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The election of Barack Obama as the 44th President shattered more than 200 years of history. As the first African-American President of the United States, his inauguration is an historic event, a day filled with meaning for many Americans. Aurora Photos has captured a snapshot of the United States on that day, January 20, 2009.
Most of the coverage connects to the topics and issues of the day and the 2008 election. Other documentation will focus on historically significant places or events, while some locations are simply part of the basic fabric of America.
While the District of Columbia was expecting up to 4 million people to crowd downtown for the inauguration of President Obama, Aurora wanted to know what will hundreds of millions of other citizens would be doing on that day? Now that votes have been cast, does the population sit back and relax? What is the mood of the country on this first day of these first steps down the avenue of transformation? This is not only a day where one man is inducted into office, full of the promise of change, it's a day where the hopes of an entire nation become part of the process, one that promises change.
PLEASE NOTE: SPECIAL FEES APPLY TO ALL OF THE IMAGES LINKED TO FROM THIS PAGE. DO NOT PUBLISH ANY IMAGES WITHOUT TALKING TO AN AURORA ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE FIRST.
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photographs by Beth Rooney, Clay McLachlan, Callie Shell, Michael Bonfigli
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44th President, 44 Photographs
© Various Aurora Photographers
Inauguration day was documented across the country by a select group of Aurora photographers. This set represents some of the best work from a project comprised of over 400 images.
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Contrasting View
© David Stubbs / Aurora Photos
Checking out rifles and guns on inauguration day was the contrast to celebration for some Americans who see the new administration as a threat to their way of life.
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Young Democrat Party, California
© Elyse Butler / Aurora Photos
Elyse Butler went to a Young Democrats Inauguration party (everyone from ages 18- 35) in San Diego at the W hotel and caught the spirit of the younger generation of voters happily mingling at this huge Inauguration bash.
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A Family Apart
© Rafal Gerszak & Trevor Clark / Aurora Photos
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Carmelo Purneda is based in Paktika province, Afghanistan. His wife and two kids are back home in Clarksville, Tennessee, waiting for him to come home. Aurora Photographers Rafal Gerszak and Trevor Clark photographed the family on opposite sides of the world on a day, the family hopes, that will bring the change needed to get Carmelo home.
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Homeless in San Francisco
© Justin Maxon / Aurora Photos
Homelessness and poverty in the Tenderloin District (TL) of San
Francisco is extremely high. About 6.000 people living on the street in San Francisco many in the TL. The level of poverty is just as high. With an incoming Obama administration hope is on the horizon.
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100% Solar
© Blake Gordon / Aurora Photos
A 12 kilowatt solar array for Moab Public Radio makes this station the first 100 percent solar-powered radio station in Utah. In addition, Moab was the first EPA Green Community in the nation.
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Los Angeles Reacts
© Robert Gallagher / Aurora Photos
On the other side of the nation in Los Angeles, California, the Inauguration of President Barack Obama was watched in open areas near the Staples Center.
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Obama Supporter Rejoices
© Carl Walsh / Aurora Photos
Exuberance was the order of the day across many places in America. At Nectar's Restaurant in Burlington, Vermont a scene was played out like thousands of such rally's around the country during this 2009 historic inauguration.
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The Heart of America
© Matt Eich / Aurora Photos
Deep in the heart of America is where it hurts the most. It's where people spend inauguration day in places like Ali's Bar in Glouster, Ohio. Ali's was once a thriving bar in this blue-collar town, but the economic has its owners planning to close the bar by month's end.
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Inauguration Parade
© Michael Bonfigli / Aurora Photos
The sights and sounds of the parade route, including a glimpse of Sasha Obama in the President's limo!
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True Americana
© Carl Walsh / Aurora Photos
The first town to close the polls on election night is Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, where Barack Obama won in a 15-6 tally. All 21 of Dixville's registered voters participated in the election. Obama's victory marks only the second time the town has voted Democratic, the other time being for Hubert Humphrey over Richard Nixon in 1968.
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Reactions of Hope, Washington D.C.
