i was thrilled to be a volunteer photographer at this historic event and hope to continue my work to help the lgbt community celebrate this monumental step.

the ribbon chapel was stunning.

made from the most simple of materials, the ribbons would blow in the wind and bath you in dappled rainbow-colored bands of light.

the kiss chapel was constructed with corrugated cardboard.

john and jay are an ebullient couple in their sixties who have been together for almost 40 years. they are absolutely fabulous.

jay: “i don’t want to get them mixed up and blow this, but his fingers are MUCH smaller than mine!”

they were so much fun!

yes, they wore matching outfits.

in awe of the ribbon chapel.

so in love.

they couldn’t keep their hands off of each other.

i didn’t have to tell them what to do. they just showed up and lit up for the camera.

bathing in the rainbow light of the ribbon chapel.

we all can thank bex for this wonderful event. she is the co-founder of the pop-up chapels.

she also officiated john and jay’s ceremony.

very touching vows.

they had an amazing support system in attendance.

the kiss!

check out this TIME.com video of the festivities. i’m in there somewhere!

by far the most challenging (and fun!) part of the day was orchestrating a family portrait with over 150 people! it was like herding cats for a while there but we managed.

thanks for a great day, everybody!

the reason i am most excited about this is that it will bring more exposure to my dirt floors and stone walls project. this project has been my “photo baby” since i came back from india in october 2011 and nothing would make me happier than doing something for the kids i took pictures of in those schools. the dfsw project will continue when i return to india in february of 2012.

a big thanks to pdn magazine for choosing me and a bigger thanks to my constant supporters…all of you who are reading this.

the caption is as follows:

“Jacob B Murphy

Images from the series Dirt Floors and Stone Walls

the majority of children in india are stuck in a public school system that is preventing them from reaching their full potential. fthe government not only sets restrictions on the schools that are in its system, but also the ones that are trying to liberate themselves from it. non-governmental organizations and individuals funding charter schools are cut off from any support from the government yet are still expected to follow its rules. the children are eager and the teachers are dedicated, but the government is indifferent to the point of negligence.”

here is the complete series of images that i entered:

a school principal stands in the dirt courtyard of a small public school as she calls the children to class.

a young boy sits on the floor as he waits for class to begin.

school children stand for a class portrait outside of their classroom in jaipur, india.

class is dismissed at a muslim ngo school in dharavi (asia’s largest slum).

schoolboys sit for a class portrait at a small public school in a village in the jalgaon district of maharashtra.

a young schoolgirl verbalizes her lessons in front of her class.

he’s another one of those people whose life intersects with yours in such a fleeting, yet meaningful and lasting way. he’s not a day older than 48 but looks in his mid-twenties. he clearly has some sort of mental disorder, as he explained he lives in a “home” with with caretakers. as we sat and talked to him on the subway, he asked such personal questions in such a frank way that it only seemed appropriate to reply with the same candor.

larry hopes to have a wife and five kids, someday. he is a huge beyonce fan.

this is vinny. he is smoking a cigarette outside sam’s restaurant on clinton street in brooklyn. the business has been in the family for over 80 years.

vinny loves to people watch and strike up conversations with strangers as they go by.

when i saw him drenched in this highly-saturated neon light i had to snap a picture.

just another taste of brooklyn!

some of the girls involved in these shoots travel year-round and live out of hotels or “model homes”. one girl came from australia thinking she would be home in 3 weeks. that was 3 months ago and she probably won’t go back to australia until next year. others are only teenagers and require chaperons going from one job to the next. it’s a very tough life.

i hope that i captured some of their life in these pictures. enjoy!

despite the fact that this gentleman had only one functioning eye, he would not casting furtive glances at me. i think he was worried i was going to snap a shot of him by the looks of the camera around my neck. i’m a strong believer in the concept of perception as a reality, so i took this picture from my hip.

thanks wordpress!

the relics of the old park loom over the boardwalk.

vendors pace the length of the beach hawking everything from kites to cotton candy.

coney island wouldn’t be coney island without it’s usual cast of characters.

this gentleman argued his sobriety by demonstrating some serious dance moves. it was a strong move.

this guy must be making a killing selling portraits with his snakes for $5 a pop.

the new rides can’t hide the park’s old time feel.

lines lines lines lines.

i love the colors at coney.

of course, it wouldn’t be new york if there weren’t some cops hanging around!

certain jewish groups like the pharisees believe that the words of the Torah are to be inscribed on a scroll and placed directly between one’s eyes and on one’s arm. Tefillin are wrapped around the arm seven times, and the straps on the head are adjusted so they fit snugly.