Molly Palmer and Lee Cowan married each other at St. Alban’s Parish in Washington D.C. Saturday, April 14, 2012. Passing cars honk and congratulate the couple while posing for portraits in front of their wedding car, a classic Bentley from the 1960's. Molly Palmer, 29, and Lee Cowan, 46, were colleagues at NBC News, but it wasn't until The Balloon Boy story coverage in 2009 that their romance sparked.

This wedding I shot for The New York Times Vows section was a pretty cool. It was filled to the brim with media people. Being a journalist, I found this paragraph from WILL STOREY’s story particularly interesting:

“Among the things that initially propelled Ms. Palmer’s and Mr. Cowan’s relationship was that ‘we both get this crazy job that we do,’ Mr. Cowan said. ‘It’s hard, I think, for some people who don’t do this job, when you say you’re going to be home at 5 o’clock at night for dinner, and then not only are you not home at 5, but you’re actually on a plane and you might not be home for four days.’”

It reminds me of something my former coworker Sherri DiBarri used to said once, “You know? One of the great things about being married to another photographer is that I can tell him I’ll be home in about 20 minutes, and he knows I’m probably lying.”

For Even more photos, check out my photoshelter archive gallery and/or slideshow.

Mother of the bride Nancy Palmer, left, helps flower girl sisters Jayden Nassar, 6, middle, and Parker Nassar, 4, right, with their flowers moments before Molly Spencer Palmer, background right, marries Lee Cowan at St. Alban’s Parish in Washington D.C. Saturday, April 14, 2012. The Rev. Margot D. Critchfield, an Episcopal priest, performed the ceremony.

Lee kissed the bride.

The two watch as ceremony attendees leave for the reception so they can have their wedding portraits made.

The couple walk in the neighboring National Cathedral's Bishop's Garden to have their portraits made in-between ceremony and reception.

Lead wedding photographer Geoff Chesman, middle right, plans the family portrait session with groom Lee Cowan, middle left, at the reception held at the Chevy Chase Club in Washington D.C. Saturday, April 14, 2012. Bride Molly Spencer Palmer, left, talks with her sister Hope Palmer. Lee's father, Dr. Leland Cowan, far right, stands with his wife Constance Cowan (obscured, in wheelchair), while secondary wedding photographer Kristian Thacker carries a chair for Constance to sit in.

Molly Palmer and Lee Cowan, middle, have a moment, in between family portraits

Molly Spencer Palmer and Lee Cowan laugh during a humorous speech told by one of Lee's best men Mark Hudspeth retells the couple's romantic origins sparked during the Balloon Boy coverage in 2009.

Molly Palmer and Lee Cowan's first dance.

Molly dancing with her dad, John Palmer, was a White House correspondent for NBC News and a news anchor for “Today.”

Celebrities in attendance! Former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan and his wife NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell talk with groom Lee Cowan.

Lee Cowan and Molly Palmer kiss after cutting their cake.

Sparklers light the exit.

Just a funny moment at the Bentley.

Allison Curry, from Tampa, celebrates during the USF Alumni NCAA Selection Sunday Watch Party at Lee Roy Selmon’s restaurant in Tampa, Florida Sunday, March 11, 2012. Curry, who graduated in 2011, was a USF Athletic Trainer for the school’s basketball team last year. She is flanked by fellow 2011 alumni and former trainer Christina Page, from Tampa, on the left, and Davian Benito, from Tampa, the USF Alumni Association Tampa Chapter Watch Party Chair, on her right. Tony Holbro, class of 1970, both from Tampa, and Andy Morris, the USF Director of Marketing, is on the far right.

Woohoo! My (work) trip to Florida might be turning fruitful after all. I got on the freelance list for the Tampa Bay Times (formerly the St. Pete Times) last week thanks to staffers Kathleen Flynn and Melissa Lyttle. And yesterday (fellow former PPC staffer) Stefanie Boyar called me up for my first assignment, a USF NCAA watch party. It’s one of those Cheers or Tears shoots. After 20 years, the Bulls got in. So it was cheers all the way.

Rocky, the USF mascot tries riling up the crowd attending the University of Southern Florida Alumni NCAA Selection Sunday Watch Party at Lee Roy Selmon's restaurant in Tampa, Florida Sunday, March 11, 2012.

