This is not a political blog, saints be praised. I talk about Group A, Channel 1, and stuff like that, not the results of the latest polls. But the life of a photographer is punctuated with encounters, large and small. And you make pictures of these encounters! That’s the job.
Trump for Newsweek, Biden for People. Different magazines, different approaches. Trump was a week long encounter, Biden just a day or so. Trump was in color, with lights and an assistant. Biden was by myself, no flash, working with window light. I’m a generalist, doing what the job requires, so I was comfortable with both approaches. The current, roiled political waters caused me to do a bit of an archive rummage, which was, well, interesting.
I think perhaps the stories, and the way I had to approach them, might have mirrored the men. Trump was in color, all glitz, powerhouse ego, and I did my requisite lighting and staging. Biden I met at the train station in Wilmington, and we shared a Metroliner to his Senate office. Shot B&W, available light, all day. Tiny bit of color by the windows in his office. The Trump days were often set up and wait. With Biden, it was shoot and move, shoot and move, all day, camera bag over my shoulder.
Trump gadded about in what he claimed at the time was the only non-military Puma helicopter in service in the world. Biden had, well, the Metroliner. And some big windows, thankfully.
They have widely disparate political beliefs, but both, on those days, shared a penchant for red ties.
Trump was “The Donald” to Ivana, at that time. I never met Mrs. Biden.
Shot the cover below in about three minutes, with one 3×4 softbox, in his conference room. Biden went to meetings on the hill. I sat on the floor and covered his expressions.
Trump is the big news of this year’s race so far, which everyone who turns on a TV knows. Biden is deciding about participation in what would be a long, hard political season. Two different people, two very different coverages, done in very different ways. The job of a photographer. You adapt. You keep your views and opinions to yourself and you cover the job. On those days, you simply observe the world you are assigned to, and you make pictures. And those pictures stick with you, amazingly. These jobs were shot in the 80’s! And, here, now, I have cause to look at them again, in 2015.
What a wonderful, intriguing and forever relevant thing we do, us photog types. Make pictures of our life and times, and the people who populate them.
More tk….
Great read Joe. I really like the two juxtaposed like that. Great images as always capturing the essence of the two men.
Wow thanks for sharing this speaks volumes!!!!!
Great blog Joe. I love the juxtaposition of two totally different men. Your choices of how to shoot them speaks volumes into their numerous differences. Whether you say it or not, your photographs speak volumes to me regarding these two men. It just may be my way of interpreting the photos, but after all isn’t that what art is all about.
I remember that Newsweek cover! 😉
Oh yeah! Quite the week I spent with Mr. Trump….good lord I was glad when that story got turned in….
Oh wow… regardless of political views, each of the photos are so well made! amazing how photographs transcend time.
Great article Joe, and photographs, as always.
Wow, I certainly remember that Newsweek cover as well.
F3 bodies … I’m guessing, Joe? Right at the cusp of autofocus and multi-sensor balanced fill flash [such as it was].
Great images! Conveying two very different personalities really well.
Have one small gear question: Do you use protective filters (clear/UV) on your lenses, or is this overkill and just a risk of introducing additional ghosting?
Thanks, love your work,
Mads
Not anymore. I used to religiously have 81A glass filters on my lenses for warmth when shooting Ektachrome for instance. But now, with dig, I don’t do it. Just the naked glass. I’ve got great optics on the cameras and I don’t want to hinder them….best, Joe
Thanks, Joe. I think I might ditch my clear filters as well (B+W 007 and Nikon L37c) 🙂
Thanks Joe. I like your blog. Interesting articles and photography
Must have been interesting. Wow such a long time ago!
After a week with Trump you must’ve had a really long shower!
Nice pictures and stories. They complement each other in nice way.
Hi Joe, that line “I’m a generalist, doing what the job requires” is bang on. You’ve got to find a way to fit the situation, make it work for you. Great post, love the work.
Great article, Joe! i loved the tones and the mood in the first picture (trump), very cinematographic. How it was lit?