Photo Story

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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    • 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?  

    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.

    Tropicana Field St. Petersburg Florida Landmark Series

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    Tropicana Field in full - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-bracket HDR on Induro CT214 tripod with Nikon MC-30 cable releaseI am starting a new photo series:  St. Petersburg Landmarks

    The first landmark is the home of the Tampa Bay Rays -- Tropicana Field.  It is a much maligned dome stadium.  First, almost nobody is happy about its location.  It is far from the other major cities in the area, Clearwater and Tampa.  Even for us St. Petersburg residents it is not in any kind of walkable location.  It must be driven to and it is in an area there is no other reason to drive to.  It basically sits in the middle of a huge parking lot.  Inside it is dark and dreary looking.  I would actually say from the stands to look out over the field it is a depressing experience.

    The entrance to Tropicana Field - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-bracket HDR on Induro CT214 tripod with Nikon MC-30 cable releaseThe entranceway and the stores in the immediate grandstand are actually attactive and make you feel like you are attending an exciting event.  It is only once under the dome proper does the horridness settle in.  I have been to only one game (see photos) and photographed a charity event on another occasion.  

    Palm tree lined parking lot walkway - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-bracket HDR on Induro CT214 tripod with Nikon MC-30 cable releasePerhaps the best view of the entire property is when you are walking out of the stadium under a mosaic sidewalk lined with tall palm trees toward your car.  The walkway does not go on forever, eventually you would run into Tampa Bay!  

    Mahaffey Theater to Marina St. Petersburg Waterfront Panorama Florida

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    Click to see 2500px wide version - Mahaffey Theater on the left St. Petersburg downtown center - image available for fine art print & commercial license, call today! 813-240-5357

    • This panorama photograph available for fine art print & commercial license, inquire today! 

    I am spending more time at the new Dali Museum and discovering the very different views of the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront it offers.  The above panorama photograph was made from a parking lot across from the museum at twilight.  Here I detailed my process for creating such panoramas. 

    From this vantage point The Pier does not dominate the waterfront, and can only barely be seen behind the sailboat masts toward the right of the photo.  Instead, the Mahaffey Theater is the most prominent structure.  There is also a gradual light falloff from left to right instead of the harsher light falloffs when photographing directly into the sun.  I look forward to returning to this location to find more panorama photograph opportunities.

    Binocular Viewer a relic of the past looks at the future

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    Binocular Viewer on The Pier in St. Petersburg Florida - to me a relic of the past - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm lens @ f/11 ISO 200 7-bracket HDR mounted on Induro CT214 tripod with cable releaseWhile teaching a DSLR Photography Lesson a student wanted to photograph that thing you see above.  Its proper name I could not even dream of at the time.  Even after giving it more thought, not until I visited its maker's website did it seem obvious:  this thing is called a binocular viewer.  To look upon one up close is to me to witness a relic of the past.  Something first encountered on a family trip as a child.  Some marker of a place of significance that is better seen up close.  

    I would guess few objects are made like a binocular viewer still is, its pedestal seemingly hewn from a solid piece of iron and the binoculars themselves cast from thick steel.  Few things seen in modern daily life seem as immutable.  I cannot imagine its exterior design has changed at all in fifty years.  The inner optics must have, but maybe not.  

    It also never occured to me to feed it a quarter and look through it.  25 cents somehow seems an unacceptable fortune to see something I already can.  There is no LCD screen or preview or marketing gimmick attached to the binocular viewer to pry a valuable and useful quarter from my pocket.  Yet, I felt immensely glad it was there, and continues to exist, like the feeling one has when coming across and old, solitary tree.