Laura “Isis” Sullivan, Photographer: an Appreciation
Just the other night, I learned of the passing of my friend and comrade, photographer Laura Sullivan – a.k.a. “Isis” – earlier this month.
I first became friends with Isis and her husband-to-be Michael Sullivan (a.k.a. “the Cubster”) in the late summer of 2007, when Isis and I were on the editorial board of the DC Independent Media Center and working together in the DC IMC’s foto/video workgroup.
Along with our comrade Daryl Lamont Jenkins of One People’s Project, Isis was covering the neo-fascists before it was cool. Under the collective pseudonym “Town Hell Posse” she, Daryl, Michael and I covered Ron Paul rallies in Philadelphia and Tea Party batshittery at rallies on Capitol Hill, and at healthcare town halls in Reston, among other zaniness.
Isis showed me the impact – and fun – of not holding the camera straight up and down all the time; she was a staunch proponent of what they call the “Dutch Tilt” in the business – or what Isis used to call the “Batman Angle”.
She got me to loosen up on my newsreels, to let go of the “straight” approach – to editorialize, to use music, irony, cynicism and sarcasm more in my storytelling style.
In 2010, Isis and I had the honor of being asked to leave the DC IMC editorial board for being “too radical”. No, seriously. Too radical for the IMC.
Thanks so much, kiddo; it was too fucking grand.
“Great Caesar’s Ghost!”
–Perry White.
“Information Age of hysteria
is calling out to Idiot America!”
–Green Day.
Here’s a huge selection of Isis’ work going back to 2006:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/isisdc/albums/
…and a selection of some personal faves from our classic Indymedia daze:
ANSWER Coalition Anti-War March Washington DC Sep 15 2007
https://www.flickr.com/photos/isisdc/albums/72157602062247534/
Ron Paul 2008 Presidential Campaign Kickoff, Philadelphia PA Nov 10 2007
https://www.flickr.com/photos/isisdc/albums/72157603075114293
Say “No” To Wall Street Bailout, NYC Apr 03 2009
https://www.flickr.com/photos/isisdc/albums/72157616327634224
May Day Labor Protest, NYC May 01 2009
https://www.flickr.com/photos/isisdc/albums/72157617515441905
Fourth Of July Tea Party in DC, Capitol Hill, Washington DC Jul 04 2009
https://www.flickr.com/photos/isisdc/albums/72157620839353037
Randall Terry and Friends at National Press Club, Washington DC Jul 21 2009
https://www.flickr.com/photos/isisdc/albums/72157621657001703
Northern Virginia Town Hall Meeting on Health Care (aka “Town Hell”), South Lakes High School, Reston VA Aug 25 2009
https://www.flickr.com/photos/isisdc/albums/72157622028781571/
Restore The Constitution Rally (aka “Alarm And Bluster”), Washington DC Apr 19 2010
https://www.flickr.com/photos/isisdc/albums/72157623893146684/
Glenn Beck Rally (aka “Word Of The Day: Doughy”) Washington DC Aug 29 2010
https://www.flickr.com/photos/isisdc/albums/72157624829102600
9/11 Pro and Anti Park 51 Protests, New York City Sept 11 2010
https://www.flickr.com/photos/isisdc/albums/72157624815602811/
…and here’s a representative slice of some of the IMC newsreels I shot with the Town Hell Posse:
ANSWER Coalition National Antiwar Mobilization, Washington DC Sept 15 2007
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfwp2QhVQkE
“REVOLTING”: Ron Paul Cleans Up Well, Philadelphia, PA Nov 10 2007
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aympZ8ILGSI
“Nightmare On Wall Street”, New York City Apr 03 2009
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOiLu-eUIJY
“May Day”, New York City, May 01 2009
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX5-0Rs48jA
“Nobody Here But Us Chickens”, Randall Terry at the National Press Club, Washington DC Jul 21 2009
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQh-78nsQYc
“Town Hell”, Tea Party Asshattery at a Healthcare Town Hall, Reston VA Aug 25 2009
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPGOSRPi-jY
“Alarm And Bluster” Gun Nut Video Roundup, Apr 19 2010
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qdalt63PCnE
“Word Of The Day: ‘Doughy'”, Washington, DC Aug 28 2010
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtiIsumfWRk
“Word Of The Day: ‘Hatefest'”, New York City Sep 11 2010
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bf4H6zKZ8Q
