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“Looking at these photographs, you would almost think that Kennerly has been at every major event in the last 60 years!”
— Todd J. Tubutis, Director, The Center for Creative Photography, The University of Arizona
"In The Room" is David Hume Kennerly’s unprecedented decades-long eyewitness account of the pivotal events that defined our nation and world.
Foreword by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham.
Few photographers have stood closer to the making of history than David Hume Kennerly. Since 1966, his camera has been present at the moments that shaped modern America—from Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination to the fields of fire in Vietnam, from Nixon's resignation to Gerald R. Ford’s ascension, from the horror of Jonestown to Reagan and Gorbachev's historic fireside summit. He photographed the Pentagon burning on September 11, and was backstage with Barack Obama on the first night of his presidency. His work continues to this day.
In the Room gathers photographs taken during his extraordinary career into a single sweeping visual history of the United States during many of its most turbulent periods. Against the backdrop of America's 250th anniversary, Kennerly's lens offers something no archive can replicate: a view from “inside the room” where our country’s story is constantly being written.
Featured Blogs
A Cooper`s Hawk taking off today in our front yard. Made with @canonusa 5D MKII and the 100-500 at 223mm (I was close!). @cntrforcreativephoto @nickkennerly @improvambassador @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @raulroa @utnicky @johnrodphotography @petesouza @flaneur1874
Nice Cooper’s Hawk moment today in my front yard.
@cntrforcreativephoto @raulroa @utnicky @tetonraptorcenter @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @davidattenborough
My pic of President Gerald R. Ford, wife Betty by his side, moments after being sworn into office replacing Richard Nixon 52 yrs ago today. He said, “Our long national nightmare is over.” It doesn’t appear that way. @fordlibrarymuseum @cntrforcreativephoto @sfbpanda @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @cvn78_grford @kerrykennedyrfk @petesouza @beschlossdc1776 @tjtubutis @beckysenfccp @delta_dawn
This is a picture I took that doesn`t tell the story. What looks like a victory rally is in fact a moment of devastating defeat. Taken 52 years ago today as Nixon left the presidency in disgrace, and was replaced by the straight-shooting Gerald R. Ford. You can learn more about this day in my upcoming @rizzolibooks "In the Room: Sixty Years on the Frontlines of History" @cntrforcreativephoto @beckysenfccp @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @mikebarnicle @whipplc @fordlibrarymuseum @sfbpanda @beschlossdc1776 @trlibrary @edwardokeefe @axiosmike @morningjoe
Gossiping elk today in Grand Teton National Park. These are Rocky Mountain Elk, part of the large Jackson herd in Wyoming. Made with @canonusa R5 Mark II with RF 100-500 at 500mm. #grandtetonnationalpark @cntrforcreativephoto @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @liz__cheney @utnicky @johnrodphotography @raulroa @petesouza #wyoming #elk #rockymountainelkfoundation
The Real Seagulls of Beverly Hills this morning. @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @whipplc @mikebarnicle @johnrodphotography @petesouza #seagulls @cntrforcreativephoto
A commercial jet and a Falcon 9 rocket shortly after launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base tonight. Watched with @_katiemeili from her and @nickkennerly balcony. Shot with @canonusa R5 Mark II with my 100-500mm lens at 500. Thanks to @utnicky for the heads up! @improvambassador @j_kennerly @raulroa @johnrodphotography @petesouza @mikebarnicle @astrodocscott #falcon9 @spacex @anseladams @yousuf_karsh_official @nasa
Happy 83rd birthday (yesterday) #mickjagger !
Took this when he was a mere 32. @cntrforcreativephoto @improvambassador @nickkennerlyviolin @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @jeffdunas @trlibrary @edwardokeefe @johnrodphotography souza @mikebarnicle @fordlibrarymuseum @delta_dawn
The #coopershawk is back. Landed in our tree. Dove hunting. No luck. Made with @canonusa #5dmarkiii with the R5 100-500 at 500mm. A serious birder’s weapon of choice! @cntrforcreativephoto @improvambassador @nickkennerlyviolin @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @raulroa @utnicky @johnrodphotography @samys_camera @anseladams @yousuf_karsh_official @petesouza @stephenwilkes
Former President Gerald R. Ford and John F. Kennedy, Jr. in San Diego 30 years ago this August, a meeting I arranged. Kennedy interviewed Pres. Ford for George Magazine, a publication he founded. I was a contributing photographer to George. The former president was the last living member of the Warren Commission that investigated the death of President John F. Kennedy, John`s dad. Pres. Ford told JFK, Jr. that he and his father, a fellow Congressman, used to walk to vote together, their offices were right across the hall from each other. The two also served heroically in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific in WWII. This photo is in my upcoming book, "In the Room: Sixty Years On the Frontlines of History" coming out this fall. @rizzolibooks @cntrforcreativephoto @sfbpanda @fordlibrarymuseum @jfklibraryfdn @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @kerrykennedyrfk @bobmcneelyphoto @petesouza @mikebarnicle @bankofamerica
James Woolsey, Jr., CIA Director for two years during the Clinton administration, died today at 84. I took this in 2015 for "The Spymasters" that I executive produced with @gedeonnaudet and Jules Naudet and @whipplc for @showtime @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @bobmcneelyphoto @petesouza @mikebarnicle
From the 19-year-old DHK 60 years ago. Even then I saw the extra element that helped make a good picture. The telephone pole looked like a cross above a fatal wreck that killed two fellow teenagers in Portland, Oregon. It was a Wee Gee-like moment, even though I didn`t know who that was back then! This photo didn`t make it into my new book "In the Room," probably should have. @cntrforcreativephoto @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_macpost @_katiemeili @petesouza @bobmcneelyphoto @utnicky @mikebarnicle @johnrodphotography @jeffdunas @raulroa @delta_dawn @anseladams @yousuf_karsh_official #WeeGee
