Luke Sharrett - Photojournalist (434)851-3955

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Ferguson, revisited.

By now you’ve seen a million photos from Ferguson. Most of them are more dramatic, emotive, profound, or better-toned than these. Many of us rushed to Florissant Ave. with our body armor, gas masks, and kevlar helmets…but none of us had all the facts. Yes, this is the nature of breaking news, but the story in Ferguson fit the narrative perfectly. It affirmed the presuppositions of so many. I sometimes fear the media horde that descended upon Ferguson did more harm than good. But at the end of the day, I’m just a lowly freelancer, and I don’t have the answer. Hopefully it can be said that I didn’t take sides, I took pictures.

Ferguson Protests

Surrounded by dozens and dozens of media, Officers from the St. Louis County Police tactical unit detain an unruly demonstrator during a protest over the police shooting death of teenager Michael Brown earlier in the week in Ferguson, Missouri, U.S. on Tuesday, August 19, 2014. Despite making several arrests police forces did not deploy tear gas as in nights past. Luke Sharrett for Bloomberg News

'

Thursday, January 8, 2015

States In Play for The New York Times

As a freelancer, I don't usually travel too far beyond the borders of my beloved home state of Kentucky. However, this fall The New York Times enlisted me to work on a project called States In Play. From August through October I was able to travel to six states in four timezones. The midterm races in these state were too close to call, making them battlegrounds in the year-long struggle for political control of the U.S. Senate. Instead of focusing on the individual candidates and their campaigns, each story examined a long-term cultural or economic issue that influenced local voters in 2014. Thank you to The New York Times for the assignment and sincerest gratitude to my dear wife Elizabeth for caring for our infant son during my absence.

ALASKA:

done_001

An old Alaska Railroad car sits on a stub track in Anchorage, Ak. on Friday, September 26, 2014. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

'

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Made in America - Part II

Below are a handful of photographs I made during Bloomberg News assignments earlier in the year. My travels took me to farms, distilleries, breweries, and grocery stores to name a few. It's always a fun time learning where things come from. Here's Part One.

Pig A Hampshire pig belonging to organic farmer Will Meurer of Wholesome Living Farm is pictured in its pen at an old dairy farm in Winchester, Kentucky, U.S. on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014. Meurer raises organic chickens, hogs, and grass fed beef to sell to local restaurants. Luke Sharrett for Bloomberg

'

Monday, December 1, 2014

Troop Returns for Getty Images

As the Pentagon continues to withdraw combat forces from Afghanistan, Kentucky's two major Army Posts have seen thousands of troops return home to their friends and families. Over the past year I've been able to cover a handful of military homecomings for Getty Images at both Fort Knox and Fort Campbell. While most homecoming ceremonies follow the same script, witnessing all of the smiles, tears, and hugs between reunited families never get old.

479924853
Sgt. John Tejeda of the U.S. Army's Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, embraces his wife Yahaira Tejeda following a homecoming ceremony at Fort Campbell, Ky. on Friday, March 21, 2014. About 60 soldiers returned to Fort Campbell after a nine-month combat deployment providing artillery and mortar support for coalition forces in Afghanistan. (Photo by Luke Sharrett/Getty Images)

'

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Jim Beam for Getty Images

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to tour the Jim Beam Bourbon Distillery in Clermont, Ky. for Getty Images. The smell of sour mash permeates the manicured distillery grounds and the vintage architecture is a wonderful compliment to a distilling process that has not changed in a hundred years.

