Chain Reaction

This image differs in look, technique, and presentation from the others in this exhibition for a very good reason: the hand of government intervened in its creation.

The intent was to make a statement about the way government uses and manipulates media coverage of its actions. Little did we know that just such a control would be exercised over the making of this very image.

The rules have always been that any photograph could be taken from a public street without interference by government. With this in mind, we set up the camera to shoot the Capitol from the street. A police officer informed us that it was illegal to use a tripod-mounted camera without a permit to take a picture in the area of the Capitol. Lighting equipment was also not permitted. He said the camera must be supported by hand (difficult at best with a view camera) or placed on a bag or wall for support.

To meet my technical requirements needed to shoot this image under these circumstances, compromises had to be made by me.
Clearly, government intervention controlled certain aspects in the shooting of this image; however, its original meaning wasn’t altered or compromised—it was, instead, proven because of this “chain” of events.