At least according to the Prince George's County Fraternal Order of Police, Scott Rolle is a rock star! In this heavily democratic county in the heavily democratic state, it's refreshing to know that partisanship can be rejected to vote for the right candidate for Attorney General.

Scott recently received the endorsement by the Prince George's police unions. I happened to be present to capture this exciting moment. I just can't begin to tell you how energetic I feel, feeding off the energy and positive non-partisan tone of the campaign. It's great because I can do so many fun things with the website too... Be on the lookout! Gotta run for now...

There's a first time for everything. And Saturday was the first time I've ever been to, or heard of, North Beach, Maryland. Having previously lived in San Francisco, I'm familiar with the North Beach area of that city -- one of my favorite parts of San Francisco. But I seriously doubt North Beach, MD shares a lot in common with it's in-name twin from the left coast.



Again you've found me hot on the trail of candidate Scott Rolle and his team of supporters as they travel around the state meeting voters and spreading their message. It was a hot day, certainly a few ticks higher on the thermometer than the Montgomery County Fair. Scott actually bought me a shaved-ice dessert! I asked the lady for Blue Raspberry (my favorite) and got blueberry (so not Blue Raspberry), but I appreciated and enjoyed the treat nonetheless. (Scott does know a thing or two about frozen desserts.) This little gesture marks a first for me in my photography and political career. Never before has a candidate for any office, or other sitting politician, ever purchased anything for me.



Reaching out as always, Scott Rolle makes a long stopover at the Democratic tent, engaging fellow Marylanders, politicians, making a few new friends -- including Melissa Miller (daughter of State Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller, Jr.) and Delegate Joseph F. Vallario, Jr. -- perhaps winning even more Democratic votes. At every campaign stop, and every event I've attended with the campaign, Scott has made a concerted effort to reach out to Democrats. As a Democrat, I am reassured by his respect and engagement of my party. It shows nuance in a candidate that is sorely lacking on all sides of political aisle.

Now I haven't been to the Montgomery County Fair since I was about eight years old, perhaps nine. My last memory of the Montgomery County Fair was of having my wallet stolen. My father had given me his old wallet, a black alligator-skinned wallet. And in it I put what I remember as $80, but could easily have been only $20. I remember that all the money and allowance I had saved from my chores was in that wallet, and there might be something worth purchasing at the fair. I remember that I had buttoned my back pocket, it's a nervous habit I still perform in "fair" situations today.

I took my wallet out at one point, probably showing off my money. My mother no doubt told me to put that away, my father questioning why my mother let me bring that to the fair. And sometime shortly thereafter, my wallet mysteriously disappeared, the $80 with it. I didn't even get the chance to buy my mom a funnel cake.



Fast-forward 18 years and a whole lifetime of experiences later as Justin Schuck returns to the Montgomery County Fair. This time I've come not for the funnel cakes, attractions and rides, which now seem much smaller than the ones I remember from my childhood. I'm traveling again with the Scott Rolle campaign on a trip through the fair, and to the two Democratic and Republican parties' tents.

The weather was spectacular, and the delicious smell of food I can't eat gave the air a healthy weight. I particularly enjoyed the smell of Dave's BBQ Catering. Oh my goodness. As the sign reads, no sauce required. As someone with strong southern roots (I say I'm half-Arkansan, half-BBQ), I was able to appreciate the artistry and mastering that goes into proper open-pit BBQ. It's all about indirect heating, not grilling. You damn Yankees never get it. And a real BBQ enthusiast NEVER puts the sauce on the meat before it's cooked.



I think Scott appreciated their skill and conversation as well. For me, it is interesting to watch a candidate interact with so many people. On previous campaigns that I have worked with, and especially on campaigns where I was volunteering, I've not had the same level of access to the candidate. I think it's more than healthy to see candidates of all parties and stripes hitting the pavement. It's a sign of a healthy democracy.