© Jamie Rose / Aurora Photos
Jamie Rose photographed businesses all over the metro area and the inauguration anticipation of their patrons.
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Agriculture In America
© Michael Hanson / Aurora Photos
At a farm leased by Nash's Organic Produce, Kia Armstrong, a 28 year old manager at the farm, believes the new Obama administration must do a better job of bring consumers back to local farmers. She says, 'Obama's election is a sigh of relief, but we must stay realistic about the fact that things aren't going to change quickly.'
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Amer-I-Can Foundation
© Robert Benson / Aurora Photos
The Amer-I-Can Foundation for Social Change is a non-profit organization created to offer social support and services to under-served populations and cities. Its 60 to 90 hour, 15 chapter Life Management Skills curriculum is designed to empower individuals to take charge of their lives, embodying President Obama's message of personal responsibility. Robert Benson photographed some of these individuals.
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Harnessing the Wind
© Carl Walsh / Aurora Photos
Northern Power of Barre, Vermont builds wind turbine units meant for commercial and residential on-site power generation. With alternative energy sources a big issue on newly inaugurated President Barack Obama's agenda, sales for companies such as Northern Power should be a bright spot for the economy.
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Subway to Inauguration, Washington D.C.
© Jamie Rose / Aurora Photos
The Metro subway riders waited for up to an hour or more at certain stations to ride the trains to and from Barack Obama's Inauguration Ceremonies. Jamie Rose photographed the craziness of the crowds.
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Heading to the Nation's Capital, Washington D.C.
© Michael Bonfigli/ Aurora Photos
Michael Bonfigli captures people on their journey to see the inauguration.
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Swearing In, Washington D.C.
© Michael Bonfigli/ Aurora Photos
Michael Bonfigli captures the emotion in the air as Barack Obama is sworn in as President.
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The Mexican Border
© Todd Bigelow / Aurora Photos
Immigration will continue to be a topic of the new administration. On inauguration day, undocumented immigrants are returned to Mexico after being detained in San Diego, California. Forty seven migrants were apprehended during the morning hours and deported back to Mexico with only their belongings in paper bags.
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Healthcare in Florida
© Rhea Anna / Aurora Photos
Health care was one of the hottest issues of the election. Now Barack Obama will get his opportunity to put his plan in motion. Aurora photographer, Rhea Anna, visited the Children's Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Ft. Lauderdale.
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The Spirit of the Day
© Clay McLachlan / Aurora Photos
Aurora photographer, Clay McLachlan, captured the spirit of Inauguration Day from the quiet of the day's pre-dawn beginnings to the excitement of the day's main event.
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Faces of Hope, Georgia
© Andrew Kornylak / Aurora Photos
Aurora photographer, Andrew Kornylak, shot portraits in a barber shop in East Atlanta. The portraits and quotes of each person shed light on the hope that they have with President Obama.
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Chicago's South Side, Illinois
© Beth Rooney / Aurora Photos
Obama’s political career began in his mid-20s in the South Side of Chicago, the same place that gave rise to other African American political leaders such as Harold Washington and the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Who will the future leaders be?
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National Mall, Washington D.C.
© Logan Mock-Bunting / Aurora Photos
Logan Mock-Bunting captures the wide range of emotions of the onlookers at the National Mall.
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Housing Crisis, California
© Matt Mallams / Aurora Photos
Sales of existing houses dropped dramatically in the past year. Aurora Photographer Matt Mallam explores the changes in the California housing market and looks at the challenges facing homeowners, potential buyers, and real estate professionals.
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Wall Street, NYC
© Katja Heinemann /Aurora Photos
For the New York Stock Exchange, 2008 has been a roller coaster year. What will the mood be on the trading floor as Obama takes the oath of office? Aurora Photographer, Katja Heinemann, on the floor to capture the mood in the market.
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On the Mall, Washington D.C.
© Ryan Donnell / Aurora Photos
Aurora photographer, Ryan Donnell, captured the atmosphere at the National Mall.
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