Paul W. Gillespie

Balt./Annapolis photojournalist. Pulitzer Prize winner and Time 2018 Person of the Year with prized jewel Capital Gazette staff. Mass shooting survivor. #BeKind

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

I just found one of my pay stubs from 2004. I truly do take home $5.72 less per week in 2022. I've had a total of $3.64 an hour in raises in 18 years. My health insurance has gone from 29.30 wk in 2004 to $266 wk in 2022. And that's also being forced from BCBS to Kaiser this year

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

@JorgeRiveraTor5 I apologize for the spell check crack. Yesterday is a tough one for me.

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

Today marks eight years since the tragedy in our Capital Gazette newsroom.

A gunman shot his way into our office killing Wendi Winters, Rob Hiaasen, Gerald Fischman, Rebecca Smith and John McNamara. A shotgun blast came within inches of me, nearly took my head off.

It changed the lives of so many.

I shot and produced this video last year. It briefly recounts that horrific day for me.

More importantly it talks about our five Capital Gazette members we lost that day.

The lives changed of those left behind.

The importance of local journalists doing the best jobs they can to make our communities better places. And my Journalists Matter: Faces of the Capital Gazette project.

It is a bit long at 24 minutes. I feel every second I left in the final cut is important.

I love our community. The people that rallied by us after that day. How the tragedy brought us together. It should not take a tragedy to make us love our neighbors.

Support local journalists, photojournalists.
Never forget Rob, Wendi, John, Gerald and Rebecca.

Press On!

Be Kind.

This is the first 4:20 minutes. If you are interested click this link to the full video.

https://t.co/PGBCIinszE

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

Dude I can hardly get your point. A basic spell check man. Slow down and get your hate right.

I was in the room with this shooter. I know what he looked like and what he did. He was guilty.

I was also in the room when Gov. O'Malley signed the repeal of the Maryland Death Penalty. Kirk Bloodsworth was also in the room. He was wrongly convicted and sentenced to death. DNA eventually cleared him.

I would much rather the guy who killed my five friends and nearly shot my head off serve six life sentences, than an innocent man be put to death for a crime they didn't commit.

I know our shooter did it. He will die in prison.

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

Need a good insurance agent to shop for homeowners and car insurance. Seem Nationwide is canceling our homeowners policy. I definitely think it is retaliation for a roof claim we made last year.

We had damage and they paid partially for a new roof. While we waited for the roof work to be started they sent someone out to look at the roof. They said the shingles, soffit and facia were all rotted and needed to be fixed or they would cancel us.

I told them no shit in a polite way. I was waiting for them to quit fighting me about the payment. They lowballed the settlement. Work was being done no matter what. So I got the roof replaced and soffits/facia.

Also we needed bricks on the chimney and cap fixed. I got it done.

They said I had a few rotten boards on the deck that needed to be replaced. Well guess what? The entire deck is gone. Will be replaced shortly.

I have been with @Nationwide for a long time. Always paid their ever increasing premiums with hardly any auto claims and no home claims over a long time.

They fought me shingle and nail for this roof and then worked to punish and cancel me for it.

I still may try and get them the proof they need the work was done, but also looking for other options.

Sorry. Had to vent. @Nationwide is not on Paul's side.

Be Kind.

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

On January 13, Mike Tomlin was asked to remove himself from coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers; that request came from his boss Art Rooney II. Deep down, he knew Rooney was right, but he also knew that some day he would return to coaching. With nowhere else to go, he appeared at the home of his friend, John Harbaugh. Several days earlier, Harbaugh's boss had thrown HIM out of the Raven’s Castle, requesting that HE never return. Can two former coaches share an apartment without driving each other crazy?

#johnharbaugh #miketomlin #ravens #steelers #baltimoreravens #pittsburghsteelers

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

Justin Tucker is laughing all the way to the massage parlor.

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

I certainly hope there are provisions in the Baltimore City bill that still allow for a free press to do their jobs at these scenes.

Or is it just another way to restrict press access? How does MDDC Press Association feel about it?

@odetteramos could you clarify for us please.

[WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore @wbaltv11]

City council to vote on bill restricting access to emergency scenes | Click on the image to read the full story https://t.co/UG8B44eZwy

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

I have not said too much about this, other than my wonderful rendition of "Tomorrow" from Annie, but I am very honored by the The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County for the Annie Award as Arts Maverick.

Thank you to ACAAC, my awesome wife Jennifer Donatelli for doing the work in nominating me, without my knowledge, lol. And my friends who wrote supporting letters, again without me knowing.

I hope you all can come to the awards ceremony Oct. 15 at 5:30PM. It's free and open to the public. Come out and support me and the local arts scene.

Be Kind

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

@pwoodreporter Wild that just last night we were going through a filing cabinet full of folders and one had prints from that assignment in it. The Sun still runs one of the shots with prison stories. That was a good assignment Pam.

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

The "Our Lady Queen of Peace" statue at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in New Castle, Delaware, is a 34-foot stainless steel sculpture of the Virgin Mary created by Charles C. Parks and dedicated in 2007.

Be Kind. Treat others as Mary would treat them.

Also if anyone sees my keys there please let me know.

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

Maryland Governor Wes Moore eats a taco for lunch with students at Ft Meade High School during a tour of the school.

Look for more of my Capital Gazette pix and a story from Bridget Byrne later today.

I really wanted to eat tacos on Taco Thursday.

Be Kind

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

A very important announcement. Gather your loved ones around your various devices. You won't want to miss this one.

Kindness is the new punk rock.

Be Kind.

Thanks everyone.

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

@ABC Here come my superpowers.

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

I saw a clip from Marvel's Wandavision the other day and it made me think of old TV shows I'd like to live in.

Bewitched popped into my head. Samantha was hot. I would definitely let her use her powers. I would encourage it.

