Political Rally Photos

[brad]

Ok, guys.. I know this is a political subject, but please lets not digress into politics. I was just covering the event, I do not necessarily agree with the views expressed.

This event was quite a challenge, the media was not welcome, so I had to blend with the crowd.. become just another guy with a camera (with an L lens LOL).. I don't understand the point of having a political rally and not inviting the press, but hey.. if that means I was the only member of the press covering it.. cool. :)

Democratic Party Rally in Dallas - Sunday, November 13, Countdown to Victory 2006

A spectator in the crowd, making her view clear...


US Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (Dallas) after a moment of silence for the police officer that was slain in the line of duty the night before.. she was visibly moved to tears..


Another of Rep Johnson..


A couple of Senator Barack Obama of Illinois..



Senator Joe Biden of Delaware...


Minority Senate Leader Harry Reid of Nevada..


The three senators

[bburton]

Great color and composition. Were these without flash?

[brad]

The early ones of these were fill flash.. later ones are flash on full because the sun had mostly set.

Thanks!

[LeAnn]

All I gotta say is the first one is hilarious! Nice pics!

[bear1962]

I don't like the first one... Oops

I got political

[Ray]

That second one of Obama is great.

[bear1962]

I imagine the lighting is really difficult in a situation like that. With political people, I would think security would keep you away from them.

[LoungeLizard]

Very good colors. I agree with Ray, that second one of Obama is a great portrait.

[Kar]

Originally Posted by Ray

That second one of Obama is great.

Same here

[brad]

Thanks, guys.. I was really nervous shooting out there. I've never shot anything like this before and having to do it under the "media non grata" circumstances... bleh.

Re: Security - I was impressed with how close they let us get... at the end, when I had what I needed and didn't care if they threw me out or not any longer, I was able to weasel my way within 8 meters of the senators... there were secret service folks there, of course (I got pictures of them, too) as well as plenty of Dallas Police.

Re: The first lady with the bumper sticker.. she actually had three different stickers she held up for me. I liked this photo best because the look on her face fit the mood of the sticker best...

Re: Politics .. leaving there, I did feel like I needed a shower, but then I would have felt the same way after a Republican Rally of the same fervor... I don't like zealots or extremists from either side.... makes me a better photojournalist, I hope.

[Kar]

Off hand, what happened to the officer that was slain?

[brad]

Originally Posted by KHlava

Off hand, what happened to the officer that was slain?

I'm unclear on the details, but apparently went out on a domestic call late Saturday night and caught a very unlucky bullet that missed his vest and entered his chest under his right arm.

Here's a link to a news story on it:

http://www.nbc5i.com/news/5315609/de...s=dfw&psp=news

[Guther]

Great work brad! very impressed...

[photodork53]

She held up the sticker for you... so you could say that you influenced that picture a little?

I don't want to be the asshole photographer.... please don't think of me like that, I just like challenging photoj things :)

Then I would also think of cropping the head in the bottom of the frame out just a little bit, that spot fights with the sticker and makes your eye want to go to both of them. If you eliminate it a tad then it would make the sticker and the woman more dominate.
Also with the second shot, the yellow light spot in the top, it is the brightest spot so that of course is the place your eyes will go first, so maybe cropping that off the top, and also if you crop the small blurry flesh-like color spot on the buttom of the picture out it will make the picture cleaner.

Aside from that, every other shot is perfectly shot. I really enjoyed them... rallies are soo hard to shoot because of the massive amount of people who show up, again great job!

And thats my honest critique!

[brad]

Oh, no problem, ask away and suggest away... to answer your specific questions:

Originally Posted by photodork53

She held up the sticker for you... so you could say that you influenced that picture a little?

She was holding it out for everyone to view, just like any other rally sign out there.. she just turned and faced me, so I took the shot.. I do not feel like I influenced it in the slightest because a) she would have been doing that anyway and b) as far as she knew, I was just another spectator/supporter with a camera... I had hidden my press credentials when I was told that the press wasn't precisely welcome.

Then I would also think of cropping the head in the bottom of the frame out just a little bit, that spot fights with the sticker and makes your eye want to go to both of them. If you eliminate it a tad then it would make the sticker and the woman more dominate.
Also with the second shot, the yellow light spot in the top, it is the brightest spot so that of course is the place your eyes will go first, so maybe cropping that off the top, and also if you crop the small blurry flesh-like color spot on the buttom of the picture out it will make the picture cleaner.

I *never* crop PJ images. I leave any cropping that might be needed up to the Photo Editor. If I crop, then that limits the PE's options when trying to fit it into a publication.

Aside from that, every other shot is perfectly shot. I really enjoyed them... rallies are soo hard to shoot because of the massive amount of people who show up, again great job!

Thanks.. it was my first major rally trying to cover, so I know I made a few mistakes here and there, but it was enjoyable, to say the least.