Monday November 3, 2008, Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, USA

Jozef Kaufman, of Sherman, Conn., flies his 3D acrobat radio-controlled airplane in Turtle Creek, Pa. November 3, 2008. Kaufman, who built the plane himself, says the hobby "is so relaxing."

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Sunday February 11, 2007, Oakland, California, USA

Street scene inside a Fruitvale cafe in Oakland, Calif.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Friday January 12, 2007, Los Angeles, California, USA

A man sits in his wheelchair close to skid row in downtown Los Angeles, Calif.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Friday March 27, 2009, Oakland, California, U.S.A.

One of the caskets of the four Oakland officers killed during a shootout on March 21, 2009 is carried into Oracle Arena for the funeral in which 20,000 law enforcement personnel attended, in Oakland, Calif. on March 27, 2009. (Sean Donnelly/Staff)

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Tuesday January 6, 2009, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

A man puffs on a cigar in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Monday April 20, 2009, San Ramon, California, USA

Manny Mendoza discusses his experiences in Iraq, in which he lost both his legs in an IED explosion in 2004 in his home in San Ramon, Calif.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Tuesday October 28, 2008, Peters Township, Pennsylvania, USA

Sen. Barack Obama, played by Max Augenstein (left), 12, debates Sen. John McCain, played by Eric Voss, 12, during a live broadcast on Peters Township Middle School's television station, in Peters Township, Pa. October 28, 2008. The students are involved in a 7th grade social studies class which will hold a mock election on November 4th in which the school's 700 students will vote for the candidate of their choice.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Monday January 12, 2009, Half Moon Bay, California, USA

Greg Long finishes up on the winning wave during the 2008 Mavericks Surf Contest in Half Moon Bay, Calif. on January 12, 2008.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Saturday October 11, 2008, Jeffersonville, New York, USA

Athena Pomales poses for a portait outside of a Wal-Mart in Jeffersonville, N.Y.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Saturday November 15, 2008, Quantico, Virginia, USA

Young Marines introduce kids to a soldier's life

According to National Headquarters, The Young Marines is "a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is the focal point for the U.S. Marine Corps' youth Drug Demand Reduction efforts." Critics assert that the program is nothing more than a military recruitment effort aimed at children, however.

Andrew Gass, 14, poses with Quantico Young Marines at Marine Base Quantico. Gass's father, a U.S. Marine, has been deployed to Iraq three times. The Young Marines program "helps my dad and I get closer, I'm doing something like my dad, and it's kind of cool," he says.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Thursday July 17, 2008, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Young Marines introduce kids to a soldier's life

According to National Headquarters, The Young Marines is "a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is the focal point for the U.S. Marine Corps' youth Drug Demand Reduction efforts." Critics assert that the program is nothing more than a military recruitment effort aimed at children, however.

Keystone Young Marines practice marching in their uniforms as Gabrielle McNemar, 7, mimics the column. McNemar plans on joining the Young Marines when she turns eight, the youngest age in which you can join.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Saturday June 28, 2008, Parker, Colorado, USA

Young Marines introduce kids to a soldier's life

According to National Headquarters, The Young Marines is "a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is the focal point for the U.S. Marine Corps' youth Drug Demand Reduction efforts." Critics assert that the program is nothing more than a military recruitment effort aimed at children, however.

Douglas County Young Marines train at Lutheran High School.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Saturday November 8, 2008, Alameda, California, USA

Young Marines introduce kids to a soldier's life

According to National Headquarters, The Young Marines is "a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is the focal point for the U.S. Marine Corps' youth Drug Demand Reduction efforts." Critics assert that the program is nothing more than a military recruitment effort aimed at children, however.

Golden Gate Young Marines enter the U.S.S. Hornet to conduct their Quarterly Fitness Testing.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Saturday November 22, 2008, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA

Young Marines introduce kids to a soldier's life

According to National Headquarters, The Young Marines is "a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is the focal point for the U.S. Marine Corps' youth Drug Demand Reduction efforts." Critics assert that the program is nothing more than a military recruitment effort aimed at children, however.

Retired Master Sergeant Don Bailey instructs Private Matthew Kitta, 10, on rifle movements in the hangar bay during the Washington County Young Marines boot camp at the Washington County National Guard Armory. Many adult volunteers are either active duty or retired military personnel.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Thursday July 17, 2008, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Young Marines introduce kids to a soldier's life

According to National Headquarters, The Young Marines is "a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is the focal point for the U.S. Marine Corps' youth Drug Demand Reduction efforts." Critics assert that the program is nothing more than a military recruitment effort aimed at children, however.