Of all the stops along the paths of the MoCo fair, my favorite would have to be catching Scott throwing a football into the target set up at the US Army recruiting tent -- or should I say US Army Reserve Captain Scott Rolle. I had to scramble to try and get the shot, because I had already broken down my camera. The deep dark of the night was fast approaching, and I was carrying with me minimal equipment. Capturing the shot was made harder because Scott was so eager to throw the ball. I got one shot of him throwing the football, and needless to say, it went in. It's just another one of those candid moments that capture a candidate in a moment of triumph.



While it might not have been 110 degrees Fahrenheit, it was quite warm, and the still air did nothing to ease the discomfort. And I say, try walking around a hot, stinky county fair with heavy equipment strapped to your shoulders! I think the woman above had the right idea.

In late July I was hired by the Committee to Elect Scott Rolle to document the campaign on its quest for the Attorney General's office in Maryland. It is little secret that I am a registered Democrat and an outspoken advocate of individual rights and freedoms, but I've often found my loyalties lie with no single party. Rather my loyalties lie in truly American principles of governing and honesty that no party can claim solely as their own.

I have worked on national and local campaigns for both parties, most notably Sen. John McCain's unsuccessful presidential bid in 2000. Even as a young boy I found excitement and joy in learning about and participating the political process.



The image that you see above was captured after a luncheon in Hagerstown, MD with Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. I caught Scott literally in a moving car speeding on his way to the next community event. It's certainly one of my favorite images of the year, not so much because it's Scott Rolle (who is a handsome gentleman), but because this one image conveys so much more than it might let on. In looking at this image, I'm struck by his measured expression and strong posture. It conveys warmth, heart and vigor all in one. I've been lucky enough to capture the essence of a man before, and I've been lucky once again with Scott Rolle.

Interestingly enough, the folks on the campaign loved this image so much that they used in on the banner of his website: ScottRolle.com. Check it out! I think it looks fantastic. And hopefully soon you'll see all of the other images I've taken for the campaign.

I'm excited to be working with Scott Rolle and his staff. Of all the campaigns I have worked with over the years, this campaign seems to put forth a youthful optimism and sense of duty that I've never seen before. Of the leading candidates, Scott Rolle strikes me to be the least affected by partisan bickering. It is refreshing to know that he surrounds himself with trusted advisers whose base ideology may be different than his own. I've watched him take counsel from everyone -- from me down to the 16-year-old volunteers and everyday citizens on the street. I am glad to see real democracy in action with Scott Rolle. While I may have initially said that I wouldn't vote for a Republican for Attorney General, Scott has proven himself to be a Republican of a different stripe. His ears and his heart are open to everyone and I hope he wins come November. It would be a tremendous win for the State of Maryland and a warning for sexual predators and violent offenders. I guess you could say I'm a bit of a convert. But that's okay, I'm voting for integrity and justice, not by the tired party line.

Stay tuned here for my perspective on Scott Rolle, the campaign and his journey to become the next Attorney General for the State of Maryland, now occupied by the retiring Attorney General Joseph Curran.

Labels: Attorney General, Democrat, Doug Gansler, Frederick County, Hagerstown, John McCain, Justin Schuck, Maryland, Michael Steele, Montgomery County, photography, Republican, Robert Ehrlich, Scott Rolle

I recently returned from a photographic expedition to New Orleans. Having not experienced the pre-Katrina New Orleans, I long for something that, for me, never was. But the New Orleans of old is still a sad and painful memory for most. The old mind's picture is of children playing and going to school; of families enjoying loving meals in their dining rooms; of a community that served each other.

It could be said that I toured the devastated areas, and visited and patronized others, but to me, there was no neighborhood that was not devastated. I had the great fortune to volunteer in New york immediately after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. I witnessed and documented the devastation, and the massive loss of human life.

In New Orleans, the devastation is far greater than that in New York. The devastation of the entire gulf coast is about more than destroyed homes, schools and the physical structures that man erects. The devastation has separated families, in many cases by thousands of miles. The devastation separates pets from their families and friends. The devastation turned cities with astonishingly low homeless rates into cities with low home-dweller rates.

It's honestly the saddest thing I have ever witnessed. I will continue to occasionally post items here about my stories from New Orleans, including selected images for my new rotating gallery show.

Labels: Art, Gallery, Gulf Coast, Hurricane Katrina, Justin Schuck, New Orleans, photography