Rarely has been a campaign as full of surprises as the one that's taking place in the US lately...Once upon a time there was a candidate, whose nomination seemed to be written into the stars, with the consequence that not only the Democratic party, but even the US would have chosen Hillary as president. It doesn't seem so true now: with a giant's leap forward of 20%, Barack Obama seems to have his says on the issue too. Meanwhile, the fight within the democratic party for the endorsement of the candidate, has morphed into a circus, with astonishing events on a (almost) day to day basis. That said, we have our surprises for our readers too...Gary O'Brien, of garyobrien.com and staff photographer of The Charlotte Observer has been assigned by his newspaper to cover the campaigns in South Carolina, before the primary on the 26th of January. Since panoramic photojournalism has entered into the arsenal of the major online publications... the nominations can not stay out of Vrmag's covered issues, right?
Along with still photographs, Gary shot daily panoramas to be posted with the political coverage on charlotte.com, the paper's website. Newspaper photojournalist since 1979 (and 20 years spent at the Charlotte Observer), he started shooting panoramic images in 2003, meanwhile running a blog to help other photographers in the US learn the techniques and principles related to shooting photojournalistic panoramas.
Well, is now time either to enter into the rallies or to introduce the contenders, isn't it?
Martin Luther King Day Rally, on 21 January 2008, 11:20 am EST (GMT -5)
at South Carolina State House, Columbia, SC USA.
The monument to South Carolina's Confederate dead on the grounds was used by spectators to catch a glimpse of the speakers at the Martin Luther King Day Rally.
click here to view Martin Luther King Day RallyHow/technical details: Nikon D70s, ISO 200, 1/250 @ f/11, Sigma 8mm f/4 fisheye, handheld. RAW
files (four around, no Z or N) acquired in Photoshop CS3, stitched in PTGui 7.5 Pro, output to QuickTime with Pano2VR v2.0 beta 2c.
Gary says: "I found this scene to be wonderfully ironic. On a bitterly cold February morning, people who could be descendants of slaves stood in the sun on the marble of a monument to the Confederate soldiers who died in the U.S. Civil War".
Sen. Barack Obama on 22 January 2008, 4:33 pm EST (GMT -5) at Lander University Home Arena, Greenwood, SC USA.
Home Arena. Lander University, Greenwood. Sen. Barack Obama speaks to the crowd on the theme "Fired up, ready to go", a phrase coined by Greenwood city councilwoman Edith Childs; raising approval by far.
click here to view Sen. Barack ObamaHow/technical details: Nikon D70s, ISO 1250, 1/50 @ f/5.6, Sigma 8mm f/4 fisheye, Nodal Ninja 3 head, wired release, Gitzo monopod. RAW files (four around, no N or Z) acquired in Photoshop CS3, stitched in PTGui 7.5 Pro, output to QuickTime with Pano2VR v2.0 beta 2c.
Gary says: "Crowds where Sen. Obama appeared were enthusiastic. This is the first panorama I shot from within the buffer at a campaign appearance. It's also where I learned to not look at the camera while shooting - I've masked out my face, and restricted the VFoV to eliminate myself and some stitching errors".
Photographers waiting for Sen. Barack Obama on 23 January 2008, 11:10 am EST (GMT -5) at McBryde Hall, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC USA.
The public doesn't usually see what happens behind the scenes during campaign appearances. The panorama was taken during a "photo spray", a short period of time during which photographers gather (be they local, national or international) and spray the candidate of pictures. This one was taken awaiting the arrival of Sen. Obama on a foggy morning.
click here to view the journalistsHow/technical details: Nikon D70s, ISO 200, 1/250 @ f/8, Sigma 8mm f/4 fisheye, Nodal Ninja 3 head, Gitzo monopod. RAW files (four around, plus Z and N, both handheld) acquired in Photoshop CS3, stitched in PTGui 7.5 Pro, output to QuickTime with Pano2VR v2.0 beta 2c.
Gary says: "This was a situation where there was enough room to move behind the monopod as I rotated and to shoot a handheld N. I would like to know who some of the European photographers are!"
Sen. Hillary Clinton on 24 January 2008, 12:26 pm EST (GMT -5) at the Younts Conference Center, Furman University, Greenville, SC USA.
Clinton delivered her speeches in rallies which are, in contrast with the boisterous ones held by Obama, usually delivered to a packed house. The senator from NY, former first lady, held rallies at the Younts Conference center, two days before the Democratic primary, to display her program and to answer questions from the audience.
click here to view Sen. Hillary ClintonHow/technical details: Nikon D70s, ISO 1600, 1/30 @ f/5.6, Sigma 8mm f/4 fisheye, wired remote release, Nodal Ninja 3 head, wired release, Gitzo monopod. RAW files (four around, no Z or N) acquired in Photoshop CS3, stitched in PTGui 7.5 Pro, output to QuickTime with Pano2VR v2.0 beta 2c.
