Slow Democracy: Photographing Local Government

In recent months, I've been taken with a profound interest in local government and the "slow democracy" style of decision making so familiar to most New England-ers. Whether it's citizens talking about resistance to a proposed pipeline through their town, City Councilors adjusting and tinkering with local ordinances, or even the occasional church supper; I believe that photographing and covering these kinds of events with the same journalistic/documentary energy and enthusiasm has been one of the more intriguing experiences of the past year or so.

Not am I now equipped with a better understanding of a myriad of issues but I'm also granted the fantastic opportunity to talk with my fellow citizens about what is on their minds regarding their communities. This is where great journalism and storytelling has always originated from: community members engaged in discourse with one another. So often, I feel that contemporary "mainstream" gloss over this and fixate on the figures of power in government, industry, and elsewhere. So seldom are the occasions that the voices and concerns of everyday citizens covered as frequently and intimately as those of conventional "deciders" and decision makers. Additionally, the process of photographing meetings; hearings; and discussions gives me the tremendous aesthetic challenging of visualizing discourse (usually in less that satisfactory lighting conditions). It's also more challenging to come away from a relatively unexciting meeting with an image that (upon looking for a moment) is capable of implying the fatigue, uncertainty, and tension that exists just beneath the surface.

That said, here are some image from a recent meeting of the Burlington City Council Ordinance Committee. Be prepared to see related images of Discourse, Dissent, and Dissonance in the coming months.

-Dylan

To see more work by Dylan Kelley visit his website, Facebook page, and column at Vermont Commons. You may also follow Dylan on Twitter via @LiveFromGround

From Photos to Cartoons: Journalism/Documentary Takes New Form

Looking through a recent issue of Vermont's 7Days weekly newspaper, I was delighted to see one of my communities favorite publications embrace a different form of storytelling and communication. In a decidedly novel approach, the 7Days staff created a "cartoon issue" that utilized visual storytelling to communicate on everything from music reviews, local politics, and human rights. Needless to say, I took notes on how the cartoonists assembled their compositions, panels, and layouts. I took notes on pretty much every impressive thing they did (of which there were many).
Paging through the issue I noticed this story on my friend Danilo Lopez.

Reading through the panels I noticed something familiar. The second panel of the second row, depicts Danilo being loaded into a Border Patrol vehicle during the very incident that I made this image:

More than anything, I want to express my creative delight at seeing one of my images potentially being used as a jumping off point for more impactful and graceful storytelling about issues that hold vital significance to the community. Well done Andy Bromage (who was also present during the incident), Jen Sorensen, and everyone else who contributed to this tremendously successful marriage of journalism and visual storytelling.

Best,

Dylan Kelley


For more work by Dylan Kelley visit his website, Facebook page, column at Vermont Commons, and follow Dylan on Twitter via @LivefromGround.

Best Local Web/Print Journalist?

Hey Everyone!

It's time for the annual 7 Days "Daisy Awards" and I want to invite all of you to type in your vote for "Dylan Kelley, Vermont Commons" (Question #59) as the best local print/web journalist!

It's super simple and fun to go through all the local categories, but by voting for me at Question 59 and showing your enthusiastic support for my work, you help ensure further top-quality photojournalism and writing on grassroots and community organizing from around Vermont and across the country!

If you felt inspired by the nationwide coverage of Occupy and the whole-hearted dedication to local climate justice, healthcare, and human rights coverage; then type in your vote for "Dylan Kelley, Vermont Commons" on Question 59 (best print/web journalist).

Follow this LINK to vote now!

Here's a brief look back at some of the stories I've covered these past year (click photos to launch slideshow mode).

March Against Monsanto (Montpelier)

Occupy Sandy (Far Rockaways, New York)

May Day 2013, (Montpelier)

Idle No More demonstration (Montpelier)

First Anniversary of Occupy Wall Street (New York City)

First Anniversary of Occupy Wall Street (New York City)

Occupiers March on the Republican National Convention (Tampa, FL)

Occupiers March on the Republican National Convention (Tampa, FL)

New England Governor's Conference (Burlington)

Occupy Oakland (Oakland, CA)

Occupy Our Homes (Minneapolis, MN)

NATO Conference (Chicago, IL)

NATO Conference (Chicago, IL)

NATO Conference (Chicago, IL)

Shut Down Vermont Yankee Rally (Brattleboro)

New Hampshire Presidential Primary

Occupy Congress (Washington D.C.)

Somali-Bantu Student Strike (Burlington)

May Day 2012 (Montpelier)

For more of Dylan's visit his Vermont Commons column and follow him on Facebook and on Twitter via @LivefromGround.

Don't forget to vote for Dylan to get the 7 Days "Daisy" Award for Best Local Print/Web Journalist (Question 59)!!!