Good photography of all kinds really rocks my world. Good photojournalism is just amazing to me. I connect more with news when I can see it than simply when I read it. And when the person capturing the images is herself connected through long-term exposure to the subject, with all the opportunities — and perspective — it brings, the results can be pretty astonishing.
So I recommend this photo essay by Callie Shell, who has been following the Obama campaign. There’s a companion photo essay by Stephen Crowley on the McCain campaign. Whomever you support, go take a look at the human side of the politicians.
Callie Shell has really done a great job with those.
It’s really interesting to see how much we can be influenced to feel by looking at photos. It would be great to what she would come up with given the same access to McCain.
Looking at at the series on McCain, I have to wonder how that photographer feels about McCain. Even if he didn’t have the same access, he clearly has a different opinion of him than Shell does of Obama.
I thought so too (about the McCain photo essay). It seemed much less personal and much less connected, although it sounds like the photographer was trying… but if there’s no access, then there’s no access.
I can understand that. I’ve met people that wanted to connect with me, that I didn’t want to let in for whatever reason. And if I don’t want someone in, they just don’t get in. Not even close.
But I have to say, I don’t want any more unapproachable presidents. It’s hard enough trusting leaders without them actually working on being detached and distant.