U.S. Congressman Speaking

[Dahrol]

This was a photo that I took of United States Congressman for our district in Indiana, Todd Rokita, speaking at an event in town. Obviously, no words were coming out of his mouth when this picture was snapped, but you get the picture. It was during the speech. lol.

I wanted to use flash, but was too intimidated by what was transpiring to do so, otherwise, I wonder how much this image could have improved.

Could the flash have improved it?

Can any editing improve this image at all? Is it good as it?

Want some critiquing.

 

[cgipson1]

Flash would have helped.. vertical would have helped...you cut the top of his head off....

 

[rexbobcat]

The glare from the lights are also encroaching on his skin tones on the side of his face.

 

[Tony S]

What might have helped more was getting him in focus and not the ceiling tiles and banner in the upper left corner.

Fill flash would have helped overcome the nasty flourescents, but might have lit up whatever is inside his nose from the unflattering angle you were shooting from. I also think flash would have cast a bad shadow behind and above him.

 

[Mot]

I won't comment on the technical aspect, you probably did the best you could in the conditions with your equipment.

What I would comment on is the fact that your title is "U.S Congressman Speaking", I don't actually see a lot of speaking going on. I know you've mentioned it but I really did expect to see someone speaking. I was hoping to see someone stood at a podium passionately giving a speech, I would have expected to see him mid-sentence visibly projecting his voice. Instead he looks quite glum.

In photojournalism, which I would call this, the image has to tell a story. The impression I get from this image is he has given his speech and has recieved a bad reaction.

I think what would improve it is to catch him at peak action, same with any sport or action-based activity, you need to catch the exciting part. If you want to catch a certain look like of triumph or despair then you need to do the same thing. Here is a contact sheet of a speech given by Margaret Thatcher, British PM in the 80s, shot by a Magnum photographer. It might just be of interest to see how the best of the best do it.

I have shot stuff similar to this, we had some Royalty turn up on campus, and it really is about capturing emotion whatever it is. Your congressman displays little emotion whatsoever.




The focus on this shot the first shot is way off but my point is I was the only photographer there to get this shot as he was leaving. He's mid-action, that's where you want him. The second shot shows some emotion and the video man in the background creates a form of context and importance. You might get the feeling that he was genuinely pleased to be there. (P.S I don't know what's gone wrong with the colours).

Disclaimer: Feel free to ignore anything I might have said; it's just opinion. I'm not looking to start an argument.

 

[Dahrol]

I really appreciate all these tips. They're going to be of use to me when I start classes next month with my new Nikon.

Congressman Rokita did alot of pausing during his speech, which was when this shot was taken.

Perhaps the shot I should have used to signal him speaking is this one:

Crappy on the technical side, but is this any better for what you were referring to, in terms of capturing the action? He was a very emotionless speaker. His voice was calm, his gestures were slow and few in between. Perhaps a better speaker would have yielded improved results?

 

[Josh66]

Were you standing, or seated?

To me, it looks like you're practically sitting on the floor... If the podium really was up that high, I guess there's nothing you could have done - but it looks like a couple more feet of elevation would have really helped.
I can see more of the ceiling than the wall behind him...

 

[Dahrol]

There was a platform-like stage set up where the podium was, and we were seated right below at a table reserved for one of our state representatives and his guests (me and my friend Chris.)

I didn't want to seem...out of place or rude during the speech because I was an attendee, and not press or recognized as a photographer, so I did what I could within the confines of what was respectful (which is why I didn't use flash.)

 

[Josh66]

IMO - shooting from the back of the room with a long lens may have worked better for you.

 

[Dahrol]

If I had been in the back of the room, could finding a creative angle to get the crowd in the shot have helped as well?

 

[Josh66]

Yeah, that could work too - show the speaker and the people he's speaking to.

 

[jamesbjenkins]

I'd have probably shot from the back with a tele (70-200 or similar)...

 

[DiskoJoe]

Dude you are not good at this. All the photos I see from you are noisy and blurry and bad angles.

 

[Netskimmer]

The blur and noise are mostly due to the P&S he is using, why he continues to put his camera in situations that exceed it's abilities is a bit of a mystery. As for the bad angles, at least in this one we can see his face. The first pic in one of his other threads is of the back of the speakers head. Riveting stuff.

 

[DiskoJoe]

The blur and noise are mostly due to the P&S he is using, why he continues to put his camera in situations that exceed it's abilities is a bit of a mystery. As for the bad angles, at least in this one we can see his face. The first pic in one of his other threads is of the back of the speakers head. Riveting stuff.

Oh! I didnt know he was using a p&s. That explains a lot.