kerry rally

[CDickinson]

I stepped outta my comfort zone a couple of nights ago and decided to shoot at the kerry rally....I'm usually down in the rail yards or grain elevators or shooting edgey photos of bdsm and piercing scenes. Was a truly different environment for me to shoot in.
Just a couple of the shots -
any comments welcome!

C

canon rebel 28-200 tamron f 7 1/30 raw

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v139/CDickinson/new%20work/IMG0015copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v139/CDickinson/new%20work/CRW_0918acopy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v139/CDickinson/new%20work/CRW_0906.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v139/CDickinson/new%20work/CRW_0902copy.jpg

[im2postal]

At first they look like nothing more than simple snapshots. Nothing to brag about. The fourth one however has a photojournalistic flare.

Does anyone have tips on making event shots stick out? Is there a good way to raise them to the level of unique?

Robbie

[edsarkiss]

the first is broken for me.

the second is sweet -- it's really awesome. i really like how there is not a complete word to be read, but i know what it all says/means. i'm serious -- that one is very artful.

the last two don't have the same artistic presence.

[CDickinson]

Thanks all! I've never shot a public event, so I really wasn't sure what I was doing until I got home and downloaded. I think I'm going to find a few more public events and try again.
Anyone with experience, I'd love some tip!

C

[smudge]

For me, and this just represents my own take on things not some photojourno philosophy. Political events are about social comment.
That is to say there is a well known aspect to the shots before we even look at them. The people present all have a common political ground. It's as though we have read the first half of the story and the photograph then delivers the punch line.

Therefore I like to see these events with a twist, either the photo reinforces some aspect of their beliefs or makes you laugh at a juxstaposed scene where political ideology is contrasted against the truth of life shown in the picture.

For example a huge turnout of African Americans happy faces smiling and chanting at a Bush rally, or a pro war badge worn proudly at a Kerry rally. Something that turns the tables or reinforces the scene. Otherwise it's just a picture of a group of people.

You can also use these scenes well to make your own comment on things, such as the overproduced almost hollywood style that has become the norm for these things. For example, I recently saw a great one from behind the scenes at a Bush rally, where the the shot was taken from behind the podium of Bush waving at the crowd and in the foregroud were three sour looking stage managers talking into head worn microphones and earpieces.

These thoughts prior to shooting make you see different things. Small things that if added in the fore or background give the picture a twist.