One hundred years - for that's how long it's been since Denver hosted the Democratic Convention - is an awfully long time to wait for one's political fix. The city is clearly operating on a adrenaline rush that only comes with the arrival of world media, the frustration of limited access, the chance encounter with celebrity, and the constant fear of fucking it all up. Those who haven't become completely disillusioned are dimly aware that when the spotlight moves east, Denver will endure a painful withdrawal from the Mile-High euphoria of the packet-driven mojowire. We have felt the electronic pulse of the planet, and we like it.  Thanks to the Democrats, we're all political junkies now.

The day before the convention it was apparent that areas of town once open to all Denverites had become the exclusive dominion of our politically-connected guests. Insurmountable barricades went up, reinforced by an equally insurmountable police presence. The cops were outnumbered only by our visitors, who sported credentials from their necks that indicated just how far into the democratic inner sanctum (PERIMETER, ARENA, HALL, FLOOR) they would be permitted. We spied various official and manufactured IDs of delegates, vendors, unrecognized VIPs, and press - lots of press: Some 15,000 by several estimates.

The police weren't the only folks having difficulty with the media. The Sunday before the convention, clean-cut Fox News reporter Griff Jenkins got a rousing western reception (view) from the Recreate `68 protesters as they marched toward the Pepsi center. This protest resulted in the entrance to the convention being closed for some 90 minutes. The police held the entrance, and the bag-toting delegates and media who had just arrived in town were forced to mix uncomfortably with the protesters. The tension there was palpable. Seemingly everyone had a camera:  All manner of lenses were pointed at protesters, the media, the cops, and each other. Who was who? This was the administration's Total Information Awareness program turned on it's head, the transformation of the media democracy into a hall of mirrors complete.

As the convention progressed, I felt it my duty - as an American - to contribute as much as possible to the craziness democratic process. After all, courageous McCain supporters were here, as was Code Pink, pro-lifers, anti-abortionists, Jesus freaks ("You're all just walking around like . . . zombies!"), anarchists with the obligatory bandanas, environmentalists, 9/11 conspiracy theorists, veterans against Obama, veterans for Obama, a protest to Stop Bird Porn, and a request to Bring Back Crystal Pepsi. All manner of groups had crawled out of the woodwork and onto the sixteenth street mall. Code Pink's "Make Out Not War" stickers were everywhere, so I began passing out bentwave's "Photography is not a crime" stickers . . . to anyone with a camera.

These were generally well received. When I handed them out, photographers initially thought, "Oh great, more crap" (we photographers are a generally unpleasant bunch), but when they read the sticker, their eyes lit up. The best reactions invariably came from members of the media, some of who actually wanted to know who the heck I was, and where did I get such a cool sticker. Often I was asked if they could have another, and of course I obliged, because - like the other nutjobs - I believe in my cause. Perhaps my favorite reaction was when I handed a sticker to a teenager wielding a formidable HD video camera. "Dope!" he said, convincingly feigning boredom.

I initially went downtown to check out DNC-related shenanigans with the Canon G9:  Small, powerful, and unobstrusive. But when I looked at the shots, I realized I needed more creative control. Maybe I still don't know how to work the G9, but I knew with an SLR I'd have a much easier go. Shooting with as a narrow depth-of-field (f/2.8) seemed desirable to isolate the subject, so the next day I went into town with the heavy combination of the Canon 5D and the 24-70mm f/2.8L lens. So equipped, keeping the camera inconspicuous was no longer an option, but it didn't matter: As I said everyone had a camera. The question then became what gear you were carrying, and more than once I encountered lens envy. Of course, I was admiring the HD video cameras. One of these days....

How would I shoot a riot?  There are some great shots of the several conflicts (and, yes, not-so-conflicted moments) with police. I'd shoot in continuous mode (with a large media card). Consider shooting JPG, at large aperture (i.e. fast write times & shutter speed,, respectively). Be on location, constantly (we missed a march that passed 30 minutes later). And do try to avoid arrest.