press conference

lifeLike

This is my first image that I'm posting. It's a little intimidating in that I take photos with what most people would consider inferior equipment. I use phones and cheap cameras exclusively at the moment. I also blow out contrast and saturation as a rule. This shot was taken at a press conference right after I left the microphone. I had tried to get shots looking right back at the cameras but the sun was directly behind the reporters and I haven't been really happy with anything I've done with those. Also the reporters stopped "reporting" as soon as I pointed my camera (iphone actually) at them which made the images less engaging. This was shot at the NovaCare Center in South Philadelphia last September.

press conference.jpg

TonyCooper

lifeLike wrote:

This is my first image that I'm posting. It's a little intimidating in that I take photos with what most people would consider inferior equipment. I use phones and cheap cameras exclusively at the moment. I also blow out contrast and saturation as a rule.

Had you not mentioned it, I would not have known what type of camera you used. It ain't the camera; it's the results. I think you did well.

Your post-processing worked as well.

Richard

Welcome to Dgrin, lifeLike . It has become a cliché that it's the photographer, not the camera, that makes the pic, but it is true nevertheless. I like this shot. It conveys the claustrophobia of being surrounded by the media. I don't think it would have necessarily been better had you been shooting with top of the line gear. Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

bdcolen

lifeLike wrote:

This is my first image that I'm posting. It's a little intimidating in that I take photos with what most people would consider inferior equipment. I use phones and cheap cameras exclusively at the moment. I also blow out contrast and saturation as a rule. This shot was taken at a press conference right after I left the microphone. I had tried to get shots looking right back at the cameras but the sun was directly behind the reporters and I haven't been really happy with anything I've done with those. Also the reporters stopped "reporting" as soon as I pointed my camera (iphone actually) at them which made the images less engaging. This was shot at the NovaCare Center in South Philadelphia last September.

press conference.jpg

Not only does this image work, but it's interesting to note that it would not have worked nearly as well had it been shot with a 5D MK XVXX. What really makes it is the distortion, and the isolation of the central photographer.

But enough of this photo chatter, what did you do that you garnered all this attention?!

lifeLike

Thanks all, I'm happy I was able to get the shot. Point and shoot can also be called point and miss often enough.

bdcolen: I (thankfully) had done nothing wrong to be there but was being asked to comment on the Eagles' signing of Michael Vick after a meeting at their headquarters.

bdcolen

lifeLike wrote:

Thanks all, I'm happy I was able to get the shot. Point and shoot can also be called point and miss often enough.

bdcolen: I (thankfully) had done nothing wrong to be there but was being asked to comment on the Eagles' signing of Michael Vick after a meeting at their headquarters.

Well, no one asked me to comment on his signing. So what do you do when you are not pushing the shutter release ?

thoth

bdcolen wrote:

Well, no one asked me to comment on his signing. So what do you do when you are not pushing the shutter release ?

The only reason they'd ask you is if B.D. stands for 'Big Dog' eh?

bdcolen

thoth wrote:

The only reason they'd ask you is if B.D. stands for 'Big Dog' eh?

How did you guess?! It does!! (not)

lifeLike

bdcolen wrote:

Well, no one asked me to comment on his signing. So what do you do when you are not pushing the shutter release ?

No one asked?

Well I work at a large animal welfare & animal protection organization as an executive. That made me a prime target for the press at that time. I have never been more popular and likely (hopefully) never will be that popular again, lol. I try to make a point of taking photos any time there are people taking photos of me

Taking pictures and messing with the results on my laptop is one of the things I do as a hobby to stay sane working in an emotionally difficult field. Years ago in college (YEARSSSSS AGO) I used to take a lot of black and white brooding photographs which is silly because I had very little stress in life to be so despondent about the world. Now I think of my images like they are cartoons of life rather than representations of life. If that makes any sense.

Keeps my head happy.

lifeLike

Ok so I attached that other photo as yet another example of me taking photos back at the reporters but then I changed my mind about posting it ... yet apparently I didn't remove it! Yep, I'm a dork.

So the story is that this was a bill signing in Harrisburg with the governor. Totally different vibe from the other photo. Very laid back and everything was for "show" rather than for "news". Well scripted and prepared. This one was also taken on the phone.