I was standing on the edge of Hobby Airport’s arrivals terminal on St. Patrick’s Day — my laptop propped up against a barrier enforcing traffic — waiting for my partner to pick me up when the photos came in.

Annie Mulligan, a photographer and frequent Houston Landing contributor, turned in a collection of vibrant pictures documenting a troupe of Irish dancers performing at the Houston Children’s Museum. I smiled to myself, pleased, and thought, “Annie understood the assignment.”

Two of the figures in Annie’s photos were sparkling. The colorful radiance of their traditional dress shows just enough blur of motion that adds another layer of dimension to the frame.

As a director of photography, one of my responsibilities at the Landing is editing photos. I essentially select which image to use out of the often hundreds our contributors submit to the photo desk. Option A can be moody and complex, while Option B may be lighthearted but not articulate enough to visually tell the story. The editing process is a balancing act.

After the dancers, I followed with a portrait of Kadence Carter, a trans teen who dropped out of Katy ISD after the district passed a controversial policy that requires staff to disclose students’ gender identity to parents, among other protocols (read education reporter Miranda Dunlap’s story here). His portrait reflects some of the dynamism and creativity he often exudes, even though he’s going through a challenging moment in his life. 

The color palette in Carter’s portrait transitions well to Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo carnival photos by Landing staff photojournalist Antranik Tavitian. During the month of March, the rodeo is king in this town, so naturally, there have to be photos documenting the experience.

One of the most important photographs for the Landing this month is by Meridith Kohut who captured an immigrant family getting pulled over by a Chambers County Highway Interdiction detective. The photo was made during a ride-along for a story by immigration reporter Anna-Catherine Brigida about how Chambers County plans to implement SB 4. The photo shows the tension generated during a traffic stop but is juxtaposed by the tone and palette of the image’s surroundings, which depicts the kind of blue sky and green grass you might envision accompanying a family picnic. The contrast is unexpected, something I look for in photography. 

Near the end, I added a set of three square photos of a structure known as Conroe’s Bonnie and Clyde Bridge. I made these photos using a Hasselblad 503cx medium-format camera and medium-format film. The type of film and photographic process creates an authentic aesthetic in the photo that people connect with the past, which is fitting for a bridge over 100 years old.

The collection of photos ends with a picture of Art Car Museum director Alicia Duplan locking the entrance to the “Garage Mahal” for the day. I made the photo for a short blurb announcing the museum’s upcoming closure after more than two decades on April 28. This kicker image speaks to the end of an era.

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Photo essay: A collection of our favorite Houston Landing photos for March 2024