Private First Class Ron Schiller, 11, watches a demonstration on how to properly clean boots at a Keystone Young Marines class in Pittsburgh. Young Marines must keep their boots clean, cammies pressed, and males must make sure their hair doesn't touch the ears or hang on the nape of the neck.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Saturday November 22, 2008, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA

Young Marines introduce kids to a soldier's life

According to National Headquarters, The Young Marines is "a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is the focal point for the U.S. Marine Corps' youth Drug Demand Reduction efforts." Critics assert that the program is nothing more than a military recruitment effort aimed at children, however.

Recruit Keaton Meerdo, 10, holds his arms in the air with other recruits as a punishment for talking during PT (physical training", inside a hangar bay at the Washington County National Guard Armory.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Saturday November 22, 2008, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA

Pvt. Matthew Kitta practices rifle movements at The Washington County National Guard Armory during the Washington County Young Marine boot camp, in Washington, Pa. November 22, 2008. Kitta was adopted from a Russian orphanage at age two by a Pennsylvanian couple and found out about The Young Marines from a flyer distributed at his school.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Saturday November 8, 2008, Alameda, California, USA

Young Marines introduce kids to a soldier's life

According to National Headquarters, The Young Marines is "a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is the focal point for the U.S. Marine Corps' youth Drug Demand Reduction efforts." Critics assert that the program is nothing more than a military recruitment effort aimed at children, however.

Daniel Cordova, 10, receives medals to mark his promotion from Private to Private First Class inside the USS Hornet. If a Young Marine reaches the rank of sergeant, he can enter the military as a Private First Class and receive a $3,000 enlistment bonus.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Sunday November 23, 2008, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA

Young Marines introduce kids to a soldier's life

According to National Headquarters, The Young Marines is "a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is the focal point for the U.S. Marine Corps' youth Drug Demand Reduction efforts." Critics assert that the program is nothing more than a military recruitment effort aimed at children, however.

With their faces against a wall, recruits Jorryn Goudy and Brody Keener await the final testing of the Washington County Young Marine boot camp at the Washington County National Guard Armory.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Saturday November 22, 2008, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA

Young Marines introduce kids to a soldier's life

According to National Headquarters, The Young Marines is "a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is the focal point for the U.S. Marine Corps' youth Drug Demand Reduction efforts." Critics assert that the program is nothing more than a military recruitment effort aimed at children, however.

Lance Corporal Michael Deyarmin stands at attention with the Washington County Young Marines at the Washington County National Guard Armory. "The young marines program is for kids who are interested in the military and just I guess want to go into the military, some kids just come for a little bit of discipline. We learn about drugs and why we shouldn't do them, we learn about physical fitness and learn how to survive in the wilderness if we ever get lost, things like that. " he says.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Saturday August 23, 2008, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

From left Markeshaa Smith, 5, La'Najaha James, 4, Khanyia Davis, 5, Mary Jackson, 7, and Miracle Davis, 9, watch the "Battle of the Barrel," where competing teams use fire hoses to propel a barrel, during the Wilkinsburg Community Day in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Saturday August 18, 2007, Boulevard, California, U.S.A.

Minutemen receive instruction on their nightly patrols at their base camp in Boulevard, Calif.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Saturday July 7, 2007, Los Angeles, California, USA

Jose Luna, 63, of Guadalajara, Mexico, plays music near Mariachi Square in Los Angeles, Calif.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Saturday September 23, 2006, San Francisco, California, USA

A man is touched by a woman in costume during the annual Love Parade in San Francisco, Calif.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Sunday September 14, 2008, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Local musician Tim Amos poses for a portrait in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Wednesday November 1, 2006, San Francisco, California, USA

A woman checks herself out in the window of a business in San Francisco, Calif.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Monday January 19, 2009, Dallas, Tex, USA

The leader of a marching band awaits the start of the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Dallas, Tx.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Thursday August 30, 2007, San Diego, California, U.S.A.

U.S. Marine recruits stand at attention at the Marine Recruit Depot in San Diego, Calif. on August 30, 2007.

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Tuesday October 2, 2007, Oceanside, California, U.S.A.

Mario Busalacchi goes through infantry training at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, Calif. "You're feeling the weight of that pack, your feeling the pain in your ankles and all you can do is keep pushing."

Credit: Sean Donnelly / Polaris

Sean Donnelly

Sean Donnelly is a freelance multimedia photographer based in Oakland, CA and available for assignments worldwide.

Sean was selected as one of the 25 under 25: Up and Coming American Photographers by the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. Powerhouse Books published the work in 2008. He was also selected for the Eddie Adams Workshop in 2008 and has been selected for the PDN Photo Annual.

Sean has worked for The Oakland Tribune/ Bay Area News Group, one of the largest media outlets in California. He has also worked at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the San Mateo Daily Journal, and for photographer/filmmaker Lauren Greenfield. He also freelances for local publications and businesses, focusing on portrait and multimedia projects.

Sean learns his most important life lessons from his many subjects for which he is very appreciative.

Personal web site of Sean Donnelly