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New York\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Melanie Stetson Freeman
On assignment on Governors Island recently, I got to photograph children building their own play area. I entered a world filled with towers and walkways of mismatched wood. Youngsters with hammers, saws, and paintbrushes were busy building. Others climbed and explored.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I meandered around to see what was happening and to understand the layout, then climbed up one of the towers to get an overview of the playground. I like shooting from on high. I\u2019m usually not observed, and it gives a new angle on my surroundings. A young boy scrambled up and did a double take when he saw me. \u201cI thought this was just for kids under 19!\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d I said. \u201cI\u2019m just working here.\u201d He nodded and kept on climbing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Washington \u2013\u00a0Caitlin Babcock
The midterm elections for Congress are approaching. That means I\u2019ll need to update my deck of 535 flash cards soon. When I\u2019m on Capitol Hill, catching lawmakers and asking questions as they walk to and from votes, I need to be able to know everyone by face. Anytime I\u2019m standing in line or waiting for the Metro, I\u2019m often flipping through these flash cards on my phone, occasionally updating them when I notice a member has cut their hair or grown a beard. The studying is worth it. Some of my best exchanges come from recognizing members who aren\u2019t widely known, which allows me to hold thoughtful conversations away from the crowds of reporters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mexico City \u2013\u00a0Whitney Eulich
While reporting on the Pay What You Can initiative, which gives diners access to high-end restaurants typically out of financial reach, I visited Mexico\u2019s Michelin-starred Masala y Ma\u00edz. I met housekeepers and street vendors savoring ceviches and samosas that would normally cost a week\u2019s salary. One diner, who had recently lost his job, teared up describing his meal.<\/p>\n
When I arrived, I stood across the street and photographed the line snaking down the block \u2013 a moment to organize my plan and take in the scene without staring or looking awkward. I noticed co-founder and chef Saqib Keval on the sidewalk, crossed the noisy road, and introduced myself. Within minutes, he was walking the first customer of the day over to speak with me. Her story became the perfect lead anecdote \u2013 one I would have missed on my own.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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