by Marie D. De Jesús / Staff photographer, Houston Landing
March 27, 2024

<h1>Photo essay: A collection of our favorite Houston Landing photos for March 2024</h1> <p class="byline">by Marie D. De Jesús / Staff photographer, Houston Landing <br />March 27, 2024</p> <p>I was standing on the edge of Hobby Airport’s arrivals terminal on St. Patrick’s Day — my laptop propped up against a barrier enforcing traffic — waiting for my partner to pick me up when the photos came in.</p> <p>Annie Mulligan, a photographer and frequent Houston Landing contributor, turned in a collection of vibrant pictures documenting a troupe of Irish dancers performing at the Houston Children’s Museum. I smiled to myself, pleased, and thought, “Annie understood the assignment.<em>”</em></p> <p>Two of the figures in Annie’s photos were sparkling. The colorful radiance of their traditional dress shows just enough blur of motion that adds another layer of dimension to the frame.</p> <p>As a director of photography, one of my responsibilities at the Landing is editing photos. I essentially select which image to use out of the often hundreds our contributors submit to the photo desk. Option A can be moody and complex, while Option B may be lighthearted but not articulate enough to visually tell the story. The editing process is a balancing act.</p> <p>After the dancers, I followed with a portrait of Kadence Carter, a trans teen who dropped out of Katy ISD after the district passed a controversial policy that requires staff to disclose students’ gender identity to parents, among other protocols (read education reporter Miranda Dunlap’s story <a href="https://houstonlanding.org/this-school-district-has-failed-him-trans-katy-teen-drops-out-after-gender-policy-passes/">here</a>). His portrait reflects some of the dynamism and creativity he often exudes, even though he’s going through a challenging moment in his life.&nbsp;</p> <p>The color palette in Carter’s portrait transitions well to Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo carnival photos by Landing staff photojournalist Antranik Tavitian. During the month of March, the rodeo is king in this town, so naturally, there have to be photos documenting the experience.</p> <p>One of the most important photographs for the Landing this month is by Meridith Kohut who captured an immigrant family getting pulled over by a Chambers County Highway Interdiction detective. The photo was made during a ride-along for a story by immigration reporter Anna-Catherine Brigida about how <a href="https://houstonlanding.org/on-the-interstate-a-chambers-county-detective-weighs-how-to-implement-sb-4/">Chambers County plans to implement SB 4</a>. The photo shows the tension generated during a traffic stop but is juxtaposed by the tone and palette of the image’s surroundings, which depicts the kind of blue sky and green grass you might envision accompanying a family picnic. The contrast is unexpected, something I look for in photography.&nbsp;</p> <p>Near the end, I added a set of three square photos of a structure known as <a href="https://houstonlanding.org/montgomery-county-commissioner-plans-to-restore-conroes-bonnie-and-clyde-bridge/">Conroe’s Bonnie and Clyde Bridge</a>. I made these photos using a <a href="https://www.5050travelog.com/camera-and-lens-reviews/hasselblad-503cx-film-camera-review">Hasselblad 503cx</a> medium-format camera and medium-format film. The type of film and photographic process creates an authentic aesthetic in the photo that people connect with the past, which is fitting for a bridge over 100 years old.</p> <p>The collection of photos ends with a picture of Art Car Museum director Alicia Duplan locking the entrance to the “Garage Mahal” for the day. I made the photo for a short blurb announcing the museum’s upcoming closure after more than two decades on April 28. This kicker image speaks to the end of an era.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20231208_KADE-CARTER_MDJ_01.jpg" alt="Kadence Carter, 17, a transgender teen and former Mayde Creek High School student sits for a portrait at his father's workplace Dec. 8, 2023, in Houston. Kadence unenrolled from the school in August 2023 after constant bullying and a teacher misgendering him following passage of a new Katy Independent School District gender identity policy." class="wp-image-25579" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kadence Carter, 17, a transgender teen and former Mayde Creek High School student sits for a portrait at his father's workplace Dec. 8, 2023, in Houston. Kadence unenrolled from the school in August 2023 after constant bullying and a teacher misgendering him following passage of a new Katy Independent School District gender identity policy. (Marie D. De Jesús / Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-gallery alignwide has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BEST-OF-THE-MONTH_MARCH-2024_10.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26229" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BEST-OF-THE-MONTH_MARCH-2024_04.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26223" /></figure><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption">(Top left) Brittney Doby pours red syrup on her snow cone as bees surround the syrup nozzles of a Kona Ice truck at the Discovery Green, Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Houston. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing) (Top right) Children ride a swing carousel at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Wednesday, March 6, 2024, in Houston. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BEST-OF-THE-MONTH_MARCH-2024_05.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26224" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">People walk around the carnival section of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Wednesday, March 6, 2024, in Houston. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-gallery alignwide has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BEST-OF-THE-MONTH_MARCH-2024_11.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26230" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20240314_DIFFERENT_RAMADAN_0305_AM_004-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26142" /></figure><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption">(Left photo) Iman Asfour sets out dishes for iftar in her home on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Clear Lake. (Top right) Dalal Ramadan, 19, dips katif in a sweet syrup before sitting down to break fast in her family’s home on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Clear Lake. