Tsarnaev’s relatives, who arrived from Russia nine days ago, finally took the witness stand today and the testimony was often tearful. Tsarnaev, who has betrayed not the slightest emotion or hint of remorse during the excruciating testimony of the bombing victims, dabbed his eyes with a tissue when his aged aunt Patimat sobbed so uncontrollably she was unable to testify.
I pity his family, but I’m not sure I have any pity for Dzhokhar.
Courtroom sketching is a form of visual journalism or reportage drawing that is slowly dying out. Where once upon a time news organization each had their own artist covering a story, today a “pool” artist often sketches for all. It is a demanding and stressful discipline where the drawing is often done directly and under tight deadline.
After forty-five years of news sketching in courtrooms and congress I’m calling it quits. It’s been sometimes fun, sometimes frustrating, almost always interesting. I’ve been lucky to work with some really great people. Don’t think I’ll miss it, but a little scared of not having a deadline.
While I won’t be sketching in court anymore, I may continue to post to this blog from time to time. Not sure what that might be. I’m about to start a new assignment documenting infrastructure and construction. Could be interesting.
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Your drawings are nice and as we have no camera they are all we have.
However, I believe your written editioriaizing, exemplified in the above ‘I have sympathy for his relatives but I’m not sure I have any for Tsarnaev; are
innapropriate to say the least. For this reason, I believe it is better to have cameras. There is much in this trial to be distrusted and when you show such bias it really makes me wonder what else is being skewed. example, Jahar’s teacher said he smiled and made eye contact. Other examples ignored by media. You are just supposed to draw.