Photo Stories

Photographing Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis - what it was like

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Secretary Solis is not in this image due to restrictions on usage.

(editor's note:  There are no photographs of Hilda Solis in this post because I have not exactly been granted permission to use them in such a way yet, and may not be.)

Last Friday I received a phone call of a sudden asking if I would be available to photograph U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis on Tuesday.  I said, sure I can do it!  She would be the highest level government official by far that I would have the opportunity to photograph.  The previous high was a city level mayor.

Photography-wise, this would not be a new assignment as I have photographed many of these types of roundtable events before.  The Secretary would be attending two roundtables, one at the Port of Tampa (very cool building surprisingly) and then another at Centro Asturiano in downtown Tampa.  My job was just to photograph her speaking at these events with a focus on images of her with the attendees.  

When I arrived at the Port of Tampa at 11:20am it felt like a different photography gig.  I could feel the anticipation in everyone already on site.  I went through no special security or anything like that, and accepting the job was just a matter of saying, "yes, I will do it," in an e-mail reply.  I was hoping to get some kind of clearance badge or something like that to keep as a souvenir!

The Secretary entered the roundtable room with no fanfare or introduction.  She seemed very happy to meet and greet people on her way to her seat.  Now you might think photographing someone sitting at a table is the easist thing in the world to photograph.  It is not.  People make lots of facial gestures while speaking, only about 10% of which are flattering!  Most of the time if you freeze the look on someone's face while they are talking it will look funny.  So it takes quite a few shots to get one to look proper.  

After the discussion, which I enjoyed, it was time for what the Department of Labor called "grip and grin" shots, where Secretary Solis shakes hands and poses for a photo with the various guests in attendance.  I thought it a very funny term.  

All these repeated at the second location of the day.  Then Secretary Solis was whisked away to the airport for a flight to Ft. Lauderdale for presumably another day of meeting with the public like this.  I think it must be a very good feeling for people to be so happy to meet you and have you them tell you their sincere desires for what they need to improve the local community you happen to be in.  It also must be extremely exhausting to have your attention so sought after day after day.  

I was impressed by how carefully Secretary Solis listened to everyone's issues and concerns.  I saw her and her staff feverishly writing notes and making reminders for follow ups with the appropriate channels.  This was most impressive.  

When Secretary Solis returns to the Tampa Bay area I look forward to the opportunity to photograph her in action again.

Vivid Florida Waterfront Neighborhood Twilight Palm Trees

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The best part of living in Florida, its sunset & twilight views - Nikon D300 with Nikkor AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8D @ f/8 ISO 200 10 sec on Induro CT214 tripod with Nikon MC-30 cable releaseIf you are a photographer living in Florida, very likely you will, at least at first, be most drawn to photographing the magnificent twilight and sunset skies Nature provides on a daily basis.  The time of the transition from day to night is my favorite part of the 24-hour day cycle.  I have a fantastic view of this from my back patio, but to be honest, I do not take advantage of it enough.  In summer with the later sunset time, it is easier as I often take Kiki for our evening walk between 8pm and 8:30pm.  Now back in regular time, with sunsets coming before 6pm, our walks are in all darkness, but those provide stargazing opportunities.

Vivid twilight photographs are not difficult to make.  All you need are:

  • a western view (or eastern if clouds available to reflect twilight)
  • a sturdy tripod
  • the correct shutter speed to pull the most color from the sky

The DSLR and the lens used do not matter that much.  The sturdy tripod eliminates problems of camera shake resulting in blur.  The correct shutter speed eliminates exposure problems, but since you are using a very long exposure, there is a wide range of choices depending on one's desired results of a brighter or darker twilight image.  So unlike many other types of photography, the margin for error in twilight shooting is far greater than say a sunset portrait.

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    • Candid Family Beach Portraits Sunset Beach Treasure Island Florida

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    Juliana & family on Sunset Beach Treasure Island St. Petersburg - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/8 ISO 200 1/100th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight @ 1/4 power to frame left & SB-600 Speedlight @ 1/4 to frame rightRESERVE CANDID FAMILY BEACH PHOTOGRAPHY IN VIVID COLOR FOR YOUR FAMILY TODAY!

    It was very nice to see Juliana and her family again after having first met them last year when I photographed her 7th Birthday Party.  At that time she was missing most of her front teeth, but this year her smile was brighter than ever.  Mother Nature provided yet another stunning Florida sunset of the Gulf of Mexico to be our background for our candid family beach portrait session.

