Portrait

Hot Mass by Justin Merriman

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Aaron Clark is photographed at Hot Mass in Downtown, Pittsburgh on March 20, 2019. Clark is co-founder of the Humanaut and Honcho DJ collectives/event production crews, and the weekly 'Hot Mass' after-hours club in Pittsburgh. He also serves as a key member of Pittsburgh's annual VIA Music & New Media Festival.

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Lauren Goshinski, co-founder of the VIA Festival, gfx collective, and resident DJ at Hot Mass is photographed at the after-hours club in Pittsburgh on March, 20, 2019.

Facing a Predator by Justin Merriman

Read more about this story on NBC News.

Shawn Jones by Justin Merriman

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Shawn Jones, 30, of Baldwin holds his AR-15 in an alley in Pittsburgh's South Side neighborhood on Tuesday evening, January 15, 2019. Jones was part of the pro-gun rally in Pittsburgh on Jan. 7 that was held in response to Pittsburgh City Council legislation calling to ban assault-style weapons and types of ammunition in the wake of the Oct. 27 mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue. "I believe its important for any human to have the ability to protect themselves," says Jones.

Nick Grimes by Justin Merriman

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Nick Grimes, who keeps an arsenal of firearms in his Oakmont, Pa., home, sees a practical line between his right to own those weapons and the federal government’s right to ban so-called “bump stocks,” which allow semi-automatic weapons to fire like machine guns.

Navajo Portraits by Justin Merriman

1.) Clayton Long, 65, at San Juan High School on October 2, 2018 in Blanding, Utah. 2.) Tiana Sam, 16, Miss Blue Mountain Unity Princess 2017-18, photographed at San Juan High School on October 3, 2018 in Blanding, Utah. "It's important to me to save our culture and language because I'm full Navajo. Its important to pass it on to the next generation," says Sam. 3.) Marion Sequaptewa, 16, holds her great grandfather's ceremonial basket, as she is photographed at San Juan High School on October 2, 2018 in Blanding, Utah. "My Grandpa always tells me I'm not a true Navajo if I don't speak the language," she says. "It's important to me because other tribes are forgetting their language. I don't want my tribe to forget ours." 4.) Demarian Benally, 14, photographed at San Juan High School on October 2, 2018 in Blanding, Utah. Banally says, "It is important to me to save Navajo language and protect our tradition. Our culture will be stronger and others will be able to learn it." 5.) Syiera Tsosie, 14, at San Juan High School on October 2, 2018 in Blanding, Utah. "I grew up with Navajo. My mom taught me like her mother did. Navajo is passed down. Today many families are losing their traditional ways." 6.) Charlotta Lacy, a teacher at San Juan High School is photographed on October 2, 2018 in Blanding, Utah. 7.) Claramae Armajo, 14, photographed at San Juan High School on October 2, 2018 in Blanding, Utah. "My great grandmother used to speak to me in Navajo. I'm very thankful that she and my grandma taught me." 8.) Esperanzo Lee, 16, holds her Navajo flute, as she is photographed at San Juan High School on October 2, 2018 in Blanding, Utah. "It's a good thing to keep our culture and language alive. It's something we need to keep going for our youth. It brings happiness to our elders that we can share and show our culture is still here," says Lee.

The Rev Michael Stumpf by Justin Merriman

To read more visit the story in the Guardian.

Ivanka Trump by Justin Merriman

Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump joins with Administrator of the Small Business Administration Linda McMahon as they meet with small business owners in a roundtable discussion on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at Potomac Mineral Group in Mt. Lebanon, Pa. Read more about Ivanka's visit at the Washington Examiner

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions by Justin Merriman

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks at the federal courthouse on Grant Street on Monday, January 29, 2018 in Downtown, Pittsburgh. Sessions stopped at the U.S. attorney's office as part of his nationwide tour of U.S. attorney's offices. During the visit Sessions announced the development of J-CODE, which stands for the Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement team, a new approach to combating "dark web" opioid and drug networks.  Read more about Sessions' visit to Pittsburgh at the Washington Examiner