Sometimes you just take the picture

Another violent week in Jersey City with two more murders in Greenville. The chaos erupting in the city finds its sobering consequences the next morning in court, and crime reporter Mike Conte and I find ourselves rushing to follow up on the accused.

In another deadly shootout in Triangle Park, one teenager was left dead last Tuesday afternoon after being shot in the head. The accused shooter was quickly identified by witnesses and police, probably because he unloaded about a half a dozen bullets into the crowded urban area in broad daylight. He was brought into court on his first appearance for murder the next afternoon, Mike and I waiting nearly four hours for him to come through the system.

Finally the accused shows up in handcuffs and shorts. He looks like he was ripped out of bed and into the back of a cop car. His face is expressionless when entering and facing the judge. Now, first appearances in court can be quick, I may only get a dozen frames before they are led back into the holding cell. I take a picture of the room, the judge and prosecutor, rushing all the extra info. I refocus on the accused. I keep his expression locked in my frame, trying to find an interesting angle in a relatively dull space. Desperately, I want to make a good photo through composition and geometry.

And then I notice a tear. He begins to silently cry, trying to wipe away the tears with his shoulder because his hands are cuffed behind him. I stop thinking and just take the picture. I realized there was nothing else needed in that moment. Just stop, click and be left with your own thoughts.

For the full story by Mike Conte click here.