USF fan Adam Brown, from Tampa, hugs Rob Lewis, from Land O' Lakes, USF class of 1986, during The University of Southern Florida Alumni NCAA Selection Sunday Watch Party at Lee Roy Selmon's restuaruant in Tampa, Florida Sunday, March 11, 2012.

Oh! and this happened, too.

Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra walks into Lee Roy Selmon's restaurant in Tampa, Florida Sunday, March 11, 2012. Coincidentally, The University of Southern Florida Alumni NCAA Selection Sunday Watch Party was being held at the same time .

My first Tampa Bay Times clip.

City Springs Elementary School first grader Jahmal Harrison, and his mother Tameka Harrison, wait inside the school before their 40 minute bus ride to their shelter in North Baltimore Wednesday, February 29, 2012. Tameka, who can’t work due to a facial injury, volunteers at her son’s school, where poverty is the norm. Ninety-six percent of the approximately 650 student body qualifies for free lunches. Tameka and Jahmal, who suffers from lead poisoning, used to live in one of the close-by housing projects, but have been homeless for the last two months. They’re currently staying at Sarah’s Hope Shelter in West Baltimore. Tameka thought she was going to be moving into an apartment Friday, under the auspices that both the security deposit and the first month’s rent would be waived, but the latter was not. So, they’re staying in the shelter a little while longer.

Two Fridays ago I got a call from Charlie Borst at Education Week. He asked me to help illustrate a story about the effects of poverty on students’ educational success.  A tough task, for sure, but I was up for it.

For those of you who don’t know, Education Week is the paper of record for U.S. public schools, grades k-12. Their audience is smart and small — educators, public school administrators, education policy makers. So, the written stories can be pretty data and research heavy. The photo department, headed by Charlie and Nicole Fruge understand that photography can humanize an information rich story.

So, being tasked with finding a student who was not only poor, but willing to be photographed and who’s parents were willing for them to be photographed as well, in less than a week was a bit daunting for sure.

Going through this experience made me ask for help. I got some amazing advice from talented documentary photographers Kathleen Flynn about contacting non-profits, and Monica Lopossay, too. Both helped me think about how I should approach subjects, too. But I also really learned the benefit of culling contacts from past assignments. The principal at City Springs Elementary School, Rhonda Richetta, was a wonderful host the last time I shot there (for another Education Week story). I just dropped in, unexpected, and asked for her help finding a subject. And

Miss Richetta knew the perfect parent and student — Tameka and Jahmal Harrison.

Willing and open subjects are gifts from the photo gods! She didn’t put a hand up to me to stop shooting when she disciplined her son for hitting (back) another student and she was willing to let me photograph her and Jahmal at their shelter. Unfortunately, the management at Sarah’s Hope wouldn’t give me access.

I also learned that when a willing subject is presented to you, it’s up to you to maintain that trust.

Sometimes you just have to listen to your subject’s story with an open mind. Let them rationalize their past and present, and try to understand and empathize where they’re coming from. After all, we’ve all made mistakes. and we’ve all been in a position to learn from them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to simplify the complexities of why people — families — become homeless.

All I’m saying is, if a subjects wants to open up and tell you their story, let them, and know when to put the camera down. Who knows? They might tell you more, and you might be privy to the intimate realities of their world. It’s an amazing thing to be trusted and let in.

Keep Scrolling for a view of how the photos played (beautifully!) in the Education Week layout, and for some outtakes.

City Springs Elementary/Middle School first graders in Ms. Peacock's class (L-R) Durius Walker, Kayshawn Roundheart, Caleb Washington, Jahmal Harrison, and Lance Shields line up during lunch Wednesday, February 29, 2012. Poverty is the norm at the Baltimore City school. Ninety-six percent of student body qualify for free lunches.

Students pass by an empty bullet casing found on City Springs School's playground Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

Jahmal Harrison, and his mother Tameka Harrison, both currently homeless, wait across the street from City Springs School for a bus to take them to their shelter Wednesday, February 29, 2012. Fans of wrestling, they play around during their wait.

