Thursday September 4, 2008, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

McCain distances himself from GOP during convention speech

Addressing the 2008 Republican National Convention, Senator and presidential candidate John McCain (R-AZ) stayed away from controversial issues like gun rights and abortion, instead criticizing the party as having been changed by Washington.

Republican presidential and vice-presidential nominees John McCain and Sarah Paulin at the conclusion of the Republican National Convention at the XCel Center in St. Paul, Minn. on day four, September 4, 2008.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Friday March 27, 2009, Eureka, Illinois, USA

Gorbachev visits Reagan college

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last premier of the Soviet Union, arriving at the Ronald Reagan Museum at Eureka College, the alma mater of President Ronald Reagan. Gorbachev received an honorary doctorate from the college, calling Reagan a partner whom he trusted.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Sunday January 18, 2009, Washington, DC, USA

Crowd at Inaugural Concert

Obama as Che Guevara souvenirs at the "We Are One" concert at the Lincoln Memorial in celebration of Barack Obama's inauguration as president of the United States.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Wednesday February 11, 2009, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Gloom and doom at Chicago Mercantile Exchange

The S&P pit at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange at opening on February 11, 2009, a day after the Dow closed below 8,000 as investors reacted to details of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's economic rescue package.

Traders inside the S&P pit.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Thursday January 29, 2009, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Rod Blagojevich's final day as Illinois governor

Beleaguered Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich arriving home in Chicago aboard the state aircraft after speaking in his own defense at his impeachment hearing. Following the hearing, Blagojevich was removed from office and forbidden from ever holding public office in the State of Illinois through two unanimous votes of 59-0 by the State Senate.

Rod Blagojevich (L) stepping off the state airplane.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Tuesday August 26, 2008, Denver, Colorado, USA

An Ohio delegate at the Democratic National Convention at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Co. on August 26, 2008.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Tuesday January 20, 2009, Washington, DC, USA

The Obamas at the Home State ball

Barack and Michelle Obama at the Home States Ball at the Washington Convention Center in Washington DC after Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th U.S. President on January 20, 2009. Michelle Obama's dress is designed by Jason Wu, a Taiwanese-born New York designer whose clothes Michelle has previously worn.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Thursday September 4, 2008, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

McCain distances himself from GOP during convention speech

Addressing the 2008 Republican National Convention, Senator and presidential candidate John McCain (R-AZ) stayed away from controversial issues like gun rights and abortion, instead criticizing the party as having been changed by Washington.

A delegate's gold elephant purse in the front row of the Republican National Convention at the XCel Center in St. Paul, Minn. on day four, September 4, 2008.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Sunday January 18, 2009, Washington, DC, USA

Crowd at Inaugural Concert

A man salutes during "The Star Spangled Banner" at the "We Are One" concert at the Lincoln Memorial in celebration of Barack Obama's inauguration as president of the United States.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Thursday January 15, 2009, Washington, DC, USA

Preparations under way for Obama inauguration

Preparations are underway for Barack Obama's Inauguration ceremony on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington. On January 20th Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America.

Grandstands are set up for Barack Obama's Inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capitol

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Thursday January 15, 2009, Washington, DC, USA

Roland Burris sworn in as Obama's successor in US Senate

Roland Burris is sworn in as President elect Barack Obama's successor in the US Senate, ending a standoff over his appointment by embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who is accused of attempting to sell the Senate seat to the highest bidder.

Senators Roland Burris (L) and Dick Durbin (R) walking down the stairs on the way to be sworn in on the floor of the U.S. Senate

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Thursday January 29, 2009, Springfield, Illinois, USA

Rod Blagojevich's final day as Illinois governor

Beleaguered Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich prepares notes in his office in Springfield as part of his final act. Blagojevich would later address his own impeachment trial at the state capitol. Blagojevich said he rarely sticks to his notes but uses them for support and back-up. Following the hearing, Blagojevich was removed from office and forbidden from ever holding public office in the State of Illinois through two unanimous votes of 59-0 by the State Senate.

Rod Blagojevich seated at his desk in the governor's office.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Sunday January 11, 2009, Detroit, Michigan, USA

Ford at Detroit auto show

Ford Motor Co. announced its strategy for electric vehicles at the North American International Auto Show. It will build a fully electric car by 2011 that will get up to 100 miles on a single charge and will offer plug-in versions of its gas-electric hybrid vehicles a year later.

Bill Ford, the Executive Chairman of Ford, during a presentation at the Detroit Auto Show

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Monday September 1, 2008, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

Colorado delegates show their support for John McCain's vice-presidential pick, Sarah Palin, on the floor of the XCel Center in St. Paul, Minn. as the Republican National Convention kicks off its first day of muted activities due to Hurricane Gustav on September 1, 2008.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Saturday November 22, 2008, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA

Governor Bobby Jindal

Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana participates in an Iowa flood victims breakfast fundraiser at the Marriott Ballroom in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on November 22, 2008.

