anthro photo web log
untitled nomination weekend 1
Posted by danthro (Suburbia, United States) on 5 August 2008 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
Matt Gonzalez gives an interview
Nader/Gonzalez series from the weekend of their historic California Peace & Freedom Party nomination for President/Vice President of the United States of America.
sorry i'm not able to catch up on everyone's blogs as i'd like to, focusing on other pursuits more now.
Comments, feedback, criticism, suggestions, etc. are always appreciated. Thanks!
Image too large? Click the 'small' link in the bottom right corner for a smaller view.
@saeed: thanks!
@Ina: thanks a lot, Ina!
@yiannis krikis: thank you, Yiannis!
Ron from Saint Louis, United States
I really like the feel of the lighting in this image ... the camera operator almost in silhouette and Matt Gonzalez in intense lighting and then that light at the end of the hallway. Seems like kind of an odd location for an interview. If your theory holds, you won't receive as many comments on this post as you usually do ... I'll be watching ...
5 Aug 2008 9:24pm
@Ron: thanks a lot, Ron! it is kind of an odd location. it's outside of the 'hospitality suite' (where they could talk to the voting delegates, prepare, whatever) they had at the hotel where the Peace and Freedom Party held its nominating convention.
Usually it's the second day of posting where the silent treatment really hits, and this time the series is going for more than two days. Hey, regardless of which candidate people support, maybe they can appreciate this was a historic event? In any case, here's hoping my theory is proved wrong! :)
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
Nader is like the energizer bunny...he just keeps on running and running and running...
Interesting photo of his running mate. He doesn't appear very vice-presidential.
6 Aug 2008 12:04am
@Laurie: Laurie, thanks a lot for your comments. i'd be very interested to hear about what in this photo or Matt Gonzalez's appearance looks un-vice presidential if you're willing to share.
indeed, Ralph Nader does have a great deal of energy--i wish i had half his energy and sharpness, and i'm just a fraction his age. this is his third official run; i guess maybe that's the difference between many others who run as a career move and the few who've run to push crucial life-or-death issues that aren't discussed otherwise--a good sense of the great injustices in this world can be highly motivating.
sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Looks like a serious conversation. I like the lighting.
6 Aug 2008 3:50am
@sherri: thanks!
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
To answer why I think he doesn't look very vice-presidential to me is because his suit looks ill fitting, and well not very fashionable, and his hair is unkempt. The suit doesn't look like the type one would wear as casually as he is (no tie, casual shoes, etc.) and the way it fits, well it looks kind of cheap and "off the rack".
Remember for a lot of people (voters) it is a popularity contest, sad as that may be, and image, and catchy slogans mean more that substance.
6 Aug 2008 4:32pm
@Laurie: Thanks for the explanation. Whenever I've seen him in the past, he has worn a tie, but I'm guessing they were dressing down a bit for the Peace and Freedom Party convention, as casual dress was the norm there.
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
Interesting photo of his running mate. He doesn't appear very vice-presidential.
Best reason I've heard yet for supporting him as VP, especially if that criminal garbage and draft-dodger Cheney is considered vice-presidential. Nice graphic image...possibly the best campaign image you've posted so far.
BTW, no surprise at all to me about the fall-off in comments. If you posted images of fluttering flags over amber waves of grain I don't think you'd see a reduction, but in my lifetime, I've watched this country change from flawed, but essentially decent, to systemically corrupt and dangerous, and most people would simply rather turn away and think more pleasant thoughts, and pretend everything is the same as it used to be. The current administration is the most greedy bunch of liars and criminals to ever run this nation --by an order of magnitude-- and they may well have made honesty and decency simply impossible. Yeah, I'm ranting, but that doesn't change the fact that this country is in serious trouble.
6 Aug 2008 4:38pm
@Twelvebit: thanks a lot, Twelvebit! really appreciate it and well said as usual
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
Oops, the intended italics for the quote didn't come out.
6 Aug 2008 4:38pm
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
Actually it isn't so much about him being casual, casual is fine but there is something awkward about his appearance. As if he doesn't know how to dress the part. I'm sure most if not all candidates have high cost image consultants that make sure they look very "GQ" so that they look Classy and are the height of fashion even when casual without looking too trendy etc. He just looks like he didn't know which way to go with his dress. Pinstripes? Ehh? and again it looks ill fitting, not tailored almost too small for him.
6 Aug 2008 4:41pm
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
I should mention that I don't think it's good that they are judged on image, just that it is what it is. We are a shallow nation when it comes to how we vote (in general). We look at what is "in it for me" and on how nice the candidate looks, how well he speaks even if he essentially says nothing, and how he looks.
I am of course speaking in general terms and not in specifics. You and I may not vote on catch phrases and good looks, but many, far too many do.
6 Aug 2008 4:47pm
Kevin from OrganicPIX.com from DFW, Texas, United States
I really like this perspective - really gives an insightful viewpoint of a portion of what all is involved 'behind' the camera.
7 Aug 2008 1:10am
@Kevin from OrganicPIX.com: thanks a lot, Kevin!
Andrew Gould from Sydney, Australia
What a dramatic looking composition. He really has the spotlight on him the way you've taken and processed this.
8 Aug 2008 8:11pm
@Andrew Gould: thanks a lot, Andrew! this is one of my favorite shots in the series.
Melissa W. from Warsaw, Indiana, United States
I really like this shot a lot. Great composition. I like the harsh lighting on Gonzalez. What I really like are the posters behind him, especially the one that is reminiscent of a late 60's concert poster. I also like the pose of the camera guy. A lot going on in this one. Great eye.
12 Aug 2008 2:53pm
baobab from Cambridge, United States
nice angle and light - I also like the crop. the camera seems like a third actor interceding between the camera man and the candidate. there's something very cool about the silhouette and the white writing that pops out from it.
22 Aug 2008 1:43am
Sony DSC-W55
1/15 second
F/2.8
ISO 320
7 mm