Thanks for the advice, Paul! I doubt there'll be quite that many
photographers at this event. It's a relatively small town that just
happens to be the hub of commerce and population center for this part of
the state -- and is pretty crucial to getting elected here.
I don't expect I'll get too frustrated. I'll spend a lot of time
observing what the other photogs do, if not emulating them. I'm
planning on taking an 18-55 and a 70-300 with a 2X TC, and figure I
ought to be able to cover quite a bit of ground with all that. I do
intend to get as many fun shots as I can -- unusual perspectives and
candid moments if at all possible. I don't want to come out of the
event with a SD card full of the same-ol'-same-ol'. I'll be shooting
RAW, of course, and will burn those to DVD as soon as I get in for the
evening. Then, I'll import the whole shebang and commence with the
cropping and color adjustments. I figure, after a few days, I ought to
be able to put together a nice collection to hand over to the event's
organizers so they'll keep me in mind for future events.
Thanks again for your perspective. I'm starting to get a handle on how
I think I'll approach things, now.
-- Walt
On 10/7/2010 4:49 PM, P N Stenquist wrote:
Having just returned from a press conference with the governor,
senator and president of GM, I'm moved to tell you that you'll
probably be one in a pool of fifty or more photographers if the event
your shooting is significant. Most will have two cameras, one with a
lens in the neighborhood of 80-200, the other with a 24-70 -- in full
frame numbers. For me that would translate to the 60-250 or 50-135 and
the 16-50. Most photogs will have a flash mounted on the camera with
the shorter lens. The vast majority of them will gather in one spot
and shoot with their long lens camera during the speeches, because
there will probably not be many good vantage points from which to
shoot the. At the end of the press conference, when the reporters are
trying to get one on one interviews with the politicians, the
photographers will all gather around with their short lenses and
flashes. Many will shoot with live view from over their heads.
Do what everyone else does, then try a few different things. A fun pic
can sometimes be had by getting behind the pol during the interview
sessions and shooting the back of his head and all the cameras aimed
at him. However, you have to try to squeeze a frame in between the
flashes going off. If you can get a high vantage point, shoot the pol
in the middle of the cluster from a distance with your longer lens.
Be prepared to be somewhat frustrated.
Paul
On Oct 7, 2010, at 12:19 PM, Walter Gilbert wrote:
Hi all,
I've just received my first press pass -- as a freelance photographer
for a couple of upcoming campaign events in a US Senate election.
Having never done this sort of shooting before, I assume I'll get a
pretty decent vantage point for the stump speeches and maybe some
access behind the scenes. Given the collective years of experience
on the list, I thought I'd ask if anyone has any tips on the best way
to capture dramatic, compelling images at events of this nature --
what to look for, technical and compositional advice, etc.
Also, any advice on the best mental approach to take in shooting
events of this nature in terms of establishing oneself as a credible
photographer would be greatly appreciated. As a matter of
background, I was granted this press pass by a person who had seen my
work on Facebook and Flickr and really enjoyed it -- or at least she
told me as much.
So, I have a bit of a dilemma. Should I approach this as an
ostensibly hard-nosed photojournalist trying to capture the "reality"
of the campaign trail in a consequential election? Or, given the
very early stage of my development as a photographer, should I
approach it as a potential connection for future job opportunities by
taking shots geared toward making the subject look as good as I can?
As a matter of pure, career-minded practicality with an eye toward
getting the proverbial foot in the door to future work as a
photographer, I'd appreciate any guidance anyone can offer me.
-- Walt
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