    Juliana & a sand dollar - Sunset Beach Florida - Nikon D300 with Nikkor 50mm @ f/2.8 ISO 200 1/1600th natural lightWhen we first arrived at my preferred spot on Sunset Beach, Treasure Island Juliana found half of a sand dollar on the beach.  Soon after she found the other half.  That seemed like good luck to me so I thought the sand dollar halves should be in one of our photos.  When you shoot in good natural light, as you can see, there is not even need for fill flash.

    "Avant Garde" Father Daughter Beach Portrait - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/8 ISO 200 1/100th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight @ 1/4 power to frame left & SB-600 Speedlight @ 1/4 to frame rightJuliana and her father had kind of just wandered into these positions between shots.  It caught my eye and I scrambled to get my lights in position to light both Juliana (far in the background) and her father (large in the foreground) before they could move.  In the end I asked Juliana to look at the lens to produce the final image above.

    Father & Daughter Candid Family Beach Portrait - Nikon D80 with Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/4 ISO 200 1/320th natural lightI hope these photographs serve to illustrate that not every family beach portrait session attire needs to be white shirts and blue jeans.  I suggested that Juliana and her family wear what clothes they feel they look their best in, although I think Juliana's mom had final word on her wearing that dress since she told me that was not how she dressed every day.

    Each with their own style - candid family beach portrait - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/8 ISO 200 1/100th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight @ 1/4 power to frame left & SB-600 Speedlight @ 1/4 to frame rightI always like there to be some clouds in the sky at sunset time as they add interest to the background by reflecting the rays of the setting sun.  I once heard, "a cloudless sky is the enemy of the landscape photographer."  I would not say that for beach portraits, but for sure I prefer clouds over no clouds.

    Candid little girl beach portrait - Sunset Beach Florida - Nikon D300 with Nikkor 50mm @ f/2.8 ISO 200 1/1600th natural lightI like to let kids do what they like during a candid portrait session as they are the types of photographs I like to make best myself.  The feeling when shooting is totally different too.  There is a certain tension in a photographer's mind that arises when having to position people for a shot, rather than the photographer moving about the subject freely shooting when instinct says so.

    Letting the setting sun dominate this family beach portrait - Nikon D80 with Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/6.3 ISO 200 1/200th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight @ 1/2 power to frame left & SB-600 Speedlight @ 1/2 to frame rightFor the above type of shot one of course needs to use manual mode to make the exposure do what you want as aperture priority or shutter priority modes would not allow one to get the results as seen.  Radio triggers for one's strobes are necessary too as I was shooting with a long lens not nearly close enough for Nikon's built in Commander Mode triggering method.  

    Juliana is a natural model - Sunset Beach Treasure Island Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/8 ISO 200 1/100th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight @ 1/4 power to frame left & SB-600 Speedlight @ 1/4 to frame rightJuliana is a natural model.  The above pose was just one of like five she went in and out of in succession.  It was hard to keep up!  Of course when the subject feels comfortable in front of the lens and knows how to best position themselves, then it just makes the photographer's job all that easier allowing for more concentration on the creative part of photography.  Also, you can see that I pretty much settled on f/8 ISO 200 1/100th for my strobist shots during this session.  Once I get the settings I like dialed in, that also frees me to focus on just composition, etc.

    Juliana as ballet dancer at twilight - Sunset Beach Treasure Island Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/4 ISO 200 1/160th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight @ 1/4 power to frame left & SB-600 Speedlight @ 1/4 to frame rightThis was the final shot of the night that required a couple of takes, but Juliana did her part very well!  I forgot to ask if she takes ballet lessons or not.  

    The first time I tried this staggered family positioning - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/8 ISO 200 1/100th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight @ 1/4 power to frame left & SB-600 Speedlight @ 1/4 to frame rightDuring this family beach portrait session I tried several new things, which is key to me, as I have done many of these types of shoots and I am always trying to avoid repeating myself looking to add if not entirely new shots at least variations.  This time there were several totally new images, like the above staggered positioning from shore to water.  It helps to have had a three person family.  For sure at least having an odd number makes the composition work better.

    The better you know the people you are photographing the easier it is to produce satisfying images.  Therefore, it is not surprising that my second time photographing Juliana and her family was one of my all-time favorite family beach portrait sessions.

