Mounting frustration with Washington politics has outsider candidates surging in the 2016 election. The obvious examples across the partisan divide are Donald Trump (R) and Bernie Sanders (D). Although different in substance and tone neither Trump nor Sanders are the image of their party's establishment.
Friends and relatives will offer inflammatory comment about their radical supporters hoping to set straight whomever is listening. "Who wants a neo-fascist for their next President?" "Only an unemployed drug addict votes for a Socialist? A Socialist!" and "Who are the people keeping these nut jobs around?"
Curious myself I decided to do a photography experiment. I went to rallies for both Trump and Sanders and made straightforward portraits of attendees wherever they stood -- with their permission and without asking their political opinion -- I shoot a few pictures and showed them on Twitter and Instagram.
What's true is each candidate has this election's most passionate and principled devotees, willing to stand in line for hours, even in the rain for a chance to be in the presence of their candidate and thousands of like-minded rally goers. The crowds are powerful and their enthusiasm can be fairly described as fierce.
Weaving among the crowds I introduced myself to people who even within their respective tribe stood out as having a particular presence. From a visual standpoint, what I wanted to explore was -- with such similar passions -- how are these people distinct, how are they alike and if not for their campaign schwag, could I always tell the difference?
Portraits were taken in Chicago and Bloomington, IL between March 11 and March 14
A selection of these photographs will be exhibited in the show, Stereotypes at the Georgetown Arts Center in Georgetown, Texas April 15-May 29.
Follow Saverio on Twitter and Instagram @SaverioTruglia and his website, www.saveriotruglia.com