At the Tea Party

TonyCooper

There was a Tea Party rally in Orlando yesterday where this candidate was interviewed by a Channel 6 reporter:



But not all of the people there were interested. These two had their own agendas:

rutt

Way to go, Tony, on both of these.

[Edit: I tried to take the politics out of this comment and refocus it on a photographic issue.]
Shooting at these Tea Parties is interesting. On the one hand there is this huge public anger that they are working so hard to exude. And on the other hand they do have a sense of humor and a certain geniality. It's a challenge to try to catch this.



A second later this guy was smiling and laughing.

craig_d

rutt wrote:

And on the other hand they do have a sense of humor and a certain geniality which I think makes them dangerous.

Dangerous to who or what? I mean, I think the Tea Party stuff is idiotic and annoying, but they're a tiny minority and have neither power nor the prospect of getting any.

If you want to find something "dangerous" in this country to worry about, try the Obama administration, which is actually in power and seems determined to continue many of the Bush policies that Obama denounced during his campaign and his time in the Senate.

rutt

craig_d wrote:

Dangerous to who or what? I mean, I think the Tea Party stuff is idiotic and annoying, but they're a tiny minority and have neither power nor the prospect of getting any.

If you want to find something "dangerous" in this country to worry about, try the Obama administration, which is actually in power and seems determined to continue many of the Bush policies that Obama denounced during his campaign and his time in the Senate.

Sorry, I didn't mean to kick off a political discussion on a photography BB. It will only get worse if someone who actually really disagrees with one of us gets involved.

I edited my post to try to make my photographic point better.

Richard

Let´s stick to photography--you know the rules.

(Sigh)

rainbow

TonyCooper wrote:

There was a Tea Party rally in Orlando yesterday where this candidate was interviewed by a Channel 6 reporter:

How great would this photo have been if a third six on the mike were showing somehow?... (Iknow, I know, don't throw reality in my face in a world of photoshop...)

bfjr

Richard wrote:

Let´s stick to photography--you know the rules.

(Sigh)

Hey I was gonna say that

Good Stuff Tony
I like that you left them in color especially the kids.

phillybikeboy

rutt wrote:

Way to go, Tony, on both of these.

[Edit: I tried to take the politics out of this comment and refocus it on a photographic issue.]
Shooting at these Tea Parties is interesting. On the one hand there is this huge public anger that they are working so hard to exude. And on the other hand they do have a sense of humor and a certain geniality. It's a challenge to try to catch this.

I'm interested in the reception you and Tony got at these events. Friends who've shot some in the DC/VA area report everything from a warm, welcoming reception, to open hostility, and event organizers trying to bar access.

TonyCooper

phillybikeboy wrote:

I'm interested in the reception you and Tony got at these events. Friends who've shot some in the DC/VA area report everything from a warm, welcoming reception, to open hostility, and event organizers trying to bar access.

I was there strictly for the photographic opportunities. Naturally, people asked me sign petitions and take buttons and stickers, but - as a good guest - I just smiled and shook my head "No". No one pressed.

Taking in the suggestions I've been given here in this forum, I used my short lens and tried to get closer. The problem with that is that too many people "mugged" for the camera. I really prefer the distance of my long lens for capturing candid shots.

No one tried to discourage me from taking photographs. There are more photographs at my SmugMug site under "Current Favorites".

TonyCooper

craig_d wrote:

Dangerous to who or what? I mean, I think the Tea Party stuff is idiotic and annoying, but they're a tiny minority and have neither power nor the prospect of getting any.

If you want to find something "dangerous" in this country to worry about, try the Obama administration, which is actually in power and seems determined to continue many of the Bush policies that Obama denounced during his campaign and his time in the Senate.

Let's not point fingers.

rutt

phillybikeboy wrote:

I'm interested in the reception you and Tony got at these events. Friends who've shot some in the DC/VA area report everything from a warm, welcoming reception, to open hostility, and event organizers trying to bar access.

I went last April 15 when the movement was new and I think it has evolved since. Also it was Boston and they were actually throwing tea into the Boston Harbor and wearing wigs. I felt very comfortable shooting there. In retrospect, I don't think I would have felt so comfortable if I weren't a straight white man. Just my honest take on it.

rutt

TonyCooper wrote:

Taking in the suggestions I've been given here in this forum, I used my short lens and tried to get closer. The problem with that is that too many people "mugged" for the camera.

Tony, these are really nice. That closeness shows in all three of these and gives them an intimacy that's been missing in your posts with the longer lenses. I looked on your homepage as well. Some nice other stuff, particularly:

phillybikeboy

TonyCooper wrote:

I was there strictly for the photographic opportunities. Naturally, people asked me sign petitions and take buttons and stickers, but - as a good guest - I just smiled and shook my head "No". No one pressed.

Taking in the suggestions I've been given here in this forum, I used my angrshort lens and tried to get closer. The problem with that is that too many people "mugged" for the camera. I really prefer the distance of my long lens for capturing candid shots.

No one tried to discourage me from taking photographs. There are more photographs at my SmugMug site under "Current Favorites".

Lovely pics there. I couldn't help but chuckle at the people wearing parkas and gloves in Orlando, when there are 40 inches of snow in my front yard.

I find the wide range of reactions and emotions at the different gatherings interesting. The meme that these are angry, often hateful people seems to have caught hold in many people's minds. Perhaps that's true in some places, but it's good to see a broader range of images presented. Thanks.

bdcolen

TonyCooper wrote:

There was a Tea Party rally in Orlando yesterday where this candidate was interviewed by a Channel 6 reporter:

Tony, I like both of these - but neither says "tea party" in any way.

BizShotz

Then how about this one.....
Well, this one does. From DC, on Sept. 12th, 2009. I wasn't there as a photographer(technically, I don't think I've made a worse photograph! ), but an organizer of several groups that participated. I'll refrain from sly comments, unlike others here since I know my views are not normally welcome in many artistic type groups. I will say that I have never met nicer, more sincere, more caring Americans than while being involved with this movement.




Just remember, don't believe everything you read. Find out for yourself.

TonyCooper

bdcolen wrote:

Tony, I like both of these - but neither says "tea party" in any way.

This was actually called, according to the ads, a "Tea Party Hob Nob and Straw Vote". It provided a venue for candidates to hob nob with the public, and for the public to "vote" in a straw poll on which candidates they intend to vote for come election time. A testing of the waters for candidates.