2008 Democratic National Convention in The Pepsi Center
So there are comic book conventions, racial conventions, ventions, and divine interventions. None of these things have anything to do with the Democratic National Convention. This year's DNC does not stand for Demorcratic National Convention but for Denver's Non-stop Crazy-party. I walked into the Pepsi Center in Denver and was immediatley overwhelmed by the amount of people.Flustered, we asked someone where the "digital dark room" was. In the hall on the way I got my first taste of stardom when I saw the Dan Rather. That is where we were to meet Mark and recieve our assignment.
Once there he sent us with an associate name Jon Sachs, the "Student Body President" of the University of Maryland, or at least that is what his business card indicates. He led us through a long hall way and into this:
The energy in the room was ridiculous. Stunned, I stood there in the wide expanse that was the Democratic National Convention, Earth Wind and Fire blasting. I was taken to my group of photographers (for whom I would run pictures for only one of them).
Michael went to the opposite side of the auditorium and so it began.
The big speakers of the night were Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi and Michelle Obama.
Nancy Pelosi did her thing, talking about her being the first woman speaker of the house and first Italian American speaker of the house. She also emphasized her message "John McCain is wrong" Which had the whole crowd repeating her at every utterance of "John McCain".
Then Jimmy Carter made an appearence, walking across the stage and waving to the crowd after a video of an interview with him had played on the big screens around the auditorium.
It was soon time to run my first compact flash card to the editor of AFP. This I did so sucessfully, or so I thought. When I brought the card to the digital darkroom the editor told me that the photos had been corrupted. Downtrodden and distessed I headed back to the photographer, Robin. But to my dismay I was not allowed enterance to the floor due to someone being escorted from the "garage" to the floor. This angered me especially because I had specifically asked all the guards at the entrances to the floor if this would occur and they all told me they didn't know anything about keeping people with the proper passes out. Yet it still happend. Now I am at the highest level of distress of the night.
But I did see someone who would bring my spirits up, Kumar!
When I got back to the camera stand it became smooth sailing in the delivery department, well sort of.
On my way to deliver another card back from the editor I got caught in, what would be the first of many, human traffic jams. So I'm waiting there and I'm pressed up against a bunch of people when I look down and see this guy in a white hat and jacket, I take a closer look and it is none other than....Spike Lee!
When it sunk in that I was standing next to the Spike Lee I hurriedly ripped out my camera and said "Mr. Lee-' this is where I begin to think, what would separate me from other fanboys (something I'm not) "What's up?" Well it wasn't very clever and I wish I could say it worked but it didn't. So I guess that was kind of a failure. Then I asked him if I could get a picture and extended my hand to him. Mind you he was now at an odd diagonal angle to me. He took no notice and tried to shrug me off.
Oh well.
It was still awesome.
Back to some hard politics The Man of the hour took his place center stage shortly after what was the worst of the human traffic jams. That is right, Ted Kennedy, the man being called Obama's most important endorsement.
But right before he went on a girl approached me as I waited in the traffic jam due to Ted Kennedy's upcoming appearance. She introduced herself as a student journalist (whose name slips my mind) for Colorado State University. She asked if I was a student journalist and I told her that I wasn't, that I was here to run pictures from the photographers to the editors. (I am the life blood of AFP, The life blood!) When I told her I was 15 she flipped out.
She told me that she was 21 and it was overwhelming for her, she couldn't imagine what it would be like for someone as young as myself. She proceeded to ask for an interview and how could I says no.
She asked what I was feeling and what I thought of "all this". I told her it was the most overwhelming, exciting expierience of my life. That I could not have anticipated the energy and up beat tempo of this convention.
I told her I was from New Jersey and went to school at St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City. After concluding with a generic "I'm so lucky to be here" we thanked each other and parted ways.
Pretty soon signs reading "Kennedy" went up all around the room and occasional outbursts of "Teddy Teddy" broke out. When "Teddy" took the podium during his pro Obama, pro health care speech the place exploded. As many know Barack Obama is very concerned in the welfare of the common person. As Ted Kennedy said in his speech. "Health care should be a basic right".
After Ted Kennedy left the stage the next biggest person up was Michelle Obama but there is a story to be told that happened between those time periods.