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BEST-OF-THE-MONTH_MARCH-2024_15.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26234" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Immigrants from Mexico and Central America watch as Chambers County Highway Interdiction Detective Cody Burk searches their vehicle on March 19, 2024. Detective Burk works to stop human smuggling and the transportation of illegal narcotics and firearms on Interstate 10. He has personally seized millions of dollars, hundreds of kilograms of drugs and hundreds of stolen or illegal guns during the seven years he has worked for Chambers County. The controversial Texas Senate Bill 4 would allow police like Detective Burk to arrest people suspected of being in the U.S. without proper immigration status. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-gallery alignwide has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BEST-OF-THE-MONTH_MARCH-2024_08.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26227" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BEST-OF-THE-MONTH_MARCH-2024_12.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26231" /></figure><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption">(Top left) Jesse Banda, 23, hits a pot fly from a pitch by John Gomez as their family plays wiffle ball at Hermann Park, Monday, March 11, 2024, in Houston. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing) (Top right) Charlotte Dang constructs a shamrock wand during a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the Children’s Museum Houston on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BEST-OF-THE-MONTH_MARCH-2024_01.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26220" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An overhead view of the bus terminal (left) Friday, March 1, 2024, in Houston. (Mark Felix for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-gallery alignwide has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20240207_ATLARGE-BOARDS-_MF_08.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-24589" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20240307_PERMITS-EXPLAINER-0305_AT_09.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25548" /></figure><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption">(Top left) Cameron Campbell poses for a portrait outside of Legacy Stadium Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, in Katy. (Mark Felix for Houston Landing) <br />(Top right) Lourdez Monjaraz loads macaroons into the display case at Tsopelli Bakery, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Houston. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BEST-OF-THE-MONTH_MARCH-2024_14.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26233" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Inmates awaiting trial pose for a photograph in the cell that they share at the Chambers County Jail on March 19, 2024, in Anahuac. The jail can hold 200 inmates and is currently at capacity. Staff said additional beds were recently added. Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne said enforcing Texas Senate Bill 4 will not be his top priority. If his deputies arrest undocumented immigrants under SB 4, the county will not have much space to detain them nor budget to transport them. For now, Sheriff Hawthorne said he will instruct his deputies to carry on business as usual. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-gallery alignwide has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20240227_BONNIE-AND-CLYDE-MC_MDJ_08.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25806" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20240227_BONNIE-AND-CLYDE-MC_MDJ_10.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25807" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20240227_BONNIE-AND-CLYDE-MC_MDJ_13.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25809" /></figure><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption">Metal bridge known as the Bonnie and Clyde Bridge in Conroe, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Montgomery County plans to relocate the bridge. (Marie D. De Jesús / Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20240127_KATY-DROPOUT_JB_07.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-24619" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Educators end their restorative justice circle session with positive affirmations on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, in Houston. Restorative practices provide students and adults with an intentional, inclusive, and respectful way of thinking about, talking about, and responding to behavioral issues. (Joseph Bui for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-gallery alignwide has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BEST-OF-THE-MONTH_MARCH-2024_03.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26222" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BEST-OF-THE-MONTH_MARCH-2024_07.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26226" /></figure><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption">(Top left) Sean Teare, candidate for Harris County District Attorney, laughs with Wanda Horn, at left, outside the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center on Super Tuesday, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Houston. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing) (Top right) Renewable energy engineer Mike Moritz explains to Air Alliance Houston volunteers the details about the proposed Hardy Downtown Connector Project on Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Houston. (Douglas Sweet Jr. for Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BEST-OF-THE-MONTH_MARCH-2024_02.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-26221" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Art Car Museum director Alicia Duplan, closes the museum for the day, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Houston. (Marie D. De Jesús / Houston Landing)</figcaption></figure> <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://houstonlanding.org/photo-essay-a-collection-of-our-favorite-houston-landing-photos-for-march-2024/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://houstonlanding.org">Houston Landing</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cropped-Frame-5-2.png?fit=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://houstonlanding.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=26235&amp;ga4=G-4E41V78RX3" style="width:1px;height:1px;"></p> Copy to Clipboard

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