Black Lives Matter - Peaceful March
Problem/Opportunity Statement:
Convey the emotions of a peaceful Black Lives Matters march through a photography series capturing community members and police officers.
Goals and Objectives:
Defending, protecting, and caring about others, is a primary goal for the Southlake Police Department. This series of photographs aimed to tell the story of Southlake’s residents, students, and police officers during a June 2020 peaceful protest march. The march took place following the murder of George Floyd in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The objective of these photographs was to build a sense of community and to find common ground between the police department and the marchers.
Descriptor:
The Southlake staff photographer used the traditional photojournalism process of relating the subject to its environment for this event. By using the camera’s exposure settings to highlight the relationship of the Southlake Police Chief and the officers to the participants in the march and accompanying rally, the photographer was able with a series of photographs to engage the viewer. The typical afternoon light, which is common for that time of year, was deliberately shot to soften the view of the march participants and convey feelings of peace and hope.
Outcomes and Achievements:
The photographs tell how the Southlake Police Department used its community policing skills to walk alongside and meet with community members in a march that started in Town Square and ended at Southlake’s Police headquarters. The photos were published on the Southlake DPS Facebook page on June 4, 2020, and reached more than 32,400 people, with 1,200+ reactions. The post also garnered 75 shares and 48 comments. Comments included, “It was a great & peaceful protest supported by people of color and white folks like me plus younger and older folks. Thank you for understanding its purpose and allowing several police to escort us.”; and “Assistant Chief Casey is exceptional, like all our first defenders. I’m glad these protesters had the opportunity to meet her & hopefully have a sincere conversation.”
Adobe Assets Used:
Photoshop
Credit:
Photographer/Editor: Missy Saunders
