90ish days of summer

Two days later, I can now show you the photos I took for The Washington Post!

My supervisor Dee gave me permission to post my photos on Flickr and this blog (with some provisions). So, here are a few of my photos from Takoma Park’s 120th annual Independence Day parade. All photos are copyright 2009 by The Washington Post.

Takoma Park mayor Bruce Williams waves from the back of a 1903 Oldsmobile during Takoma Park's 120th annual Independence Day parade on July 4, 2009.

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley shakes hands with a shy five-year-old Jacob Petruzzelli of Silver Spring during Takoma Park's 120th annual Independence Day parade on July 4, 2009.

Although the governor, mayor, a Congressman and other local elected officials led the parade, it wasn’t at all a political event.

Two-year-old Grace Brusky of Silver Spring watches Takoma Park's 120th annual Independence Day parade on July 4, 2009.

An American flag waving from his hat, Russell Lee of Washington, D.C., takes in the sights and talks on his cell phone during Takoma Park's 120th annual Independence Day parade on July 4, 2009.

As I wrote/implied in an earlier blog entry, my experience with parades has consisted of the following:

• Firetrucks and bicycles riding around my neighborhood in suburban Houston, Texas
• The Main Street Electrical Parade at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
• Tractors, old convertibles and wranglers on horses in Cimarron, N.M.

No homecoming parades. No MLK, Jr., Day parades. No Fourth of July parades.

Sad repertoire.

So I didn’t know what to expect of Takoma Park’s parade, which is a continuation of what is believed to be one of the longest-running Independence Day celebrations on the east coast.

But I knew there would be Uncle Sam.

Jeffrey Silverstone, in his fifth year as Uncle Sam, waves to spectators during Takoma Park's 120th annual Independence Day parade on July 4, 2009.

And flags.

Nine-year-old Madeleine Allou of Silver Spring watches Takoma Park's 120th annual Independence Day parade pass by on Maple Avenue on July 4, 2009.

And popsicles.

Six-year-old Joel Simpson and four-year-old Alex Simpson watch members of the Baltimore City Entertainers pass during Takoma Park's 120th annual Independence Day parade on July 4, 2009.

A few more things I need to throw out there before I conclude this blog entry:

First, it felt really good to be shooting for a publication and get a photo byline again. While I’d sometimes volunteered to shoot the occasional photo for The Columbia Missourian, that was mostly because I was already reporting on the story and figured I could take care of photos as well.

One thing I noticed in retrospect: Shooting for a publication and having a press ID badge definitely emboldened me. I say this as a good thing. Had I attended the parade and took photos on my own, I probably wouldn’t have tried as hard to get a variety of shots. But knowing I was on assignment and having a badge to show for it definitely made me want to work harder.

Also, in stark contrast to Missouri, I received not a single derogatory remark about “the liberal media.” After three years of reporting and photography experience in mid-Missouri, I’ve become grudgingly used to receiving nasty, undeserved comments about being part of the liberal media. (I say “undeserved” because I have never expressed my political beliefs in public and have always striven to be as objective as humanly possible.) Also, at conservative/Republican political rallies and other such events, it’s common for participants to refuse to give their names to photojournalists. When politely asked why, they will — nine times out of 10 — cite their contempt for the liberal media.

I asked Jeff if I should expect to get any of that while shooting a patriotic event in Maryland. He laughed and told me that you’re not allowed to run for office in Takoma Park unless you’re a Democrat. Sure enough, no one refused to give me their name, and no one made any dry remarks about the liberal media.

Finally, I have to say it: No, I didn’t get published in print.

But two of my photos did run in a washingtonpost.com gallery. So hey — that’s still completely legit. And this won’t be my last assignment, either.

I’ll leave you on that note of suspense. And, as always, you can view more photos HERE.