I think Endora would have loved me. The entire family would have. Uncle Arthur, Aunts Esmeralda and Clara. Got a scratchy throat call Dr. Bombay.

I have to shoot the new ad campaign for a client at McMahon and Tate. Larry would be on my ass about the photos. With Samantha at my side we would convince the client what a great campaign it would be.

Not sure what Darren's role would be here, maybe my best friend always trying to figure out what is going on. It would definitely be the best Darren, Dick York. Hated new Darren.

Either all that or Darren and Sam would still be married and I would just always be there. People would be like, why the hell is Paul always at that house.

Anyway, just a few thoughts I was kicking around.

Be Kind.

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

Why keep your Capital Gazette subscription? So I can keep telling your local stories. Because knowing our neighbors makes us more empathetic, a better community and better society.

Support local news, art and music.

Be Kind.

https://t.co/DYlwa7kDxV

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

@MarkPphotos2022 @Adobe @Photoshop @creativecloud Looking at Affinity now. Would love to have stayed with Adobe because I’m used to it, but they are making it impossible. I still have it on my work laptop

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

Truly a sad day for me. I had to cancel my @Adobe @Photoshop @creativecloud Creative Cloud Pro subscription.

I've been using Photoshop since 1996 Version 4, maybe earlier through working at different papers.

I bought my first personal copy for my home computer around 2007's CS4 and upgraded every couple of years.

When Creative Cloud came out in 2013 and Adobe went to a subscription plan I held out until the offered the $9.99 a month plan with PS and Lightroom. I stayed with that plan until last year.

Adobe Creative Cloud had a special last year around this time. For $380 I got the entire suite of programs, including Premiere Pro for video. That was the one I really wanted to add in addition to Photoshop.

The rest of the programs were nice to have access to, but I really don't use them. Heck I don't even use Lightroom, which I really should have learned. Makes no difference now, lol.

I got an email last month saying Adobe was now raising the price to $779.88 a year for the plan I have. That is just too much for me.

I realize I was on a promotional plan last year. I figured I would be able to call and get them to come up with something more reasonable. While they did offer something a bit cheaper, it was still too high.

I still have access for my Capital Gazette newspaper work pix on my work laptop, but I am looking into alternatives for my personal work.

Adobe you just made it too expensive, to convoluted figuring out AI credits, mobile apps, plan tiers and such. I just want PS, Premiere, maybe Lightroom and Acrobat for a fair price.

Wishing I never gave up my $9.99 plan.

Sincerely, a long time user.

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

It's National Postal Worker Day.

I want to thank all those postal workers who let "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." Kind of like photojournalists.

Now that I think about it when is our National Photojournalists Day?

This is Pookie The Annapolis Mailman on West Street.

Prints are available for sale in the gift shop.

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

@kurtsteiss That is ridiculous. I would love to know their reasoning. I could understand not wanting tripods or maybe even monopods, but who cares what lens you're using if you can hand hold it. Boo Tinker Air Show in Oklahoma City. Explain yourself.

[Paul W. Gillespie @pwgphoto]

Immediately after the horrific mass shooting event in my newsroom at The Capital Gazette, June 28, 2018, the community went into action to show us love and support. The day of the shooting reporter Chase Cook wrote on twitter “I can tell you this: We are putting out a damn paper tomorrow.” It was one of the phrases that defined our commitment to journalism.

Another phrase became just as important and relevant to us and everyone in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County and the world. That phrase is “Press On.” It became our mantra at the paper. A call to action to keep going. To keep doing our work as journalists.

I don’t know if local Annapolis artist/musician Aaron Yealdhall, who works under the name Skribe, coined the phrase, or heard it somewhere else, but he ran with it. I really need to ask one day. He designed a logo with the phrase, an anchor and the Maryland State House.

Skribe started selling stickers, t-shirts, posters and I think there may be a few hats floating around. Hey Aaron, if you read this, we need to make a hat happen for me. I missed out on that one, lol. And the stuff sold incredibly well.

A month later The City of Annapolis held the Annapolis Rising concert. Good Charlotte headlined the event with other local musicians and speakers. All there to support us and the journalistic mission. Some said it was too soon for a concert, but honestly it was the right time for me as a survivor of the attack. It temporarily took my mind off that horrible day. Skribe and his team of volunteers were there selling t-shirts.

Now we know it is not easy surviving as a local artist and musician, always looking for work booking gigs. These incredible sales of the “Press On” merch would be a boon and make life easier for Skribe. But that is not why Aaron did it. He did it because he grew up with The Capital being the hometown newspaper. It meant something to him.

And what did our local musician/artist Skribe do the day of the concert? He donated all $35,000 in proceeds from the “Press On” sales to the Capital Gazette Family Fund. What an incredibly generous thing to do.

Aaron and I have become friends over the years. I try to see/photograph Skribe perform as much as possible. He is such an awesome singer, songwriter and storyteller. You might say he is a journalist with his music.

I got to catch him at the Eastport A Rockin’ music festival yesterday. It was on the seventh anniversary of the mass shooting at our paper. I marked the day with an event with my Capital Gazette family earlier and then went to the concert.

The awesome Eastport A Rockin’ organizers, including Jessica Pachler, Nic Berg and Christina Wilharm made sure to include a moment of silence around the time the shooting took place. I was not there at that point but was told you could hear a pin drop during it.

So friends, look for Skribe on your music streaming services and take a listen. Go to his website https://t.co/uZRRo5zWQQ Buy his merch. He has so many other awesome designs on stickers, t-shirts and other art. He was there for us. Support local art and music.

Thank you Aaron for being my friend and being a friend to our Capital Gazette family. Thank you for the shout out last night before your song Undefined. Love that song.

Be Kind. Press On!