Description
Pulitzer Prize–winning photojournalist Jon Cherry joins Bad Photographers for an unfiltered, long-form conversation about documenting the January 6th Capitol Riot and living with the images that followed. Cherry takes us inside the chaos of that day, reflecting on what it meant to photograph history as it unfolded, the weight of responsibility that comes with bearing witness, and the emotional toll of covering political violence. He opens up about freelancing under pressure, the long road to healing after trauma, and how his career and personal life, were reshaped in the aftermath. This 2-hour episode goes beyond the headlines, pairing deep reflection with visual context from the day itself, to explore what happens after the photographs are made — when the cameras are down, the adrenaline fades, and photographers are left to process what they’ve seen. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:22 The Impact of January 6th 04:45 Finding a Voice in Photojournalism 08:47 Reflections on Personal Connections 09:41 The Journey to January 6th 12:58 The Build-Up to the Capitol Riot 16:30 The Day of the Capitol Riot 21:40 Experiences at the Capitol 24:58 Documenting the Unfolding Events 26:42 Confrontation and Tension at the Riot 30:46 Preparation and Equipment Challenges 38:31 The March Towards the Capitol 42:50 Chaos at the Inaugural Platform 49:04 Moments of Acceptance and Fear 49:59 Breaking Windows and Capturing Chaos 52:58 The Aftermath of January 6th 55:52 Navigating the Challenges of Freelancing 59:57 The Pulitzer Prize and Personal Reflection 01:05:59 The Sticky Pulitzer and Community Support 01:09:57 Processing Trauma and Building Resilience 01:21:08 The Weight of Experience 01:24:49 Healing Through Reflection 01:30:02 The Journey of Self-Discovery 01:35:35 The Role of a Photographer 01:41:45 Curiosity and Responsibility in Photography Jon's Website: https://jonpcherry.com Jon's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonpcherry/ Bad Photographers Website: https://bad-photographers.com Keywords Elements In This Episode John Cherry, January 6th, Capitol Riot, photojournalism, documentary photography, storytelling, emotions, chaos, experience, insights, January 6th, Capitol Riot, Pulitzer Prize, photojournalism, trauma, community support, personal growth, freelance photography, emotional processing, storytelling