Have you ever been hunting before?
You know how you get up at the crack of dawn to get a leg up on all the other hunters out there?
Those who have been hunting will feel right at home around the Downtown Las Vegas Courthouse. Now I don't advocate hunting people by any means, so please don't get confused or offended by the title of this blog post. But as a photographer trying to get a shot of O.J. Simpson for this blog, I can't help to think it's just like hunting.
I arrived downtown very early this morning because I figured there might be more media, attention seekers and on lookers clogging up the streets and filling up the available meters. The cops were already in their positions around the courthouse way before I arrived. The media corral was set with the usual suspects, Fox News being the only group that was set up and actually doing some reporting. Honestly, the streets surrounding the courthouse were just as dull as when I left it last week. Kind of like the stillness before a storm right?
So I'm waiting with Michael Jackson's Thriller playing softly through my iPOD. As I'm leaning on the rail typing an email, another photographer comes up to me and asks me where O.J. is coming out. I informed him, like the trained and seasoned hunter I am, that the best O.J. shots were found 'round back. He thanked me and walked off. Now I only know this because someone else told me. It's amazing really. For the most part, news photographers are helpful hunters. You'd think it would be more of a competition, but honestly there's enough game for all of us. Besides, even with every photographer in the same area, the best pictures are still going to rise to the top.
I eventually made my way to the back where there are barricades were set up. Through some small talk, I find out that the photographer I met earlier was shooting freelance for a newspaper in London. "They're craving for this stuff! They pay good money too. That's the only reason I'm here."
Then the preachers and the attention seekers arrived. One of them I was familiar with. The guy I took pictures of from my last post? The wheelchair guy? OJTalk.com? Yeah, he was back. Turns out he's from Henderson, NV, right where I live. I don't know if I should be scared or not that this guy could be my neighbor. Along with him was the preacher, chucking biblical darts to anyone that would listen.
"O.J. come out wit your hands up!"
"Jesus is the best lawyer there is, and his Dad's the judge!"
"The media turns criminals in to superstars, and you're all going to hell!"
He even yelled at one lady walking to work, "Lady, even YOU'RE going to hell!" She volleyed back a disgusting look while mumbling something under her breath. One of the videographers even suggested to the cops that they should taze him to shut him up.
With the cops, media and Pastor Hellbound all in place, the game was about to begin. Minutes later a silver BMW arrived with Clarence "C.J." Stewart. Much less fan fare, but the shutters from the cameras were clicking. I grabbed a few shots of him stopping to dust off his pants. Five minutes later, the black van appeared from around the corner. The cameraman from CourTV was to my right and said, "Here we go."
The van pulled up to the corner, the door opened, and out O.J. walked from the front seat. He stepped lively but didn't run. I started shooting, trying to keep the van in the frame. I then tried to zoom in closer to get more of a portrait. What surprised me the most was the fact that I had plenty of opportunities to get pictures. I don't want to say he was posing, but he wasn't avoiding the cameras at all. In fact, he was very cordial to the media in his short walk to the courthouse, even waving to a few people calling his name. One of the cameramen asked O.J. while he was in stride to say "hello". He did.
And as soon as it started, it was over. He was gone. The entire process lasted less than a minute. I took a total of 26 pictures during his walk, three of which I think are worthy of showing. It's almost like riding a very fast roller coaster at a theme park. While standing in line waiting, your anticipation builds. After it's over you can't help but think, "That's it?"
I took the long way back to my car which put me at the front of the courthouse. Two "entrepreneurs" flagged me down to tell me about their cause. Mike Kurban is the guy in the turban (I honestly didn't make this up). He's a professional psychic (his business card also states he's a relationship coach, an author and a healer), and he had a prediction on the case. "O.J. will be found guilty on some of the charges, not all. I predicted it last week." He then attempted to sell me an O.J. mug.
The big catch of the day had made his journey and it seemed like everyone got to take home a prize. It's my guess that everyone will be back tomorrow to do it all over again. Happy hunting.
