2007, 04:29:10 UTC

Nice photos there. I'd imagine it feels rather odd to be directly involved in covering a major global event like that?

wha January 9 2007, 04:38:45 UTC

Odd and very surreal. Being able to pass through security and then be so close to people I've only seen on TV and in the paper is more than a bit jarring.

Take care.

joyee January 9 2007, 07:35:47 UTC

That married couple's house doesn't look very warm :( Poor peoples.

wha January 9 2007, 13:56:21 UTC

I'd agree, and considering that they haven't left there in nearly 26 years, it's amazing that they've stayed healthy. Although, if you talked to them, they might seem a little, what's the word, oh, right, crazy.

Take care.

rustay January 9 2007, 10:26:59 UTC

That seems like a surreal experience. Very...moving I'd imagine. Like Big D said - covering a Global event. Nice photos, by the way! Also, I apologise for not replying to the PM you sent me. I haven't had time, but very much appreciate what you said and took it on board - you were very helpful.

wha January 9 2007, 13:57:48 UTC

No worries, glad I could help.

It's funny, when you're setting up, it's just like any other job, you're engulfed in your work, so it doesn't sink in. However, as it was happening and everything was so quiet but for the hum of the car motors, it's impossible to not get a little choked up.

Take care.

funeral sabanka January 9 2007, 15:31:29 UTC

1) Where'd you get the jacket? I only wore one of those once and that was b/c Jenn thought I would be cold in my own jacket the last week.

2) The CBS jib arm over the street is wicked smart. Besides that the media coverage sadly didn't suprise me. Did everyone broadcast live out of trucks stationed somewhere? With all the bowl games going on I'd think the country would be running out of those trucks..

3) I found the navy practicing funny. It makes sense that they would, just seeing it off-base was funny to me.

Re: funeral wha January 9 2007, 15:40:45 UTC

1) We got it when my dad helped them set up a live remote for the 2004 election coverage at MSG, and like a lot of things, it passed on to me.

2) Indeed, we were all working on what is known as "pool" coverage, where any network can take our feed and use it. CNN and FoxNEWS make their money that way, since they don't have the resources of the bigger networks yet have much, much more time to fill with bumper shots, etc.

3) They even had a little moment where they gave Ford the Navy 'Welcome Aboard' whistle as his car stopped in front of them. The motorcade came after dark and the photos I took came out too blurry to really see what was going on.

Adieu.

ryechu January 10 2007, 01:22:32 UTC

Those are great photos. :)

I remember seeing that couple and hearing the woman when I went to DC. That was one of the most fascinating parts of the trip there.

wha January 12 2007, 00:56:29 UTC

Why thank you. Coming from such an excellent photographer as yourself, that means a lot.

It really is astounding to think that two people could really stay put for almost 26 years. It's both amazing and really crazy when you think about it. Though they started out just going against the current president, they are now there as a 24/7/365 vigil for peace. John Lennon would be proud.

Take care.