Election 16: Our Mark Peterson Instagram Takeover

If you’re not familiar with Instagram, there is a practice, called a “takeover,” in which a photographer is invited to post their own images on someone else’s feed. For a week in May, we did a takeover of the well-known Mark Peterson’s feed. In our case, though, we chose pictures Mark sent us of the presidential campaign and then supplied our own words. (You can follow our feed here, by the way.)

Below is a sample of the results:

A #repost of our final @markpetersonpixs takeover ・・・ Hi, this is Michael Shaw from @readingthepictures. I took over @markpetersonpixs this week. Not the pictures — those divine inspirations were still Mark’s. I handled the words. And, I had a great time #ReadingMarkPeterson. For more insight on Instagram photos, be sure to follow @readingthepictures. In the meantime, here’s my last riff …. I have mostly focused this week on the serious side of Mark’s photos. But, let’s face it. Mark’s brilliance, and popularity, lies as much or more in his satire. Is this voter at a Christian theme park in Florida in March bowing down to the Holy One? Or is some intimacy involved? Can devout voters walk on water? …The fact is, the two died-in-the-wool fundamentalist Christians in the GOP race this year, the devout Carson and Cruz, drew a ton of hallelujahs from the religious right, but were ultimately Trumped by their own Christian base … by a heathen. Yes, Jesus ultimately cast his lot this year with The Donald. That being the prophesy, there is no seer out there better able to raise some cain about it (“camels, stage left!”) than Mark Peterson. #readingthepictures #Florida #Election2016 #Campaign2016 #photography #primary #politics #bw #religion #Christianity #holylandexperience #Christianthemepark #themepark #camel #satire

A photo posted by @readingthepictures on May 13, 2016 at 8:26am PDT

Latest #Repost in our @markpetersonpixs takeover… ・・・ Strictly for news value, this might be Mark’s most significant election photo. It was taken for @MSNBC before the Indiana primary. Rocky Granata is raising money for vets. Asked what his number one issue is, he says: “I was with the ‘Occupy’ movement. I’d like to have peace. I’d like everyone to have shelter and be fed.” Rocky’s concern is impressive but more impressive is how Rocky’s shirt, buttons and hat are equally balanced between Sanders and Trump. As much as this campaign has been covered like a horserace with Sanders and Trump differing radically in ideology, Mark’s photo is quite important. If the political or the media establishment can’t quite fathom it, a large swath of Americans have “Occupied,” and continue to occupy this election. Trump and Sanders might be failed messengers, but that should not obscure the message — or Rocky’s agnosticism. That is, if the status quo persists, so much for Rocky. Hi, this is Michael Shaw from @readingthepictures. This week, I’m taking over @markpetersonpixs. Not the pictures — those unique statements are still Mark’s. Just the words. For more insight on Instagram photos, be sure to follow @readingthepictures. In the meantime, enjoy #ReadingMarkPeterson. #Election2016 #Campaign2016 #news #newsphotos #photojournalism #politics #bw #Indiana #campaignbuttons #buttons #tshirt #trump #trump2016 #vets #veterans #occupy #occupymovement @berniesanders @realdonaldtrump

A photo posted by @readingthepictures on May 12, 2016 at 11:21am PDT

Latest #repost from our @markpetersonpixs takeover… — As Bernie is sticking it out till the last primary, this campaign photo remains fair game. Mark took the picture in Washington Square Park in mid-April, just before the New York primary. You get what’s hilarious about it, right? The backdrop is a Triumphal arch, these structures dating back to ancient Rome. Some examples are more famous than others, including versions in Paris, Saint Petersburg, London and Delhi, but most are connected in some way with generals, emperors and muscular acts of civilization. As the leftist, populist candidate, the location and grandeur of the background makes for pure satire. If Bernie stands for anything, it’s shifting the power back to ground level and reducing the blind power of the state. The funniest thing is, this and various versions of the photo were published widely. Perhaps it struck people as odd on some level (Bernie De Gaulle? Kim Il Sung, Napoleon and Sanders? Hail, Bernie!), but I’m not sure anyone really got the joke. Hi, this is Michael Shaw from @readingthepictures. This week, I’m taking over @markpetersonpixs. Not the pictures — tho eloquent frames are still Mark’s. Just the words. For more insight on Instagram photos, be sure to follow @readingthepictures. In the meantime, enjoy #ReadingMarkPeterson #Election2016 #Campaign2016 #news #newsphotos #photojournalism #politics #bw #arches #architecture #WashingtonSquare #Triumphalarches #empire #photoops #NewYork #Manhattan #lowermanhattan #GreenwichVillage

A photo posted by @readingthepictures on May 11, 2016 at 2:40pm PDT

Latest #repost from our @markpetersonpixs takeover… ・・・ Mark took this picture in April as part of his coverage of the New York primary. Asking citizens what their number one issue was, Yahya Seifullah, posing with his family in Queens, said “healing (of the) racial divide.” Whatever term you want to use — interracial, biracial, multiracial, multi-ethnic, interethnic — the complex mixing and blending of America has been underway for some time. That said, you would never know it from following the presidential campaign or listening to the major party candidates. This simple white, black, Hispanic, Asian, strictly three branches of religion business is beyond archaic. Hi, this is Michael Shaw from @readingthepictures. This week, I’m taking over @markpetersonpixs. Not the pictures — those insightful frames of Americana are still Mark’s. Just the words. For more insight on Instagram photos, be sure to follow @readingthepictures. In the meantime, enjoy #ReadingMarkPeterson. #Election2016 #Campaign2016 #news #newsphotos #photojournalism #politics #bw #race #ethnicity #interracial #biracial #multiracial #multiethnic #interethnic #mixedrace #NewYork #streetphotography #portrait #queens