462804465
Barrels of Knob Creek Single Barrel Bourbon sit on a flatbed truck after being drained at the Jim Beam Bourbon Distillery on Monday, January 13, 2014 in Clermont, Ky. Japanese company Suntory Holdings acquired Beam Inc. for $13.6 Billion in a deal announced Monday. Beam is the owner of Jim Beam and Maker's Mark bourbon brands and was purchased at $83.50 per share. (Photo by Luke Sharrett/Getty Images)

'

Headstones of the Section 60

This month I made my annual pilgrimage to Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery. With my wife and our boy Truman in tow, we walked through the cemetery on Veterans day with our good friends Lindsey and Tony, both veterans themselves. We paid a visit to the grave of my cousin Dave, the men of Extortion 17, and the rest of the dead from our most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. I spent about two hours strolling through the headstones. Reflecting. Remembering. Trying to reconcile the feelings of sorrow and pride inside me. Thank you for looking and honoring the lives of these men and women. See also, Part One and Part Two of this series.

Section60_01
SGT Aaron Xavier Wittman
Army - January 10, 2013 - Afghanistan

'

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

A Tale of Two Derbys

This year I covered the 140th Kentucky Derby for Bloomberg News. It was an enjoyable change of pace to focus on the business side of things. As I wandered Churchill Downs for two days something struck me. From the ultra rich to the indebted gambling addict, all types turn out for the big day. It’s quintessential Kentucky. Horses, betting, big hats and bourbon. From the billionaires on the grandstand balcony, to the common man packed in the sweaty infield, there’s a place for everyone. Take a quick stroll under the grandstand on Derby morning and you’re sure to brush shoulders with horse lovers, socialites, racing fans, gamblers, millionaires, revelers, curious culture seekers, and drunk college students. Indeed, the Kentucky Derby is a curious cross-section of class and culture. Below are some photos from Derby weekend in diptych form.

Racegoers wear Derby hats at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

'

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Appalachia for The Washington Post

Earlier this year I traveled to Appalachia to photograph the effect of The Affordable Care Act/Obamacare on residents of Breathitt County in Eastern Kentucky. Most of the people I encountered received coverage under the medicaid expansion portion of Obamamcare. Like much of Appalachia, Breathitt County has suffered from the decline of the coal industry in addition to the nationwide economic downturn.

Uninsured individuals seek coverage through The Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare," in Appalachia

Jeff Fletcher, 52, smokes a cigarette alongside his dogs Snoopy (left) and Walter (right) after standing for portrait near his mobile home on Thursday, November 21, 2013 in Jackson, Ky. Fletcher, an uninsured resident of Breathitt County, was able to enroll in the Affordable Care Act earlier in the day through Kentucky's health exchange. Luke Sharrett for The Washington Post

'

Food Stamps for The New York Times

Last summer I spent a few days photographing food stamp recipients and visiting a local food bank in the Western Tennessee town of Dyersburg. The number of citizens on public assistance has swelled in recent years due to the recession and sluggish economic rebound. Cuts to the food stamp program have been floated as the nation's lawmakers in Congress struggle to strike a balance between domestic spending and the debt.

LS_stamps_01

Food stamp recipient Tarnisha Adams sits with her granddaughter Callee in Dyersburg, Tenn. on Thursday, August 15, 2013. Adams, who is trying to feed and pay her three boys’ way through community college, lost her job as a rump skinner in a hog rendering plant after finding out she was seriously ill with heart, lung, and kidney problems. That evening she prepared a large pasta dish for dinner in hopes that it would feed her family for the next 3 days. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times

'

Public Defenders for The New York Times

In January I traveled to Missouri and spent a day shadowing the Public Defenders office of the St. Louis County Justice Department. Most public defense lawyers are notoriously overworked and underpaid in relation to their colleagues in the private sector. Those that I met in St. Louis were no exception. Already averaging around 10 different hearings per day, public defenders in St. Louis are worried they don't have the proper time and resources to devote to each case.

LS_defenders_03

Case files belonging to Public Defender Warren Popp are pictured before a probation hearing in the court room of the Hon. Michael T. Jamison of the 21st Judicial Circuit Court at the the St. Louis County Court Building in St. Louis, Mo. on Thursday, January 23, 2014. Public defenders in St. Louis are struggling to keep up with mounting case loads. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

'

Alison Lundergan Grimes for The New York Times

Mitch McConnell has been the Senior Senator from Kentucky for as long as some Kentuckians can remember. The ranking Republican in the Senate and a cornerstone of the beltway Republican establishment, Mitch McConnell has long been unbeatable in the political arena. This year, however, he faces both a primary challenge from Tea Party candidate Matt Bevin, and a challenge in the general election from Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes. I attended one of Mrs. Grimes’ campaign events earlier this year for The New York Times.

