100% Lynchburg

Winter break was the first time I had been home in Central Virginia for a long time. It was such a joy to see my family, my dog, and revisit spots around town where I fell in love with photography in high school.

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Travel Pool Polaroids

Aged to perfection like a fine wine, these Polaroids sat in a dusty shoe box under my bed for nine months. I made these frames on May 26, 2010 on a trip to California with President Obama while I was interning for The New York Times. They were taken with an old Polaroid Land Camera #250 and Fuji FP-100C instant film. There's something strangely gratifying about not being able to see a photograph for more than half a year in this digital age where the constant deadline looms. I'm just happy they survived being stuffed into my Newswear chestvest for two days of constant crawling, running, and jumping into helicopters. Thanks for looking, friends!



Andrews AFB, Md.

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The Old Guard

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End of twenty ten

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Election Day

On November 2 the much-awaited midterm Senate and House elections took place across the country. I was blessed to be a part of a team of New York Times freelancers and staffers stationed around the U.S.

I spent election day photographing polling places in Bowling Green, Ky. (the hometown of Republican Senate Candidate Rand Paul.)

My first East Coast deadline was 8am (7am in Bowling Green.) With polls opening at 6am, I had a little under an hour to make some early photos for the web. After making deadline I hit other polling places across town, transmitting periodically to "feed the beast." Later in the morning I covered Rand Paul voting at a local elementary school, as well as some of his supporters demonstrating along main roads in Bowling Green.

As the day progressed I covered more ground in Bowling Green and marked a spot on the press riser at Paul's election night party at the Bowling Green convention center. It was a joy to shoot alongside my good friend Daniel Houghton as well as other WKU PJ's who were freelancing for area newspapers. Kentucky's polls were some of the earliest to close in the nation, so we didn't have to wait long before Paul appeared on stage with his family to declare victory. It was a17-hour work day, and I enjoyed every minute of it. What a privilege it is to take photographs for a living.


Warren County schools were closed on election day as gymnasiums and cafeterias were transformed into polling places for Western Kentucky voters in Bowling Green, Ky., November 2, 2010. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times) 

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Kentucky Machine Gun Shoot

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World Equestrian Games

In September I had the privilege of covering the first two days of the World Equestrian Games for the New York Times. This year was the first ever that the WEG were held in the United States, and what state would be more appropriate to host than Kentucky?

Day two was the endurance competition, a rigorous 100 mile marathon for horses and their riders. At the end of each 20 mile segment the horses were doused with cold water to lower their heart rates, then were inspected by veterinarians before being allowed to return to the course.

Covering endurance was a logistical challenge. 30 photographers crammed into two 12-passenger vans and raced toward privately owned farms, hoping to catch the leading horses riding through the scenic Eastern Kentucky landscapes.

Being able to compete against so many experienced photographers from all over the world was a treat, as well as meeting photojournalists whose work I admire like Caren Firouz (Senior Photojournalist for Reuters in Iran) and Larry W. Smith (Contract photographer for European Pressphoto Agency in the Midwest United States)


An early morning Dressage work out for a member of the Italian Equestrian team on the opening day of the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, September 25, 2010. (Luke Sharrett for the New York Times)

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The Rosine Barn Jamboree

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Back to school

Here are some of my favorite photos I've taken since being back at school. I'm looking forward to posting a couple of essays in the coming days as well. Thanks for looking!


Indiana Hoosiers sophomore punter Adam Pines of Highland Park, Ill. looks on during the third quarter of the their away game against Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky., Saturday, September 18, 2010. Indiana beat Western 38-21. (Luke Sharrett/The College Heights Herald)

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Eight days on a train

Last month I had a week and a half between the end of my internship and the beginning of school, so I decided to do what any normal person would: take an eight-day transcontinental train trip across the United States.


Day One: Amtrak's Southern Crescent at Kemper Street Station in Lynchburg, Va.

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