Thinking back to my recent acquaintance, Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey; Robin, the photographer I was running for told me to take a break so I headed over to the New Jersey delegate area as marked by the tall, square, blue poles holding the name of each state. Sure enough, there in the front row was Cory Booker being interviewed by some young people. I waited until it was over before approaching.
When I got over to him I said "Hey Mr. Booker" and he stood up and came over to me. We began talking about the convention, what I had been up to, if he was going to be at the convention everyday and just to humor my friend Noah, I told him that he said "Hi".
We parted ways and I headed back out to the floor. I went back to the Camera stand and waited for the final speaker, Michelle Obama.
As an interlude to Mrs. Obama her brother, Craig took the podium. "He is a team player and never backs down from a challenge" said Craig Robinson, on Barack Obama on the basketball court and in life.
Then Michelle Obama took to the microphone to give a speech which gave me chills. She told the story of her father and his determination to live during the last few months until he passed. She told how great a man Barack is.
How they met, and what his strong beliefs are.
"Barack Obama will fight for education for every child Pre-k through college" was a clear statement I remember from her speech.
As a black man raised by his grandparents in the South side of Chicago and in Hawaii, Barack Obama is the epitome of a man who has crossed bridges and made something of himself. He is living proof that everyone should be given an equal opportunity in this country.
Obama has two daughters of his own, Malia, 10 and Natasha, 7. As stated many times throughout the speeches by Edward Kennedy and Michelle Obama, Barack Obama is a man for the people. "Barack feels eve
ryone else's feelings of people from all walks of life. Because he has done all of those things and can relate. He is America's president, candidate"
The night concluded with a live video feed of Barack Obama in Kansas City, Missouri. His message was almost none. He simply told his wife what a great job she did and then said "See you guys Thursday" thus bringing forth a huge cheer from the crowd.
I delivered my last flash card and headed back to the hotel with Michael via shuttle.
It became clear to me on the way back that as the days went on the Convention would become progressively bigger and better. With a lot more people and bringing with them a ton more excitement and energy (Like this convention needs any more).
It is rumored that Thursday, where Barack Obama will give his speech in the Mile High Stadium in Denver, that Bruce Springsteen himself will preform. These are rumors and I can not verify them but I have to say, I am one excited...entity.
And in other news Bon Jovi will probably be playing the same night.
Tomorrow I head out for the second day where there is bound to be more celebrities and better speeches, thus incurring more excitement.
I can't wait.
Peace.
-Graham
Did I mention Lil JJ was there?!?!
Michael went to the opposite side of the auditorium and so it began.
The big speakers of the night were Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi and Michelle Obama.
Nancy Pelosi did her thing, talking about her being the first woman speaker of the house and first Italian American speaker of the house. She also emphasized her message "John McCain is wrong" Which had the whole crowd repeating her at every utterance of "John McCain".
Then Jimmy Carter made an appearence, walking across the stage and waving to the crowd after a video of an interview with him had played on the big screens around the auditorium.
It was soon time to run my first compact flash card to the editor of AFP. This I did so sucessfully, or so I thought. When I brought the card to the digital darkroom the editor told me that the photos had been corrupted. Downtrodden and distessed I headed back to the photographer, Robin. But to my dismay I was not allowed enterance to the floor due to someone being escorted from the "garage" to the floor. This angered me especially because I had specifically asked all the guards at the entrances to the floor if this would occur and they all told me they didn't know anything about keeping people with the proper passes out. Yet it still happend. Now I am at the highest level of distress of the night.
But I did see someone who would bring my spirits up, Kumar!
When I got back to the camera stand it became smooth sailing in the delivery department, well sort of.
On my way to deliver another card back from the editor I got caught in, what would be the first of many, human traffic jams. So I'm waiting there and I'm pressed up against a bunch of people when I look down and see this guy in a white hat and jacket, I take a closer look and it is none other than....Spike Lee!
When it sunk in that I was standing next to the Spike Lee I hurriedly ripped out my camera and said "Mr. Lee-' this is where I begin to think, what would separate me from other fanboys (something I'm not) "What's up?" Well it wasn't very clever and I wish I could say it worked but it didn't. So I guess that was kind of a failure. Then I asked him if I could get a picture and extended my hand to him. Mind you he was now at an odd diagonal angle to me. He took no notice and tried to shrug me off.