       

    Best Friends Man and Dog in Black and White

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    Terry receiving a kiss from my dog Kiki with his dog Sadie receiving a hug - Nikon D300 with Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8D lens @ f/2 ISO 800 1/800th (the dogs were just running which is why the shutter speed is so high)The relationship between a man and his dog is a very strong and unique one.  I believe the uniqueness comes from the fact the relationship is for the most part non-verbal and non-human language based.  Communication between man and dog is much more emotional, instinctive and primal (I use the word man here on purpose as I can only speak from my experience).  It is easy for me to read Kiki's body language, and very easy for her to read mine.  I do not have to tell her she is coming with me when I go outside, she knows if she is coming or not by the clothes I put on.  If pants and a button up shirt, she heads to her crate.  If shorts and socks, she knows its probably dog park time or some other outdoor activity that includes her.

    For the love of dirt . . . Nikon D300 with Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8D lens - black & white processing using Silver Efex ProI believe it was the first time just us four best friends went somewhere together.  Terry is my eldest friend, since the 7th grade, and Sadie has known Kiki since she was a young puppy.  I cannot confirm it, but I am pretty sure Kiki would consider Sadie her best friend.

    Sadie moves well, but Kiki is built for speed . . . Nikon D300 with Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8D lens @ f/2.8 ISO 800 1/640thAt first, there were no other dogs at the Land O' Lakes Recreation Center dog park so Sadie and Kiki for the first time were in open space alone together and could run freely side by side.  Given all that space one wonders why Kiki needs to run so close to Sadie!

    Terry momentarily takes the lead! - Nikon D300 with Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8D lens @ f/2 ISO 800 1/800thIt occurred to me while I was editing these photos that I appear in none of them.  For me that is not so bad as I know I made them and the perspective I am seeing in the photos is the same that is in my memory.  I wonder if it is easier for someone to remember the happenings in a photo that they themselves do not appear in?  Does pushing the shutter to preserve the scene also stamp it into the photographer's memory better than someone else being behind the lens and that person later seeing themselves in the photograph?  

    Social Media Photo Set Portraits at New Dali Museum

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    I met Angela at my new favorite photography spot in all of St. Petersburg -- the new Dali Museum for a Social Media Photo Set portrait session.  This special photo package is for those who like professional images representing themselves on Social Media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin as well as photos cropped to fit perfectly on their iPhone or other digitial device.  For me, I cannot understand why people would want to represent themselves with some crummy camera phone photo they took themselves by holding the phone in front of them.  I offer the Social Media Photo Set to help people look more professional, more attractive and more themselves online.  

    We used the great tree behind the Dali Museum that has long ribbons tied with messages for the majority of shots.  The melting time bench is another great prop to use for portraits as well.  I look forward to seeing how Angela uses her photos in Social Media!

     

    Carnival rides motion blur at night St. Raphael Festival Snell Isle Florida

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    Carnival rides intersecting motion blur - Nikon D300 with Tamron 17-50mm @ f/4 ISO 200 1 sec mounted on Induro CT214 tripod with cable release

    I feel lucky to live just a few hundred yards from a field that is home to an annual carnival.  Where do the come from?  Where do they go?  I do not know.  For three days and two nights they bring their rides, their prizes and their deep fried Oreos (delicious!) and delight this small island community.

    Concentric circles ferris wheel motion blur - Nikon D300 with Tamron 17-50mm @ f/16 ISO 200 15 sec mounted on Induro CT214 tripod with cable releaseYet, the cost of enjoying the carnival to its fullest is too expensive for me.  Each ride is about $5.  There is the option of buying an unlimted ride pass for . . . $30.  I did not go on a single ride.  Each food item, likewise, is basically $5 or more.  I could not resist a huge sign declaring, "DEEP FRIED OREOS."  They were not what I expected.  Basically funnel cake batter surrouned a very warm Orea cookie that loses all of its crunch in the frying process so it warmly dissolves in your mouth leaving the familiar Oreo aftertaste.  If they were not $1 a bite, I would have eaten ten!

    Fiery Ferris Wheel reflection - Nikon D300 with Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D @ f/16 ISO 200 5 sec mounted on Induro CT214 tripod with cable releaseSince I could not enjoy the carnival in its intended purposes, I instead had to appreciate it only for its night photography opportunities, of which there were many.  I stood at the east edge of my apartment complex in complete darkness before my tripod pointing my lens at the lights just across the water.  I felt like an astronaut observing an alien world.  Mine was dark and silent, theirs filled with dazzling light and laughter.

