Photographing the First Days of Donald Trump’s America
Photographing the First Days of Donald Trump’s America
2 minute read
Crowds waiting for the inauguration of Donald Trump to be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Jan 20, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
Donald Trump’s Inauguration was the fourth I have covered. I’ve also photographed George W. Bush’s second Inauguration and both of Barack Obama’s.
The furor at White House press secretary Sean Spicer’s first statement over alleged media misrepresentation of Inauguration numbers brought to mind ongoing questions of subjectivity in photography. Images taken by Reuters photographer Lucas Jackson from the top of the Washington Monument showed relatively sparse crowds in attendance at the moment Trump was sworn in, the perceived time for peak attendance. The photograph is a perfect example of objectivity in photography. In the totality of its perspective it is utterly trustworthy (at least by any objective measure, a standard seemingly considered antiquated by the current Administration).
From the ground, the photographer’s role becomes a bit more complex. Most examples of memorable photography rely on an intersection of form, light, symmetry, emotion and a healthy dose of the mysterious and undefinable. The best pictures reveal themselves unexpectedly, and sometimes against one’s expectations or desires.
My favorite photograph from Obama’s first Inauguration is one that I hardly thought I’d take. It reveals a desolate Mall after the day ended, the wind whipping up dust and garbage while frozen attendees huddle together. I showed the picture afterward to my mom and she asked me, “Were you even at the same event as me?” But that photograph revealed much of my own inner turmoil after years spent covering the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I feared the forces that had been decisively unleashed on Sept. 11 couldn’t be contained by any change of Administration.
Peter van Agtmael—MagnumThe scene on the National Mall after Barack Obama’s Inauguration in Washington on Jan. 20, 2009.
With Trump’s Inauguration, I went in as I try to go into all things: with an openness to the subconscious guiding forces of photography, but with the active intention of representing what I saw fairly and complexly. What that means is individually interpreted, but I believe these photos represent the spirit of what I saw and felt in those days.
Paul Moakley, who edited this photo essay, is TIME’s deputy director of photography and visual enterprise.
A protest called "The Mike Pence Queer Dance Party" outside of Pence's Home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The dance event was organized by LGBTQ activist groups DisruptJ20 and WERK for Peace to protest Mike Pence's record on gay and transgender rights on Jan. 18, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME Neighbors and LGBT supporters watch "The Mike Pence Queer Dance Party" protest near Pence's Home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The dance event was organized by LGBTQ activist groups DisruptJ20 and WERK for Peace to protest Mike Pence's record on gay and transgender rights on Jan. 18, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEProtestors on their way to the "The Mike Pence Queer Dance Party" protest near Pence's Home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The dance event was organized by LGBTQ activist groups DisruptJ20 and WERK for Peace to protest Mike Pence's record on gay and transgender rights on Jan. 18, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEA woman watches the "The Mike Pence Queer Dance Party" protest near Pence's Home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The dance event was organized by LGBTQ activist groups DisruptJ20 and WERK for Peace to protest Mike Pence's record on gay and transgender rights on Jan. 18, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEAttendees at the Voices of the People: Make America Great Again Welcome Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEThe crowd at the Voices of the People: Make America Great Again Welcome Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMESecurity at the Voices of the People: Make America Great Again Welcome Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEAttendees at the Voices of the People: Make America Great Again Welcome Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMESecurity at the Voices of the People: Make America Great Again Welcome Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEAttendees at the Voices of the People: Make America Great Again Welcome Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEAttendees at the Voices of the People: Make America Great Again Welcome Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMECrowds waiting for the inauguration of Donald Trump to be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Jan 20, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEAn attendee listens to the inauguration address of Donald Trump, after he was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington D.C., on Jan 20, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMECrowds waiting for the inauguration of Donald Trump to be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Jan 20, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEAn attendee reacts to the inauguration address of Donald Trump, after he was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington D.C., on Jan 20, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEA monitors showing the inauguration address of Donald Trump, after he was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington D.C., on Jan 20, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEThe crowd reacts to the inauguration address of Donald Trump, after he was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington D.C., on Jan 20, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEAn attendee listens to the inauguration address of Donald Trump, after he was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington D.C., on Jan 20, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMECrowds waiting for the inauguration of Donald Trump to be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Jan 20, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEA member of the US Armed Forces at the Salute to Our Armed Services Inaugural Ball at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., on Jan 20, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEMembers of the US Armed Forces wait for President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump during the Salute to Our Armed Services Inaugural Ball at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., on Jan 20, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEMembers of the US Armed Forces mingle at the Salute to Our Armed Services Inaugural Ball at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., on Jan 20, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEU.S. President Donald Trump applauds members of the armed services during the Armed Services Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEA cake at the Presidential Inaugural Salute to our Armed Services Ball at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEAttendees relax at the Women's March on Washington, the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 21, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEProtestors filling the streets at the Women's March on Washington, the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 21, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum Photos for TIMEVarious protest groups at the Women's March on Washington, the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 21, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMESecurity watching the Women's March on Washington, the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 21, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIMEProtestors march to
The White House at the end of Women's March in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 21, 2017.Peter van Agtmael—Magnum for TIME