Oh well.
It was still awesome.
Back to some hard politics The Man of the hour took his place center stage shortly after what was the worst of the human traffic jams. That is right, Ted Kennedy, the man being called Obama's most important endorsement.
But right before he went on a girl approached me as I waited in the traffic jam due to Ted Kennedy's upcoming appearance. She introduced herself as a student journalist (whose name slips my mind) for Colorado State University. She asked if I was a student journalist and I told her that I wasn't, that I was here to run pictures from the photographers to the editors. (I am the life blood of AFP, The life blood!) When I told her I was 15 she flipped out.
She told me that she was 21 and it was overwhelming for her, she couldn't imagine what it would be like for someone as young as myself. She proceeded to ask for an interview and how could I says no.
She asked what I was feeling and what I thought of "all this". I told her it was the most overwhelming, exciting expierience of my life. That I could not have anticipated the energy and up beat tempo of this convention.
I told her I was from New Jersey and went to school at St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City. After concluding with a generic "I'm so lucky to be here" we thanked each other and parted ways.
Pretty soon signs reading "Kennedy" went up all around the room and occasional outbursts of "Teddy Teddy" broke out. When "Teddy" took the podium during his pro Obama, pro health care speech the place exploded. As many know Barack Obama is very concerned in the welfare of the common person. As Ted Kennedy said in his speech. "Health care should be a basic right".
After Ted Kennedy left the stage the next biggest person up was Michelle Obama but there is a story to be told that happened between those time periods.
Thinking back to my recent acquaintance, Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey; Robin, the photographer I was running for told me to take a break so I headed over to the New Jersey delegate area as marked by the tall, square, blue poles holding the name of each state. Sure enough, there in the front row was Cory Booker being interviewed by some young people. I waited until it was over before approaching.
When I got over to him I said "Hey Mr. Booker" and he stood up and came over to me. We began talking about the convention, what I had been up to, if he was going to be at the convention everyday and just to humor my friend Noah, I told him that he said "Hi".
We parted ways and I headed back out to the floor. I went back to the Camera stand and waited for the final speaker, Michelle Obama.
As an interlude to Mrs. Obama her brother, Craig took the podium. "He is a team player and never backs down from a challenge" said Craig Robinson, on Barack Obama on the basketball court and in life.
Then Michelle Obama took to the microphone to give a speech which gave me chills. She told the story of her father and his determination to live during the last few months until he passed. She told how great a man Barack is.
How they met, and what his strong beliefs are.
"Barack Obama will fight for education for every child Pre-k through college" was a clear statement I remember from her speech.
As a black man raised by his grandparents in the South side of Chicago and in Hawaii, Barack Obama is the epitome of a man who has crossed bridges and made something of himself. He is living proof that everyone should be given an equal opportunity in this country.
Obama has two daughters of his own, Malia, 10 and Natasha, 7. As stated many times throughout the speeches by Edward Kennedy and Michelle Obama, Barack Obama is a man for the people. "Barack feels eve
ryone else's feelings of people from all walks of life. Because he has done all of those things and can relate. He is America's president, candidate" The night concluded with a live video feed of Barack Obama in Kansas City, Missouri. His message was almost none. He simply told his wife what a great job she did and then said "See you guys Thursday" thus bringing forth a huge cheer from the crowd.
I delivered my last flash card and headed back to the hotel with Michael via shuttle.
It became clear to me on the way back that as the days went on the Convention would become progressively bigger and better. With a lot more people and bringing with them a ton more excitement and energy (Like this convention needs any more).
It is rumored that Thursday, where Barack Obama will give his speech in the Mile High Stadium in Denver, that Bruce Springsteen himself will preform. These are rumors and I can not verify them but I have to say, I am one excited...entity.
And in other news Bon Jovi will probably be playing the same night.
Tomorrow I head out for the second day where there is bound to be more celebrities and better speeches, thus incurring more excitement.
I can't wait.
Peace.
-Graham
Did I mention Lil JJ was there?!?!
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