Jahmal Harrison defends his actions while being scolded by his mother Tameka Harrison, after she found out he was in a fight with another student after school.

Jahmal Harrison, gets a hug from his mother Tameka Harrison, outside his classroom.

In case I couldn’t find a willing subject, I made photos of the area surrounding City Springs Middle/Elementary School. This was obviously “plan B” but I think it helped give context to where the students lived.

A student walks past a dilapidated building on Caroline Street in Baltimore, MD, Wednesday, February 29, 2012. The neighborhood, which has three government housing complexes, has two schools, the Baltimore Freedom Academy and City Springs Elementary/Middle School. While both are charter schools, the latter serves mostly neighborhood students. Ninety-six percent of City Springs' student body receives free lunches.

I love this photo.

The water at City Springs School in Baltimore, MD, is not safe to drink. This is a common problem in many Baltimore City Public Schools.

This guy’s just adorable, isn’t he?

Principal Rhonda Richetta.

Jahmal Harrison

A few weeks ago I licensed a photo I made of David Donaldson to the New York Review of Books — a small, niche, yet prestigious and super smart publication.

I recommend the article if you’re into education reform.

I originally shot these photos of David Donaldson for the New York Times back in 2009.

As I’m sure some of you regular readers are aware, I’m still in the blooming stages of my freelance career. I haven’t relicensed too many photos, yet. I hope this’ll become old hat one of these days. But for now, it’s still pretty cool!

…now if I can just land a syndication deal. Who wants me? Anyone Anyone?

The New York Times story, which outlines the frustrating reality of raising a kid by a single working mom, is here.

One of the tough parts of making these portraits is that they were during her lunch hour. Ideally I would’ve gotten her at least getting her son ready for school in the morning, but, for some reason, that wasn’t feasible. We also couldn’t make pictures in her office. So, we just walked around the block. I felt bad because Sheontay — a pretty attractive woman — would get hollered at. “Damn Girl! You a model?!?” I know my camera and I didn’t help. Sheontay took it all in stride, though. 

Michael sent me a fast drawing of his idea: …which I LOVE!

The idea is to make a white seamless portrait of several Social Security recipients and explain their situations with written vignettes.

This is Michael’s idea put to work. It’s the promo piece for the story.

The story section looks a little different. You can see it here.

I photographed one recipient from Baltimore, Dr. Timothy Modlin. Here’s his vignette.

I was told to make a mugshot, too.  – which I kinda like.And of course what kind of a friend would I be if I didn’t show the outtakes from the mock-up shoot in Denver?Cheers!

The Baltimore City charter school has implemented several structural practices such as single gender classrooms and the Restorative Practices pedagogy.

Principal Rhonda Richetta’s idea is to create a safe and respectful culture rather than utilize traditional “crime and punishment” methods. After Restorative Practices became mandatory, the school lost a majority of their teachers. Mr. West, who just started his third year at City Springs, has the most seniority among middle school teachers.

This was one of the more interesting assignments I’ve had for Education Week. The story is about school security. But when I got to the school, I felt like security was a non-issue. I guess that means its working. Everyone was respectful towards everyone else — which is a pillar of the Restorative Practices model of education. Staff members use “affective language” when talking with students. Students were encouraged to deal their issues in “circles” rather than fighting, employing the teachers as mediators of sorts. I bet that gave the teachers a super-strong connection to their kids.

Something’s working at this place. I’ve never met more polite middle schoolers. And it’s not like this school is full of hand picked genius/polite students. City Springs is an inner city Baltimore neighborhood school. It’s not the worst neighborhood, but it’s comprised of three housing projects and 99% of the student body receives free lunches.

I got the impression that school was, ironically, a source of calm for most of these kids. Everything’s structured. — even their locker breaks. I guess that makes sense because when I was in school, locker breaks were when most of the fighting happened. And most importantly, the kids are learning! The teachers have the time to finish lessons.

“I don’t really use it that often.” says City Springs School Principal Rhonda Richetta talking about her security system. “It’s not this security system that has changed the climate in my school. It’s the Restorative Practices.” When she first started as principal she remembers having to break up fights 5 or 6 times a day. She wanted to change the school’s culture rather than beef up the security measures. She now finds that she has to rely less on the school’s security camera system set up in her office, and has fostered a respectful culture between students and faculty.

