2011 - YEAR IN REVIEW

The Making of a Photograph (Video)

Native News Network Staff in Native Briefs. Discussion »

It was a bright Tuesday morning this past March when the Longest Walk 3 - Reversing Diabetes left the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation.

The Long Walkers had just walked into the Tonto National Forest on US 60 past Globe, Arizona on its way to the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation when it stopped so the flaggers could gather their supplies so they could set out to mark their mile markers.

As I sat in the back of a support van, I noticed a gray vehicle pull along side of me with a "Live! with Regis & Kelly" decal on it. Seconds later, I noticed a man with a television camera in his hand. Then I noticed a man running past the Longest Walk and he yelled a question inquiring who we were.

The man was Dean Karnazes, a marathon runner who was running across America - from Los Angeles to New York - to bring attention to the national problem of obesity. The "Live with Regis & Kelly Show" was covering his every move.

Within seconds, I realized here was a run across America meeting a walk across America. Both events were happening for causes.

Some of us in support vehicles quickly realized this was a way to publicize the Longest Walk on national television. We asked the camera man if he would interview Dennis Banks. He said: "Bring him over, quickly."

Banks walked over and was given an opportunity to quickly talk about why the long walkers were walking.

I got out of the support van quickly to take pictures as the event was unfolding. The photograph we used featured Dennis Banks talking to a producer of the national television program.

The brief encounter lasted no more than five minutes, but two days later, Dennis Banks and Norman "Wounded Knee" DeOcampo were given some air time on the "Live with Regis & Kelly Show."

Here is a link to the original story and video:
VIDEO: A Brief Encounter Along the Longest Walk 3 Route

posted December 30, 2011 10:50 am est