President Clinton coming to my campus; any advice?

I'm an amatuer photojournalist at Rice University in Houston, Texas. President

Clinton is coming to speak at Rice; I know I won't be able to attend the speech,

but I will have an hour or two before hand to photograph. Does anyone have

advice about photographing the president?

 

Rice University is a private university and the grounds are not public property,

but as I student, I'm welcome to do whatever I'd like that is not against

University policy anywhere on the grounds.

 

I know the path that his motorcade will probably take into the University as

I've seen police guard it when other notables come to campus.

 

In case I don't actually see President Clinton, what advice do you have for

photographing the crowds of people waiting outside to see him speak?

 

- Mike Benza

Look for the unususal...signs, placards, protestors, heavy-handed security etc...wear something around your neck that resembles credentials...have fun and don't break the law.

Take this advice with a grain of salt. Perhaps a shaker. I am an amateur myself. That

being said...

 

Everyone will be getting pictures of the president. He is the center of attention. There will

probably professional photojournalists there all vying for the cover head shot, all with

$10,000 equipment. You probably can't compete with that. You might want to get a few

of him for your own personal keepsake or something, but I wouldn't focus on it. Focus on

what the newsmedia won't. Focus on people's faces, their reactions to the things he says.

Focus on the details the professionals will miss, the pictures that tell the "real" story.

That's what I'd do. But then again, I'm a pretty weird person, so, like I said, shaker of salt.

(Hm, that reminds me of a song...;) )

 

PS Been to Rice many times. Marched there a couple. Beautiful campus. :)

Hey, When is he coming? I live a few blocks north of Rice on Bissonnet.

 

As far as picture taking in crowds, I used a monopod, set the self timer, then raised the camera. Use a wide angle for this (for depth of field), and zone focus.

Amber: Thank you.<br />

Stephen: It's only open to Rice students: our ticket is our ID. Sorry. <br />

<br />

There's a rumor going around of no cameras allowed <i>in</i> the event space, but nothing has been said about the area outside of it. I think I'll focus on the crowds outside.

Advice? Take a day off. Photograph clouds, flowers, rocks, whatever. IMO, 8 years was enough. Seriously, you won't get close enough to register any image larger than a dot unless you have press credentials. At best, be prepared to hold the camera over your head, poke and hope.

If someone in a suit with an ear plug tell's or ask's you to move or stop DO NOT ARGUE just do as asked! thats my best advise: to you:

of yes use a long lens: good luck and enjoy:

I didn't say I was going to hear him speak, I just wanted to know when he was coming.

BTW, the campus IS open to the public, check with Rice Police, I did.

Having photographed several presidents in the past my advice is take a lot of photos, use a reasonably long hand-holdable lens, respect security, and maybe with luck you will end up with a "keeper".

Practice visualizing the axis of your lens pointing at your subject from above your head. You'd be surprised how hard that might actually be unless all you want is a wide angle photo and those aren't usually worth anything..make sure you have fresh batteries and have a bounce card or equivalent diffuser on the flash and be ready to get bumped around a lot to get a good shot...think mosh pit.

It's today, 3PM.

 

http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=9210&SnID=1279428653

Here's my advice. In case someone offers you a smoke, don't inhale.

 

Stefan

Is Clinton still President of your country? I must have missed something.

 

Stefan

Stefan, although I think you are being tongue-in-cheek, I'll simply let you know that the

protocol in this country is to refer to a past president as "President X" or "Mr. President." It is

the case with all ex-political figures, from presidents down to senators and mayors.

Hello Fred,

thanks for the information. I didn't know this. But still I think it's a strange custom, reminds me of our german habit to adress members of former noble families with old titles (Graf, Baron, Prinz, or whatever). So, after second thought, no reason to make jokes about american habits. Sorry.

 

 

Stefan

let whatever happens happen, and that will be your shot. If the scene is chaotic and

Clinton is unapproachable, try to capture that and you will have a true to life image