Faculty did leave, however. After Restorative Practices became mandatory the school lost the majority of their teachers because, according to Richetta, they didn’t want to change how they taught.

From what I understand, a major critique of this approach to teaching is that it doesn’t allow for educator creativity. Almost everything is structured and scripted. But when your students live in poverty, I wonder how much structure and respect a lot of them are getting when they’re not in school.

When installing new security cameras Richetta chose small cameras to not foster a an over securitized ambiance.

Eighth-graders in Tracy Hauser’s home room Brittany Carter, left, and Tyveona James, right, join hands with classmates during “circle time.” 

Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School Kindergarteners in Amy Raymond’s class Piper Stephan, left, and Delaney Lane, right, read to each other. Amy Raymond, kindergartener teacher at Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School in Glenelg, Maryland — part of the Howard County Public School System — utilizes Common Core Curriculum to teach her students Wednesday, November 30, 2011. Her class is the first generation of students taught under the new national standards, emphasizing subject mastery.

Thanks to Education Week, I had one of the most adorable assignments I’ve had since leaving my staff newspaper job at The Patuxent Publishing Co. But as it turns out, Common Core is anything but …cute. It’s a big deal in the business of public education. Here’s a link to the article, but unless you’re a subscriber you can only read the first few paragraphs. Don’t worry. Here’s the Common Core Standards State initiative page, the Wikipedia page, and — get this! — there’s an iPhone ap, too! At the end of the post are some newspaper .pdfs “clips.”Students in Amy Raymond’s kindergarten class at Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School in Glenelg, Maryland play “Try To Go Home,” a number game utilizing common core curriculum K.CC.4a & K.CC.4b. (how’s that for wonky?) The way it works is, a pair of students roll dice to move a figurine. They used dinosaurs this week because the letter of the week is “D.” The purpose is to emphasize “one to one” number correspondence and improve operational and algebraic thinking. The students are (L-R) Marisa Lamb, Sierra Collis, Caroline Zdrale, and Dylan Ma. Maggie Metz raises her colorful finger-tipped hand.You know me… I really like to put myself in my work. In front of his classmates, Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School kindergartener Austin Wagner pauses before turning over the date “30″ on the calendar. Daily rituals like this help Amy Raymond’s class develop number proficiency. As I left the office, this Labrador mascot statue made me jump a bit. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not scared of dogs, I just wasn’t expecting a dog in a school. … And out the corner of my eye, this thing looked super-real.Maggie Metz, left and Austin Wagner, right, work on assignments.

The nice thing about kindergarteners is that there are moments all over the place. Amy Raymond plays “Try To Go Home,”  with Sierra Collis.Ethan Sutch writes his class’s attendance on the board. This daily exercise utilizes math skills learned in Amy Raymond’s kindergarten class.…as in, “and why not make this picture?”Amy Raymond and her students (L-R) Dylan Ma, Gregor Lesho, Ethan Sutch (standing), and Gouri Gupta.I MADE THE COVER!!!

I made this wacky wacky photo shoot for a fun story the New York Times did on Extreme Cleaners.

Sally’s a regular germ-slayer!“Blue is for the loo. Pink is for the sink.”Aside from a minimal amount of bleach, she uses all green products, like toilet paper made from recycled material and Seventh Generation cleaner.

This photo even made it onto the New York Time’s home page for a bit!

I got to meet a movie star a few weeks ago! Kal Penn!

Some of you might know him as Kumar, Dr. Lawrence Kutner, or Gogol from The Namesake.

…but I imagine his White House security badge said Kalpen Modi, his birth name.

The New York Times profile paints him as a modest, hard worker. Kinda the opposite of a Hollywood stereotype. I’ll be honest, I was charmed.

It’s always good to find common ground with subjects, but I was a little trepidatious to bring up the Harold & Kumar movies. I assume it’s a point of exhaustion for him, but I couldn’t help it. I’m genuinely excited to see the third movie. I also said I was rooting for his character on House. But we went on to talk about other stuff, too, like how uninspiring the food at the White House cafeteria is, how he’s barely experienced life in DC because he’s always working, and, of course, really good bad movies.