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Rick Saccone, the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district, speaks to supporters and volunteers during a campaign stop at the Blaine Hill volunteer fire department on Monday, March 12, 2018 in Elizabeth Township, Pa. Saccone was joined by Donald Trump Jr. who joined with his father, President Trump, and his sister, Ivanka, to help campaign for Saccone. Saccone is running against Democratic candidate Conor Lamb in a special election to replace Tim Murphy, the Republican congressman who retired in scandal last October.
Rick Saccone speaks to supporters at the VFW Post 4793 during a campaign rally on March 5, 2018 in Waynesburg, Pa.
A sign for Republican nominee for congress Rick Saccone sits outside of the VFW Post 4793 prior to a campaign rally supporting the coal community on March 5, 2018 in Waynesburg, Pa.
Rick Saccone talks with supporters at the VFW Post 4793 after a campaign rally on March 5, 2018 in Waynesburg, Pa.
Conor Lamb, Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District, listens as former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a rally for him at the Carpenters Training Center on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 in Collier Township, Pa.
Conor Lamb, Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District, speaks at a rally with union members as former Vice President Joe Biden sits at his side at the Carpenters Training Center on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 in Collier Township, Pa.
Olivia Somdecerff, a volunteer with the Conor Lamb campaign, stands backstage as she watches results in Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district special election at Conor Lamb's campaign headquarters at Hilton Garden hotel on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 in Southpointe, Pa.
Donald Trump Jr. gets his photo taken with a group of supporters at a campaign rally for Rick Saccone, the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district, at the Blaine Hill volunteer fire department on Monday, March 12, 2018 in Elizabeth Township, Pa. Saccone was joined by Donald Trump Jr. who joined with his father, President Trump, and his sister, Ivanka, to help campaign for Saccone.
Johnny Bento, a longtime supporter of unions in Pittsburgh, listens to former Vice President Joe Biden speak at a rally for Conor Lamb, Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District, at the Carpenters Training Center on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 in Collier Township, Pa.
Rick Saccone wears a miner's helmet he was gifted as he talks with supporters at the VFW Post 4793 after a campaign rally on March 5, 2018 in Waynesburg, Pa.
Donald Trump Jr. gets a photo taken after speaking at a campaign rally for Rick Saccone, the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district, at the Blaine Hill volunteer fire department on Monday, March 12, 2018 in Elizabeth Township, Pa. Saccone was joined by Donald Trump Jr. who joined with his father, President Trump, and his sister, Ivanka, to help campaign for Saccone.
Douglas Ray, 55, of Homewood, Pa., stands near a flag in the back of a rally for Conor Lamb, Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District, at the Carpenters Training Center on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 in Collier Township, Pa.
Conor Lamb, the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district, walks into his polling location at First Church of Christ social hall on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 in Mt. Lebanon, Pa.
Rick Saccone, Republican candidate for Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district, holds his cell phone up with a video call from his son, as he is surrounded by media after voting at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 in McKeesport, Pa.
Supporters of Conor Lamb react as results show him pulling ahead in Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district special election at Conor Lamb's campaign headquarters at Hilton Garden hotel on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 in Southpointe, Pa.
Conor Lamb, Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district, takes the stage to deliver his acceptance speech at his campaign headquarters at Hilton Garden hotel early Wednesday, March 14, 2018 in Southpointe, Pa.
Conor Lamb, Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district, takes the stage to deliver his acceptance speech at his campaign headquarters at Hilton Garden hotel early Wednesday, March 14, 2018 in Southpointe, Pa.
Conor Lamb's speech rests on the podium after he gave his acceptance speech at his campaign headquarters at Hilton Garden hotel early Wednesday, March 14, 2018 in Southpointe, Pa.
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.