Found a postcard view of rural Tennessee while working on a story about the shrinking Southern Baptist Church. We followed the demise of the Scenic Drive Baptist Church as it became the Arabic Baptist Church. Interesting story by WaPo writer Stepha

Found a postcard view of rural Tennessee while working on a story about the shrinking Southern Baptist Church. We followed the demise of the Scenic Drive Baptist Church as it became the Arabic Baptist Church. Interesting story by WaPo writer Stephanie McCrummen as she reported on a church that realizes it must change or risk further struggle. — in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. © 2015  Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

Small middle-of-nowhere town. Check. Funky abandoned buildings. Check. Rainstorm for cinematic effect. Check. Flash fill supplied by nature. Check. All is well in Parma, Missouri. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

Small middle-of-nowhere town. Check. Funky abandoned buildings. Check. Rainstorm for cinematic effect. Check. Flash fill supplied by nature. Check. All is well in Parma, Missouri. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

After visiting several towns where William Eggleston both lived and made photos (Oxford, Drew, Greenwood and Sumner) last week, I realized that I was stopping to take pix I might have passed up in the past. Although in this case I doubt that I ever

After visiting several towns where William Eggleston both lived and made photos (Oxford, Drew, Greenwood and Sumner) last week, I realized that I was stopping to take pix I might have passed up in the past. Although in this case I doubt that I ever would have ignored this scene of a big red car and a dog with part of his leg missing. — in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi.  © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

Made a point to hit the road early today so I could take the back roads (Route 30, aka The Lincoln Highway) to an assignment in Western Pennsylvania. As I was finishing up a park ranger says, "Maybe you ought to call it a day, it's fixin' to rain."

Made a point to hit the road early today so I could take the back roads (Route 30, aka The Lincoln Highway) to an assignment in Western Pennsylvania. As I was finishing up a park ranger says, "Maybe you ought to call it a day, it's fixin' to rain." Of course I say, "Actually, these moments of confused sky that occur just before the rain starts is my favorite time." -- I'm just hoping my Amish pals made it home before the cleansing began. — in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

Working on a tough story with the great Eli Saslow in a small town in Nebraska. While taking a back route to get there earlier tonight, I cruised through a section of eastern Kansas and found this lost-in-time hamlet. — in Wetmore, Kansas. © 2015 M

Working on a tough story with the great Eli Saslow in a small town in Nebraska. While taking a back route to get there earlier tonight, I cruised through a section of eastern Kansas and found this lost-in-time hamlet. — in Wetmore, Kansas. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

Went out looking for a winter scene today only to find that our local "snow event" wasn't much more than a dusting. Sorry to say that it looks like my friends in the New York and New England areas are gonna get hit with the real thing. I'll be thin

Went out looking for a winter scene today only to find that our local "snow event" wasn't much more than a dusting. Sorry to say that it looks like my friends in the New York and New England areas are gonna get hit with the real thing. I'll be thinking about you..hoping you stay safe and warm. — in Etchison, Maryland. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

I've been doing reportage in the Tunica, Mississippi area for 30 years. In recent times, Tunica (once one of the poorest places in the U.S.) experienced a huge cultural shift as the cotton farms moved elsewhere and casinos sprouted in those fields

I've been doing reportage in the Tunica, Mississippi area for 30 years. In recent times, Tunica (once one of the poorest places in the U.S.) experienced a huge cultural shift as the cotton farms moved elsewhere and casinos sprouted in those fields of pain. So did the gamble pay off? What does a county (only 10,000 residents) do with nearly one billion dollars in gaming revenue? The results aren't pretty. — with Chico Harlan. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

A curious Juliet Pace (age 4) and her cousin Campbell (age 7) got quite a history lesson on Monday as they visited a nearly forgotten slave cemetery where some of their relatives are buried. They also explored a restored slave shack on the grounds

A curious Juliet Pace (age 4) and her cousin Campbell (age 7) got quite a history lesson on Monday as they visited a nearly forgotten slave cemetery where some of their relatives are buried. They also explored a restored slave shack on the grounds of Sweet Briar College (in Amherst, Va.) and this great old barn that belongs to their 75-year-old cousin Jasper. The farm has been in the family since just after the civil war.  © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

Was photographing a Ferguson related protest rally held today in front of the Department of Justice and was scanning the crowd for "the face" of the rally. Derrick Smith struck me with his quiet dignity as he listened to the speakers. This is not a

Was photographing a Ferguson related protest rally held today in front of the Department of Justice and was scanning the crowd for "the face" of the rally. Derrick Smith struck me with his quiet dignity as he listened to the speakers. This is not a studio shot, it's just the look one gets when shooting with a 200mm and have a drab gray government building as a backdrop. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

Daymon J. Hartley was trying to move his Jeep to get us to the other side of town (Detroit) this afternoon and I yell..."Whoa! Stop. Hold on!" ...and he's like, "Whaaaat?" Then Daymon realizes that I caught this beautiful gentleman out of the corne

Daymon J. Hartley was trying to move his Jeep to get us to the other side of town (Detroit) this afternoon and I yell..."Whoa! Stop. Hold on!" ...and he's like, "Whaaaat?" Then Daymon realizes that I caught this beautiful gentleman out of the corner of my eye..and..well you know the rest. Mr. Rufus Marshall has endured many hardships. His son was murdered, his ex-wife died and he was terribly disfigured in an explosion (burned badly everywhere except his face). We shared stories, made some pix and despite it all Rufus is a very upbeat man. "I love to travel. Meet new people. Read and learn. I've done some really cool things over the years. Life is good, ain't it?" --Yup, Rufus, it is. © 2015  Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