LS_Grimes_01

Kentucky Democratic Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes practices her stump speech word-for-word before a campaign event at the Center for African-American Heritage in Louisville, Ky. on Thursday, February 6, 2014. Grimes plans to run against Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in the upcoming 2014 midterm election. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

'

Obamacare for The New York Times

By most all accounts, the implementation of The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, last Fall was none too pretty. Uninsured individuals seeking access to Government healthcare exchanges were greeted with a completely dysfunctional website, inept tech support, and bureaucrats who were completely caught off guard by the so-called “glitches.” The roll out has been labeled “disastrous” and “embarrassing” by even Democratic pundits and politicians. Yet surprisingly for the state of Kentucky, the ACA rollout went relatively smooth. The following photos are part of a long-term healthcare project by The New York Times focusing on Kentucky’s healthcare exchange, Kynect, and it’s effect on patients and doctors.

LS_obamacare_01

Maintenance supervisor Troy Taylor replaces ceiling tiles behind a desk where Kentucky healthcare officials will be distributing literature on the first day of open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act at Jefferson Community and Technical College in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, October 1, 2013. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times.

'

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Made in America

Lately I've been doing freelance work covering business and industry for Bloomberg News. It's been a real treat to see how everything from electricity to donuts is made.

AIRSTREAM PRODUCTION

Airstream - Jackson Center, Ohio

'

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Kentucky's Leaves of Gold

Kentucky is a state with a rich agricultural heritage. Since it's founding in June of 1792, the Commonwealth's vast natural resources have supported everything from the world's finest bourbon distilleries to champion thoroughbred racehorses. This fall I was able to explore Kentucky's rich tradition of tobacco farming. I was captivated by the beauty of the leaves and fascinated by the traditional harvest and curing processes that have remained unchanged for centuries. I was also blown away by the work ethic of the migrant workers who performed the heavy labor of the harvest. Special thanks to local farmer Ray Tucker for allowing me unfettered access to his fields and tobacco barns.

180292997LS001_tobacco

Migrant worker Victor Parra of Mexico cuts Burley tobacco grown by Tucker Farms in Finchville, Ky. before hanging the leaves in barns to begin their six week curing process on the morning of Monday, September 9, 2013. The migrant workers participate in the U.S. Department of Labor's H-2A temporary agricultural program which allows agricultural employers to hire temporary help for seasonal work. Photo by Luke Sharrett/Getty Images

'

Saturday, December 28, 2013

The Lost Boys - Jacob Mach

Earlier this year I began work on a long-term assignment for The New York Times Magazine. Over the course of a few months I got to know Jacob Mach, a Sudanese refugee who had settled in Atlanta, Ga. in 2001. Jacob is one of “The Lost Boys” who fled the Sudanese Civil War in the 1990’s. He and a group of boys from his village escaped genocide by fleeing into the African bush with little more than the clothes on their backs. Those who survived being chased by rebel fighters, crocodiles, and lions settled in a Kenyan refugee camp for the next ten years. Along with nearly 3,000 other lost boys, Jacob resettled in The United States through a State Department program. After gaining American citizenship and completing his undergrad in criminal justice at Georgia State, Jacob set out to become the first Lost Boy to work as a Law Enforcement Officer in the United States. It was amazing to witness Jacob's determination and faith in Jesus that allowed him to overcome the obstacles and setbacks along his journey in America. Read the story and watch the documentary here.

re4

Sudanese Lost Boy Jacob Mach sits for a portrait on the front steps of his Habitat for Humanity house in Southeast Atlanta, Ga. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times Magazine

'

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Coming Home - Fort Knox

Last month I covered the return of 250 soldiers from Afghanistan to Fort Knox, Ky. for Getty Images. Troop returns are a lot of fun to photograph, though capturing the fleeting moments and gathering accurate caption information can be hectic and stressful as a photojournalist. There's something about seeing soldiers return from war and reunite with their families that resonates deeply inside me. Witnessing so many joyous reunions in a short period of time often causes tears of my own to well up and block my viewfinder. Still, I feel a tinge of sadness in my heart as I long for the reunion I never had with my cousin, Pfc. David H. Sharrett. Welcome home, troops.