A photo posted by @readingthepictures on May 10, 2016 at 4:19pm PDT

#Repost from our @markpetersonpixs takeover! ・・・ How do we know 2016 has taken the traditional rules and rituals of the American presidential campaign and stood them on their heads? Mark’s photo is a case in point. As far as we can see, it sports Trump’s name, an American flag and two or three skyscrapers, at least one with Trump’s name atop. In the past, bringing up New York City, the liberal North East or any urban persuasion this late in the presidential process would be like grabbing the third rail. Especially where the GOP is concerned. Want to talk about the bones of America? Stick to amber waves of grain. (The pic, by the way, IS from Indiana.) But this year? What with Hillary and Trump heralding from the Big Apple, plus Trump making no apology for his “New York values,” all bets are off. With apologies to the cheeseheads, I❤️NY. Update: So, I just saw a Getty version of the photo taken head on. http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/michael-kuzma-shows-his-support-for-republican-presidential-news-photo/527325398 What it reveals are 3 skyscrapers towering over the White House, at least one with Trump’s name on it. New York, New York or NY does DC, I’m sticking to my original comments. Hi, this is Michael Shaw from @readingthepictures. This week, I’m taking over @markpetersonpixs. Not the pictures — those classics are still Mark’s. Just the words. So I hope you’ll keep coming back for … #ReadingMarkPeterson. caption: A #DonaldTrump supporter at a rally for the candidate in Carmel, #Indiana. Photo by Mark Peterson/Redux for @MSNBC. #readingthepictures #reportage #Election2016 #Campaign2016 #news #newsphotos #photojournalism #politics #bw #Trump2016 #skyscrapers #NewYork #hats #politicalhats #headdress #flag

A photo posted by @readingthepictures on May 9, 2016 at 8:36am PDT

#Repost @markpetersonpixs from our takeover! ・・・ Mark has made so many different halo/bubble pictures, maybe its time to start categorizing them. Here, for example, it looks like Scott Walker is balancing the ring of light like a balloon — or a basketball, Globetrotters style. What’s “most pointed” about the scene now, though, is how the Walker campaign, all swagger at the start, never inflated, or found its glow, or got off the ground … whatever favorite metaphor Mark’s photo inspires you to use. Hi, this is Michael Shaw from @readingthepictures. This week, I’m taking over @markpetersonpixs. Not the pictures — those political masterpieces are still Mark’s. Just the words. So I hope you’ll keep coming back for #ReadingMarkPeterson. For more words and insights on Instagram photos, be sure to follow @readingthepictures.) Photo from: 2/26/2015. Conservative Political Action Conference (#CPAC). National Harbor, #Maryland. #politics #readingthepictures #scottwalker #light #ring #bubbles #reportage #Election2016 #Campaign2016 #news #newsphotos #photojournalism #politics #bw #conservatives #gop #elections

A photo posted by @readingthepictures on May 7, 2016 at 10:54am PDT

#Repost @markpetersonpixs from our takeover ・・・ What remains 100% consistent while The Donald pitches and reels from one crapstorm to the next? It’s Trump, the consumer product. Mark my words (and Mark’s photo), this otherwise simple street corner shot might be one of the most telling pix this campaign season. …In other words, the lasting legacy of Trump 2016 could be the merch. Hi, this is Michael Shaw from @readingthepictures. This week, I’m taking over @markpetersonpixs. Not the pictures — those gems are still Mark’s. Just the words. So I hope you’ll keep coming back for … #ReadingMarkPeterson. “Reading Mark Peterson” is a collaboration between ReadingThePictures.org and @markpetersonpixs. For more words and insights on Instagram photos, be sure to follow @readingthepictures. photo from: “Portrait of a bellwether: This Indiana county has a history of picking presidents” @msnbc Original caption: A man selling Donald Trump merchandise. Photo by Mark Peterson/Redux for MSNBC. @msnbcphoto #donaldtrump #reportage #Election2016 #Campaign2016 #news #newsphotos #photojournalism #politics #bw #Indiana #Trump2016 #political #merch #politicalmerchandise #tshirts #hats #Trumphats

A photo posted by @readingthepictures on May 6, 2016 at 2:09pm PDT

#Repost @markpetersonpixs ・・・ The amazing Michael Shaw of @readingthepictures Is taking over my account for the next week doing his thing to my pixs… Reading Mark Peterson by Michael Shaw This photo brings to mind that famous phrase, “behind every great man is a great woman.” The way Trump relates to women as objects, though, the picture doesn’t square with the notion that Melania is his backup. Trump’s expression throws things off, too. However you explain his look (tired? distracted? pouty?), Trump is not someone we identify at all with “inward moments.” It’s the rare view of a muted Trump that allows Melania any impact at all. “Reading Mark Peterson” is a collaboration between https://www.readingthepictures.org/ and Mark Peterson. For more insight on Instagram photos, be sure to follow @readingthepictures. #readingthepictures #donaldtrump #melania #melaniatrump #reportage #photography #primary #politics #bw @reduxpictures #celebrities #couples #portrait #marriages

A photo posted by @readingthepictures on May 6, 2016 at 8:31am PDT