Photo 2000: American Democraty at the millennium
Robert McNeely
Early in 1999 I decided to photograph the election cycle of the year 2000 throughout the United States and at all levels, from the lowest office at the local level, to the highest level at the national level. I named the project Photo2000:Democracy at the Millennium.
After 30 years of photographing politics in the United States for clients; such as Newsweek, Time, and Life magazines, as well as two tours as a photographer in the White House itself, first for President Jimmy Carter and then from 1992 until 1998 as Bill Clinton’s personal photographer,
I wanted to photograph an election the way I personally felt was important. This meant using only Black and White film and producing a set of pictures that looked at events from an historical perspective, as well as with a sense of humor. I wanted to use B&W to insure that there would be an historical archive from this landmark election, since the majority of day-to-day coverage now is done in digital imagery.
I also hoped that with the freedom to photograph what I felt was important and without deadlines, I could make photographs that would add to the understanding of the American political process.
Preview
Starting in August of 1999 I began photographing the candidates running for the office of President of the United States. I began in the state of Iowa, which holds the first formal steps in the selection process for the major party candidates for the presidency. The other state that holds an early vote is New Hampshire, and I spent time there as well.
From these two early states I have traveled around the country as the choice narrowed for the democrats to Al Gore, and for the republicans to George Bush. I am continuing my coverage of the presidential race as well as races for everything from U.S. Senate, to county Sheriff.
Through the summer of 2000 I will attend four conventions; the Green Party, the Reform Party, the Democratic Party, and the Republican Party. I will continue to photograph throughout the United States until the election on November 7, 2000.
Photo 2000 will end on Inaugural Day, January 20, 2001 with the swearing-in of the new President.
