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Omar

@omarstakingpictures

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This is my photography account where I post cool pictures I've taken (and some not so cool ones)
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August 11th 2025, Donald Trump ordered the National Guard into Washington DC.
Armed with a camera borrowed from a lieutenant in my class and a 4 day weekend pass, I flew there 19 days later.
Living in California that summer taught me many things. Chief among them was that no matter where I went in the United States, the people and places that make up this beautiful country seemed to almost always be misrepresented by the media. This DC trip was no different.
I am in the National Guard. I understand firsthand how the media can make one feel they will be perceived in uniform is much different than reality. When I roamed the streets late into the night, and chatted with the men and women serving our country, I asked how they were treated and the atmosphere they felt. The answers were overwhelmingly positive. People were grateful, appreciative, and generally accepting of the soldiers and airman’s presence. This was not what I expected.
What I saw online was outrage. When I talked to my friends about it they were upset, angry, and mistrusting. I understand completely why people felt this way. The president enacted a policy many deemed as unnecessary and potentially dangerous, and that tragically turned out to be true November 27th, 2025 when Sarah Beckstrom was shot and killed.
But on the ground I felt little tension or animosity. I talked freely with those deployed, and saw many civilians do the same. One of the best pictures I captured was of a young girl posing in front of an MRAP with a soldier. Her mother was taking her photo, and then chatted with the soldiers for a while.
I also saw many protesters, but nothing violent or dangerous. Tents were set up outside union station throughout the night, with signs all around demanding the removal of the military from the streets. People were upset and angry, but also frightened and worried at what might come next.
A few weeks ago I returned to DC, and the energy was the same, but different. America 250 celebrations had just come to an end, and some of the same attitudes about the Guard deployment carried over to the celebrations.

continued in pinned comment. taken in Washington D. C. by @omarstakingpictures

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3 months ago

Ellis island by @omarstakingpictures

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a year ago

Lady liberty - she sure is pretty taken in Liberty Island - Statue of Liberty by @omarstakingpictures

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a year ago

Wrights field with Hannah

I’m glad I got to meet her after all these years, I’m gonna miss California taken in Alpine, California by @omarstakingpictures

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a year ago

Dusk - not much to say except I really think these ones are pretty by @omarstakingpictures

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a year ago

World Trade Center - such a beautiful and heartbreaking part of NYC, you can feel the hole from the missing towers. taken in World Trade Center by @omarstakingpictures

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a year ago

The goods taken in March Air Reserve Base by @omarstakingpictures

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a year ago

Helicopters and planes taken in March Air Reserve Base by @omarstakingpictures

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a year ago

Big planes taken in March Air Reserve Base by @omarstakingpictures

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a year ago

She was a ferry ⛴️

Taken on boat, very nice
Not color corrected or edited in any as I am lazy taken in NYC by @omarstakingpictures

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2 years ago

Drizzle

This place makes me wish I had my camera, but unfortunately I have to deal with just having my phone. They aren’t the best shots so I’ll blame Isaac for rushing me , giving me a few seconds at most for these. by @omarstakingpictures

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2 years ago

Submarine
It’s literally just a submarine tour by @omarstakingpictures

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2 years ago