     The time machine conductor - Nikon D300 with Tamron 17-50mm @ f/4 ISO 200 1 sec mounted on Induro CT214 tripod with cable releaseThe pilot of the ferris wheel remains stoic as carriage after carriage passes through time and space.  Who knows what speed they pass by?  

    like a spool of colorful thread - Nikon D300 with Tamron 17-50mm @ f/4 ISO 200 1 sec mounted on Induro CT214 tripod with cable releaseYet the ferris wheel almost seems a snail in comparison to this machine which lifts its subjects into the night sky spinning so fast that one appears to be a constant at once everywhere and only there.  

    Night Over Carnival motion blur - Nikon D300 with Tamron 17-50mm @ f/16 ISO 200 25 sec mounted on Induro CT214 tripod with cable releaseSurely when one visits Mars the view from outside of town mirrors the one above.  Hopefully they have deep fried Oreos on Mars as well.

    Ride first, eat second - Nikon D300 with Tamron 17-50mm @ f/8 ISO 200 1 sec mounted on Induro CT214 tripod with cable releaseIn the warped world of the carnival, food is the only constant.  Everything else flirts between dimensions.

    Tilt A Whirl motion blur - Nikon D300 with Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D @ f/16 ISO 200 15 sec mounted on Induro CT214 tripod with cable releaseHaving no Martian technology the semi truck in silhouette is like the octogenarian observing the child with today's digital devices removing one from the present.  For me, I will remain with the truck on the outside, as always only the observer.

    Florida Family Beach Portraits with Dramatic Skies - South Dakota Family

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    Family Beach Portrait - Sunset Beach on Treasure Island Florida - Nikon D300 with Tamron 17-50mm @ f/6.3 ISO 400 1/60th Strobist: SB-800 @ 1/4 power above front & SB-600 @ 1/8 power directly behind family 

    A few months ago Melanie contacted me from South Dakota about having family beach portraits here in Florida when her family was to come down on vacation.  I always like to photograph out of state families as they have full appreciation for the beauty of our Gulf beaches.  Locals I guess get used to spectacular sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico.  A large storm was scheduled to roll over central Florida around the time of our scheduled portrait session, but we stayed dry and were treated to dramatic stormy skies for use as backgrounds.

    Sunset Family Beach Portrait - St. Petersburg Florida - Nikon D80 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens @ f/5.6 ISO 400 1/100th Strobist: SB-800 @ 1/4 power to frame left & SB-600 @ 1/4 power to frame rightThe sky kept changing from dark blue (see top image) to fiery yellow (above) to metallic purple (see below).  I had never seen it go through such a range of color before.  Often the intensity of one color will vary, but to get three distinct background colors was unprecedented.  

    Family Beach Walking Portrait - Sunset Beach St. Petersburg Florida - Nikon D300 with Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/4 ISO 800 1/250th natural lightOne other good thing about the stormy weather is that it kept almost all the people away from Sunset Beach, so we had no trouble making the above shot of Melanie's family talking a long walk down the shoreline.  I was able to make the shot I wanted to in just one take.

    Father tossing children in air - Nikon D300 with Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/4 ISO 640 1/250th natural lightWhat a great feeling to be tossed up into the air, especially when you never know if you will land in the ocean!  Too bad it is not common for someone to be able to toss 185 pounds into the air.  I would like to be able to touch the sky too!

    Young boy candid beach portrait - St. Petersburg Florida - Nikon D300 with Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/4 ISO 640 1/250th natural light - sepia landscape filter applied in Silver Efex ProI titled the above photo, "The Fighter."  I would say he is a southpaw by the looks of things.  I am glad I was using my Nikkor AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8D lens from a distance for this shot and was at no risk of that left hook!

    Purple Twilight Florida Family Beach Portrait - Treasure Island - Nikon D300 with Tamron 17-50mm @ f/5.6 ISO 800 1/50th Strobist: SB-800 @ 1/4 +2/3 power frame left & SB-600 @ 1/4 power frame rightTheir dad had all sorts of shall I say "unique" expressions to get the children to look at me, such as "Elmo is coming out of the top of his head," and the like.  I had not heard that one before but it worked so that's all that matters.  It was a fun challenge photographing this family of five and I am very pleased with the results the stormy skies provided.