451186971LS001_
Rachel Wolfston and her 2-year-old daughter Alexia wait to greet Spc. Joshua Wilson of the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, during a homecoming ceremony in the Natcher Physical Fitness Center on Fort Knox in the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 20, 2013 in Fort Knox, Ky. About 250 soldiers from 3rd Brigade returned to Fort Knox after a nine-month combat deployment working alongside Afghan military and police forces in Afghanistan's Zabul Province. (Photo by Luke Sharrett/Getty Images)

'

Monday, December 23, 2013

Mike Yastrzemski for The New York Times

Earlier this year I photographed Vanderbilt University right fielder Mike Yastrzemski (#18) in Nashville before a home game. Mike (grandson of famous Boston Red Sox player Carl Yastrzemski) has been a standout player for Vandy for the last couple years and has good MLB draft prospects. Mike was great to shoot and really seemed like a pillar of the team. For more on Mike and the baseball heritage of the Yastrzemski family check out the story by Tyler Kepner of The New York Times here.

WAS

Vanderbilt senior right fielder Mike Yastrzemski (#18), grandson of Boston Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, walks to batting practice before playing with the Vanderbilt Commodores against Presbyterian in Nashville, Tenn. on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. Vandy won 5-2. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times

'

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Route 66

Last week I drove 125 miles of historic Route 66 between Williams and Holbrook, Arizona. Retracing what's left of "The Mother Road," the iconic 2400 mile highway that stretches from Chicago to Los Angeles, was a mixed bag of emotions. By the mid-eighties nearly all of the towns along Route 66 in Arizona had been bypassed by Interstate 40. Many of the bypassed towns have withered severely over the years. I only had a few hours this trip, but I could spend a week on Route 66 in Arizona alone. The road is rich with history and stories of a bygone era. Many great photographers have captured this strip of road in the past, but here's my humble contribution to telling the story of America's highway. Thanks are due to my dear wife for graciously letting me take a day of our vacation to shoot these photos.

Route_01

Wigwam Village Motel #6 - Holbrook, Ariz.

'

Monday, November 18, 2013

Veterans Day 2013

I found myself back at Arlington National Cemetery this Veterans Day thanks to a cheap plane ticket and hospitable friends. Despite being a holiday devoted to living veterans, past and present, a few Americans also make their way to Section 60 to honor fallen comrades, friends, and family members. Below are a few frames from an ongoing series: Gardens of Stone.

PFC William F Clark

USMC - Sept. 16, 1996 - World War Two

'

Saturday, September 7, 2013

The 139th Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is without a doubt one of the most unique and exciting annual traditions of any state in the Union. The beauty of the champion thoroughbreds, the elegance of Churchill Downs, and the pomp and circumstance of seersucker suited men and derby hatted women combine to make the first Saturday in May a truly timeless event. Few things give me goosebumps quite like hearing the entire grandstand sing the state anthem "My Old Kentucky Home." Nor does any sound quite spike my heart rate as the thunderous hoof beats of the pack rounding the first turn. Every Derby is different, and this one was no exception. A steady, soaking rain fell throughout most of the afternoon, creating a sloppy track for the big race. Crowd favorite Orb crossed the finish line in first to clinch the most prestigious single race title in racing: Kentucky Derby champion.

Race horses complete their morning workouts at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on the morning of the 139th running of The Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4, 2013. Luke Sharrett for The New York Times

'

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)