In 2013, I had the incredible opportunity to be granted permission to photograph President Obama's second inauguration. It was an extremely cold day, with estimates of 1 million people in attendance.

From setup to breakdown, I spent 20+ hours in a scissor lift witnessing a sea of waving flags, cheers from proud constituents, and the pride of the nation, all illuminated by a bright and colorful sunrise.

During the day, planes landing at Ronald Reagan Airport created gusts of wind that shook the lift, threatening to blur my exposures.  The final image was worth the stress and more, as I was able to create an image that captures the sentiments of the day, as well as of the years of Obama's presidency. I am so honored to have been part of such a momentous day in history.