Governor Bobby Jindal

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Wednesday November 5, 2008, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Barack Obama becomes 44th US President

Democrat Barack Obama wins the American Presidential election, defeating Republican John McCain, to become the 44th U.S. president. Obama gave his victory speech to a massive crowd of supporters in his home town of Chicago's Grant Park.

(L-R) Barack Obama, daughter Sasha, daughter Malia, and wife Michelle Obama

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Friday October 17, 2008, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Arne Duncan, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), before a press conference for Mayor Daley's "Principal for a Day" program of corporate sponsorship and volunteerism in the CPS at Talcott Elementary School, 1840 W. Ohio St., in Chicago, Ill. on October 17, 2008.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Friday October 10, 2008, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Chicago Board of Trade

Traders in the S&P 500 pit at the CME Group in the last moments of trading before closing bell. The S&P was down 1.18% Friday.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Tuesday August 26, 2008, Denver, Colorado, USA

Andrea Mitchell of NBC News on the floor of the Democratic National Convention at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Co. on August 26, 2008.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Wednesday September 24, 2008, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Trump Tower in Chicago set to be North America's tallest

Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. at the topping-off ceremony of the new 92-story tall Trump International Hotel and Tower building in Chicago. The building will be the tallest in North America upon its completion in six months.

L-R: Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Thursday September 18, 2008, Chicago, Illinois, USA

A trader on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on September 18, 2008. As a week of financial uncertainty has sent the stock market tumbling, commodities prices have soared as investors flock to the safer investments like gold.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Wednesday November 5, 2008, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Barack Obama becomes 44th US President

Democrat Barack Obama wins the American Presidential election, defeating Republican John McCain, to become the 44th U.S. president. Obama gave his victory speech to a massive crowd of supporters in his home town of Chicago's Grant Park.

Barack Obama and wife Michelle on stage in Grant Park

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Monday September 1, 2008, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

Policemen in riot gear respond to demonstrators who shut down several intersections in downtown St. Paul, Minn. as the Republican National Convention kicks off its first day of muted activities due to Hurricane Gustav on September 1, 2008.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Wednesday August 27, 2008, Denver, Colorado, USA

Sean Penn speaks at Ralph Nader rally

Actor and activist Sean Penn speaks at Independent Presidential candidate Ralph Nader's campaign rally at the University of Denver the same week as the Democratic National Convention. Nader, the perennial third party presidential candidate, expressed disappointment at being shut out of a series of upcoming debates between Barack Obama and John McCain.

Ralph Nader entering a rally of his supporters at the University of Denver

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Friday January 9, 2009, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Blagojevich reacts to impeachment

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich continued to defy lawmakers with his supporters alongside him at the Thompson Center at a press conference following his impeachment by the Illinois legislature, making Blagojevich the first governor to be impeached in Illinois history.

Rod Blagojevich

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Friday January 2, 2009, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Michell Obama's childhood neighborhood

Rowhouses near the lakefront on South Shore Drive in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago, Ill.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Wednesday November 5, 2008, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Amanda Rivkin Portfolio

President Elect Barack Obama waves to a crowd of 250,000 in Grant Park, Chicago through bullet proof glass after becoming the 44th U.S. President on election night on November 4, 2008.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Thursday September 18, 2008, Chicago, Illinois, USA

A trader on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on September 18, 2008. As a week of financial uncertainty has sent the stock market tumbling, commodities prices have soared as investors flock to the safer investments like gold.

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Thursday January 29, 2009, Between Chicago And Springfield, Illinois, USA

Blagojevich last day in office

Beleaguered Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in the state airplane on his way to speak in his own defense at his impeachment hearing at the state capitol in Springfield.

Rod Blagojevich on plane

Credit: Amanda Rivkin / Polaris

Amanda Rivkin

Amanda Rivkin was born and raised in Chicago where she began her career as a press photographer in earnest in 2008 photographing local and national politics. She has photographed for Agence France Presse/Getty Images, Der Spiegel, The New York Times, Newsweek, among others and her work has appeared on the front pages of Le Monde, The New York Times, and The Washington Post and in such international publications as The Financial Times, Foreign Policy, and The London Sunday Times Magazine. Amanda has worked as a photographer, writer and researcher for news media, policy, diplomatic, and cultural organizations, as well as photographers and writers. She speaks fluent Spanish, Portuguese and Polish and is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism in New York. She was recently awarded a significant scholarship to attend the security studies program at the Georgetown University Edmund Walsh Graduate School of Foreign Service. She will relocate to Washington, D.C. in August 2009 to complete the one year master's degree program in terrorism and sub-state violence.

Personal web site of Amanda Rivkin