Members of the “Peace Team”, yellow vests, walk outside the prison on the morning of Timothy McVeigh’s execution, in Terra Haute, Indiana, on June 11, 2001. (Photo by Vincent D. Johnson)
Oh the things young photojournalism students will do.
One of the things I miss about being a young photojournalist was my exuberance to go anywhere at anytime to photograph a moment. I don’t however miss my lack of knowledge on what makes a good story. Deciding last minute to wake up at 2am and drive to Terre Haute, Indiana from Chicago, so a fellow photojournalist and I could be outside the execution of Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City Bomber, is one I should have passed on.
Maybe it’s because I was so young and inexperienced at the time that accounts for not having one good photo from this event. Nothing like the back of people’s heads to scream “portfolio piece.” But, overall these types of events are just not good for creating lasting images. Doesn’t mean you can’t find them at something like this, but it surely means it wasn’t worth the almost 8-hour round trip drive.
The only saving grace is I can say, I was there for a moment in history.
A sign that once was used for giving something away free, was flipped and used to signal a paid parking spot in someone’s driveway. Media members line the road in the background outside the prison on the morning of Timothy McVeigh’s execution, in Terra Haute, Indiana, on June 11, 2001. (Photo by Vincent D. Johnson)A person video tapes a man talking about being against the death penalty. While many people were there for some form of closure or the odd fascination with a pivotal moment in history. Most people holding signs were anti-death penalty. The scene outside the prison on the morning of Timothy McVeigh’s execution, in Terra Haute, Indiana, on June 11, 2001. (Photo by Vincent D. Johnson)A pair of men pray outside the prison on the morning of Timothy McVeigh’s execution, in Terra Haute, Indiana, on June 11, 2001. (Photo by Vincent D. Johnson)National media outlets sent reporters to the prison on the morning of Timothy McVeigh’s execution, in Terra Haute, Indiana, on June 11, 2001. (Photo by Vincent D. Johnson)A gathering area was setup on the far side of the prison grounds on the morning of Timothy McVeigh’s execution, in Terra Haute, Indiana, on June 11, 2001. (Photo by Vincent D. Johnson)It’s been 23 years, so my memory isn’t exactly fresh, but I feel like these guys were some sort of conspiracy theorist and were film media members outside the prison on the morning of Timothy McVeigh’s execution, in Terra Haute, Indiana, on June 11, 2001. (Photo by Vincent D. Johnson)A lone photographer gets a shot of the prison on the morning of Timothy McVeigh’s execution, in Terra Haute, Indiana, on June 11, 2001. (Photo by Vincent D. Johnson)My friend and fellow photojournalism classmate Blair Fredrick. It was his idea to wake up at like 2am and make the drive down to Terra Haute. (Photo by Vincent D. Johnson)
