Personal work: Trump in Lynden rally | Seattle editorial photographer

On May 5th, the Donald Trump campaign announced they would be visiting the Northwest for two stops on May 7th: one all the way in Eastern Washington, and the other all the way in Lynden. I decided to head up to Lynden at the crack of dawn for the two-hour drive and make portraits of attendees and supporters as a personal project. When I arrived six hours before the rally, there were at least 200 people already in line, stretching down the street outside the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds. Pushing around a beauty dish on a rolling lightstand, I stopped to ask people to make their picture, while others would flag me down and ask what I was up to. I got lots of questions about who I was working for, where I lived, and what did I personally believe? Still, everyone was very accommodating and it was exciting to see the energy in the area even as supporters endured long lines and hours in the sun (fyi, I’m still sunburnt). It was a fun and historic day to document – the little town of Lynden will probably never entertain another presidential candidate, as many supporters noted.

A truck belonging to John Beavers of Belfair, Washington, at a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

“Trump’s going to be the strongest for veterans and keep out drugs,” said Clay of Ferndale, holding the hand of his 14-month-old daughter, Liberty, while waiting in line for a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Logan, Jake and Eli, no last names given, center, wait in line before a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Twins Leslie and Alex Strandgard, 16, of Lynden, stand in front of Alex’s truck with their father, Rich, across the street from a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. “Lynden is a real conservative town,” Rich said. “We weren’t sure if there was going to be any trouble. You hear only snippets of his speech. I kind of wanted to see what else he talks about.” Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Six hours before the rally, a street merchant works the line. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Donald Trump supporters Dan Thompson, left, and Scott Holen, both of Lynden. “This is a once in a lifetime deal,” Holen said. “I’ve been so disillusioned with the whole process for so long I didn’t have a reason to participate until now.” Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Trump supporters Celeste Race, Brittney Weib and Wren Racz of Kirkland, center, hangout ahead of a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Lynden 14-year-olds Jack Berry, Eric Bode and Sullivan Klyn painted their chests before a rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. “We gotta make America great again,” said Berry. “It’s the only time this might happen to a little place called Lynden,” said Bode. “We’re making history for a good cause.” Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Trent Kettles of Lynden waits in line ahead of a Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

“This is a big step. I can’t miss this. I’m young,” said Michael Baldwin, who noted he was born and raised in Lynden, while waiting to get into a rally for Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Protestors took aim from across the street, the physical space separating them Trump supporters, outside of a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Three arrests were made when protestors laid down in the street to block the path of Trump’s planned route into the area. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Chase, Joel and Melanie, no last names given, of Edgewood, wait in line at a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Joel S. of Bellingham, in red cap, waits in line with thousands of other Trump supporters attending a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Western Washington University Police Officer Derek Jones attended the rally for Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Washington State Troopers stand near a main entrance into the rally for Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. A reported 5,000 people attended the event, which attracted considerable protest ahead of the planned 3 p.m. speech, delayed by an hour when Trump’s plane was late leaving an earlier stop in Spokane. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Rocky Toussant of Bellingham holds a homemade sign while walking into a rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. A reported 5,000 people attended the event, which attracted considerable protest ahead of the planned 3 p.m. speech, delayed by an hour when Trump’s plane was late leaving an earlier stop in Spokane. Lynden is home to about 12,000 people and was a last-minute host to the presidential candidate after the campaign had difficulty obtaining permits for a hastily planned event in Seattle, located two hours away. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Protestors took aim from across the street, the physical space separating them Trump supporters, outside of a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Three arrests were made when protestors laid down in the street to block the path of Trump’s planned route into the area. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

A truck drives past Trump supporters lined up on Kok Street outside of a rally for Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

“I’m hoping and praying that Trump becomes president,” said Tabitha Staton of Mount Baker, “because we will finally get the change we deserve.” Staton was one of about 5,000 people who attended a rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Dan Sanford of Concrete waits in line to enter a rally for Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Jon Honorof of Lynden wore a shirt that he said has been in his family for generations. “The beliefs still stand strong,” Honorof said, standing near his family waiting in line to enter a rally for Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Coming from nearby Bellingham, Sehome High School students Colleen Graham, Glory DeCoteau, Olen Sandeno, Sean Graham, Tyler Carroll and Aiden Capistro came to support Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump at his rally May 7, 2016 at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds in Lynden, Washington. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Since I did not have press credentials, I was unable to bring my lighting or large digital SLR into the rally – and believe me, I tried 🙂 Ahead of time, I obtained a free ticket into the event. I packed up my gear and retrieved the small Samsung NX500 point and shoot that I keep in my glovebox. I was able to bring that in fortunately and document the actual rally. As people waited and took selfies with friends, organizers played a handful of songs over and over. “Can’t always get what you want” by the Rolling Stones certainly seemed like an odd choice.