On this final day of the Pope Francis visit to Washington I was sent down to the National Mall to hang with the faithful. I met this lovely chap (Mauricio Ticas) who was blessing those who passed by. I had to know: Was he dressed as the Maharishi Y

On this final day of the Pope Francis visit to Washington I was sent down to the National Mall to hang with the faithful. I met this lovely chap (Mauricio Ticas) who was blessing those who passed by. I had to know: Was he dressed as the Maharishi Yogi? - "Nope," he said....Umm..."Jesus?" -- "Nope." -- "OK, I give, who are you?" -- "I'm Father Earth...channeling Mother Earth." He went on to say that if we don't respect the planet it will be destroyed. I'm not sure if he was serious or if it was just a veiled threat. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

Normally I preach that hit-and-run (street) photography can lead to awkward situations but there are times when one must break the (stay patient) rule and go for it. - While making fun pix of street art on the side of an old building I see this you

Normally I preach that hit-and-run (street) photography can lead to awkward situations but there are times when one must break the (stay patient) rule and go for it. - While making fun pix of street art on the side of an old building I see this young woman in a hat. - MSW: "Excuse me, but rather than bore you with a long story, may I just say that you are lovely and I'd be grateful if you'd let me make a photograph of you." - Jasmine: "Sure! Yeah my friend was just telling me that the light is good." - MSW: "For sure it is nice out...and the light on your perfect face contrasted with the abandoned building is just wonderful -- AND I like your hat!" Jasmine: "Thank you. I like your hat, too." — in Baltimore, Maryland. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

"Racial wallpaper" (thank Jon Stewart for the term) has been hanging on flag poles and in windows and in gift shops for too long. Well America, it looks like a part of your very ugly decor is going to get a makeover in some places. About time. © 20

"Racial wallpaper" (thank Jon Stewart for the term) has been hanging on flag poles and in windows and in gift shops for too long. Well America, it looks like a part of your very ugly decor is going to get a makeover in some places. About time. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

Today it was quiet in the area that had suffered the most rioting in past days. How quiet? It was so quiet that I could hear what the policewoman was ordering on her pizza.....anchovies...yuck! — at Sandtown-Winchester, Baltimore. © 2015 Michael S.

Today it was quiet in the area that had suffered the most rioting in past days. How quiet? It was so quiet that I could hear what the policewoman was ordering on her pizza.....anchovies...yuck! — at Sandtown-Winchester, Baltimore. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

Made a photo of the Washington Monument for a President's Day story that ran today. It was so dang cold but the light is clean and crisp when it's really cold. I had a nice angle in mind but it needed something more. So I bribed several birds with

Made a photo of the Washington Monument for a President's Day story that ran today. It was so dang cold but the light is clean and crisp when it's really cold. I had a nice angle in mind but it needed something more. So I bribed several birds with some birdseed (wink) if they would agree to help me out. After training them and explaining where I wanted them to fly, they flew into the frame and helped make the composition better. Normally I would just wait in the cold and hope to get lucky but hiring stunt birds seemed more like what a real pro would do. Besides..my fingers were frozen so I had to wing it! © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

The White House was lit up with the colors of the gay pride flag tonight to honor the historic decision today. It was so wonderful to see all the love. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

The White House was lit up with the colors of the gay pride flag tonight to honor the historic decision today. It was so wonderful to see all the love. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

I'd like to squash the rumors that I'm out of my gourd. (iPhone 6 photo) — in Ronks, Pennsylvania. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

I'd like to squash the rumors that I'm out of my gourd. (iPhone 6 photo) — in Ronks, Pennsylvania. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

When I found this scene at the abandoned Calvary Baptist Church in Detroit, I thought my eyes had gone bad because I couldn't figure out where all the blue was coming from. Then I looked up to find that the stained glass windows above the quiet roo

When I found this scene at the abandoned Calvary Baptist Church in Detroit, I thought my eyes had gone bad because I couldn't figure out where all the blue was coming from. Then I looked up to find that the stained glass windows above the quiet room had been shattered by vandals and only the blue panels survived. As the sun crawled through the assaulted portal, the effect was sad but beautiful. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

Interesting story about how the majority of people here in South Dakota do not like Obama...but they do like the president. Greg Jaffe...sorts it out in this fun read. — with Greg Jaffe in Watertown, South Dakota. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The W

Interesting story about how the majority of people here in South Dakota do not like Obama...but they do like the president. Greg Jaffe...sorts it out in this fun read. — with Greg Jaffe in Watertown, South Dakota. © 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

Earlier today I went for a long walk out into a strong rain wearing just my running shorts and a t-shirt. The cold stinging drops that hit me were no bother as it felt like they were stripping off the dread that's been hovering for a few days. As I

Earlier today I went for a long walk out into a strong rain wearing just my running shorts and a t-shirt. The cold stinging drops that hit me were no bother as it felt like they were stripping off the dread that's been hovering for a few days. As I was winding down, an old man passed me on the road. He didn't say hello, he just winked as I nodded. The odd thing is that despite appearing frail, he walked with a very deliberate gait toward the fog on the lake. I made two frames and then just watched him until he disappeared. It was very beautiful in a sad sort of way.© 2015 Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post

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