"Dorothy"

Nov 19

Dorothy Black, 81, of North Versailles stands in her living room dressed as her favorite character, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, on Wednesday afternoon, November 18, 2009. She has been collecting Wizard of Oz memorabilia since the movie was released 70 years ago. When I showed up at her house she answered the door dressed as you see her in the photo. She then explained to me that she didn't want me to take any photographs of her. I had to laugh. I told her how great I thought she looked and explained that I really wanted to take her photograph. After a little convincing she agreed. I tried and tried several different portraits and ended up using the one I posted, but left feeling like I didn't capture the best image possible. Before leaving I had to ask her one question, "You've been a fan of the Wizard of Oz for nearly 70 years," I asked. "I have to know how many times have you watched the movie." She thought for a second and replied excitedly, "Oh my, I have probably watched it about 20 times." I paused for a second and had to chuckle to myself. I felt sad to admit it to myself, but I've probably watched it as many times in my 32 years as she has in the last 70 years. All in all it was one of those assignments that left you smiling. Dorothy was as sweet as they come and I enjoyed talking with her as much as I enjoyed making a photograph of her.

Justin Merriman

Justin Merriman is a freelance photojournalist, commercial photographer, licensed drone pilot, and filmmaker based in Pittsburgh. His career began in Southwestern Pennsylvania, where he worked as a newspaper photographer dedicated to community storytelling and politics. Since then, his work has been recognized with regional, national, and international awards and has appeared in publications around the world.

After covering the crash of United Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001, Merriman committed to documenting the U.S. military’s War on Terror, reporting from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and across the United States. His international assignments have also included life in Fidel Castro’s Cuba, India’s campaign to eradicate polio, the aftermath of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Cuba in 2012, the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis in Rome, the second anniversary of Egypt’s revolution, Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea, and the uncertain future of Guantanamo Bay in 2015. That same year, he traveled the full U.S.–Mexico border to document immigration issues.

In addition to photography, Merriman works as a director and filmmaker, creating recent films on refugees in Turkey, Jordan, India, and South Africa.

Closer to home, he frequently covers stories across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, focusing on the intersections of economic, environmental, and political life. Most recently, he reported on the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and its impact on the community.

Born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Merriman graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg with a B.A. in English Writing. In 2009, the university awarded him its prestigious Alumnus of Distinction award. He is a founding member of Argo Collective, a group of photographers sharing diverse visions of America. He lives outside Pittsburgh with his wife, Stephanie Strasburg, a photojournalist with PublicSource.

http://www.justinmerriman.com

"Dorothy"

Lucy

Groundbreaking