The "SOME PEOPLE" Essays
"Can't Afford to Do Anything Anymore" by Robert Miller | Edited by Kimberly J. Soenen
(Mr. Jake Johnson, March 29, 2019, Washington, D.C. Photo by Robert Miller for “SOME PEOPLE.”)
Health and access to healthcare mean dignity, freedom, security, and the fulfillment of dreams.
I was a born as a premature baby, and I am grateful that my parents had access to good healthcare when I was born. I never dwell on it, but I do wonder what would have been if my parents didn’t have that access or were unable to afford healthcare? Would I have been who I am today? Would I be the son of great parents who challenged and supported me to reach my potential? Would I be with my wonderful wife, Yuko, who has been a partner in my journey as a husband and a father to our incredible son, Jacob? Would I have become the photojournalist who looked into the eyes of Jake Johnson to make his portrait?
I am grateful Mr. Johnson let me take his photo. More than that, I am humbled that he shared a little bit of his story with me. I noticed him crouched and walking with a cane on 12th Street in Northwest Washington, D.C.
In 2019, when he was 65 years old, I learned, Mr. Johnson had suffered from chronic back pain for more than 15 years. Mr. Johnson doesn’t let this stop him from taking an evening walk, but he needs to stop and frequently rest to alleviate his pain. I am not sure why Mr. Johnson has chronic back problems.
If I see him again, I will ask.
(Mr. Jake Johnson, March 29, 2019, Washington, D.C. Photo by Robert Miller for “SOME PEOPLE.”)
Mr. Johnson laments about how Washington, D.C., is not the city it once was. A native Washingtonian, he said, “You have to be young to live in this city. If you want to do anything here, you need money. All of the neighborhoods are changing. Can’t afford to do anything anymore.”
As a street photographer, I crave chance encounters like the one I had with Jake Johnson, even if I don’t say a word to the subjects of my photographs. Sometimes my contact is a fleeting moment. When I get to ask a few questions, I learn a little something about the people I meet. Each frame and every moment make me think about the role chance, circumstance, and luck play in our lives...how economic dignity and health go hand-in-hand.
ABOUT
Robert Miller is the Director of Photography at The Washington Post. Before his promotion to Director of Photography, he served as a Deputy Director of Photography at The Post, overseeing photography for National, International, Financial, Metro and the Investigative departments. Robert began his career at The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., where he worked as a staff photojournalist and rose to become the Director of Photography and Multimedia. He joined the Post in 2008.
His teams have contributed to impactful award-winning projects, including Lorenzo Tugnoli’s 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography for his coverage in Yemen, the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting for "2°C: Beyond the Limit," the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for the Capitol Riot coverage, and the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for the AR-15 series, which was also a finalist in the Public Service category.
He graduated Randolph Community College in Associate of Applied Science, Photographic Technology and Photojournalism. Robert is dedicated to fostering a culture of collaboration and mentorship within the photo department and is an effective advocate for impactful photojournalism across platforms. Learn more about his ongoing lens on Love and public affection in times of volatility and divsiveness.