Thanks so much everybody! And thanks so much, Stefan. That was a photo where I took it, checked my screen, and knew I had a good one. Such a good feeling.
I'm really stoked on the freelancing gig. It's a very laid back paper in Baltimore and they have a lot of "weirder" stories so I'm really looking forward to that kind of stuff.
As far as the rally photos and street photography, I really think events like these are perfect opportunities to learn how to get over the awkwardness that street photography can bring. I'm a very shy person when I'm working my way up to photograph someone, but when I'm shooting photos at an event where there's an expectation of getting your photo taken, it's so much easier. People understood that the media is their ally in these marches so they let their guard down. I've been at all of the recent major marches in Baltimore so far and people are starting to recognize me as someone who's there just to get their message out in photos and I'm becoming more relaxed when photographing.
Just take these opportunities to take photos where photography is expected and it'll get much easier, I swear. Bringing it to the street, without an event, can definitely be much harder. Approaching someone for no particular reason other than to capture their image can make a lot of people uneasy. It's all about making your intentions known (if it's a portrait). If it's just a candid street shot, I'll usually just give a little nod as a thank you or a respect thing or whatever. It usually works, but in the cases it doesn't and people get upset, fuck em. It happens and it's part of it so don't let it get ya down.
JB, the Juggalos thing sounds awesome to me haha. I've actually thought about even going to the Gathering because I think the photos would be incredible and I honestly think most Juggalos would be down with it. Each time it enters my mind, I always remind myself that I'd probably kill myself within the first hour there.