Gary says: "To get the camera as high as possible, the monopod is fully extended and I am supporting it on my hip while rotating it. The vertical FoV of the finished panorama is restricted because of large stitching errors in the zenith."
Former Senator John Edwards on 25 January 2008, 3:42 pm EST (GMT -5) at Antley's BBQ, 1370 Sims St., Orangeburg, SC USA.
Former Senator John Edwards' bus pulled up in front of several gathering places that day. As soon as he dismounted, he gave his standard speech, answered questions, greeted the audience and boarded again his bus to go for the next appearance.
click here to view Senator John EdwardsHow/technical details: Nikon D70s, ISO 1600, Sigma 8mm f/4 fisheye, Nodal Ninja 3 head, Gitzo monopod. RAW files (four around, no Z or N) acquired in Photoshop CS3, stitched in PTGui 7.5 Pro, output to QuickTime with Pano2VR v2.0 beta 2c.
Gary: "While I shoot conventional stills, I also carry the VR camera rig over one shoulder using the camera strap. When the time comes to shoot VR, I double-check the settings on the head and shoot either by moving behind the camera as I rotate, or extending the monopod and crouching beneath the camera, rotating the monopod and using a wired release to trigger the camera."
Sen. Barack Obama on 26 January 2008, 10:18 pm EST (GMT -5) at the Columbia Convention Center, Columbia SC USA.
South Carolina was won by Sen. Barack Obama. In this pano he addressed the crowd of supporters after the results of the primary.
click here to view Sen. Barack ObamaHow/technical details: Nikon D200, ISO 1600, 1/80 @ f/5.6, Sigma 8mm f/4 fisheye, Nodal Ninja 3 head, wired release, Gitzo monopod. RAW files (four around, no Z or N) acquired in Photoshop CS3, stitched in PTGui 7.5 Pro, equirect filtered with Noise Ninja output to QuickTime with Pano2VR v2.0 beta 2c.
Gary: "I switched to the D200 because I broke the remote release for my D70s. The D200 is not well suited for low-light, high-ISO situations, and the extreme subject lighting exacerbated this. The remote release is necessary when shooting in "the buffer" (cleared area around the podium) because we're expected to kneel."
On 26 January 2008, 11:07 pm EST (GMT -5) at Columbia Convention Center, Columbia SC USA.
Senator Obama has left the Columbia convention center and almost everybody has gone. David Pendergrass takes a picture of Sarah Millermaier and Salimah Ebrahim - documentary filmmakers - under Obama's banner.
click here to view the empty convention centerHow/technical details: Nikon D200, ISO 1600, 1/80 @ f/5.6, Sigma 8mm f/4 fisheye, Nodal Ninja 3 head, Gitzo monopod. RAW files (four around, plus Z and N) acquired in Photoshop CS3, stitched in PTGui 7.5 Pro, equirect filtered with Noise Ninja, output to QuickTime with Pano2VR v2.0 beta 2c.
Gary says: "I switched to the D200 for Saturday's work because I broke the remote release for my D70s. I was sitting on the podium amongst the television crews sending my still images when I saw this situation happening. I was able to run down to the floor and make the pano while they were still shooting. The D200 is not well suited for low-light, high-ISO situations, and the extreme subject lighting exacerbated this. Since it was a spontaneous situation, I didn't have time to switch to the D70s for this image."
About Gary O'Brien: has been a newspaper photojournalist since 1979. He's in his 20th year at The Charlotte Observer, and has held a number of shooting, editing and systems jobs in the photography department. He started shooting panoramas in 2003 with a Coolpix 950 and an FC-E8 adapter. Now, he regularly shots panoramas for feature and news assignments. Some of his recent work can be viewed here.
Recently, he started a blog to help newspaper photographers in the US learn the techniques and the principles of shooting photojournalistic panoramas.
With each panorama on charlotte.com, a brief explanation of how a panorama is made is posted.
Gary O'Brien prepared also a document which explains how to maintain photojournalistic integrity during the process (it can can be found here .) Gary is also working to start shooting panoramas commercially in the southeastern United States.
Links:
Garyobrien.com
Panoramist.blogspot.com
Gary's recent work for Charlotte Observer
The Charlotte Observer
Charlotteobserverphoto.com
Email: gary at garyobrien.com
