Freed from the rigors of full-time teaching, I had time to cover an event as a photojournalist.
 |
| Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate Graham Platner waves to supporters as he arrives for a Town Hall on The Town Mall, in Brunswick, Maine, 10/2/25. Gesturing at far left is ASL interpreter Maegan Walden |
Photojournalism formed the taproot of my photography career. However, the years since in academia led to experimentation which resulted in abstraction.
 |
| U.S. Senate Candidate Graham Platner speaks to his supporters. |
I was delighted that my documentary muscle memory returned while covering the town hall as I endeavored to paint a complete picture of the goings-on.
 |
| Platner campaign volunteer Zelda Anesko hands out volunteer sign-up forms. |
How do you make photographic sense out of a sprawling event like this?
For one thing, I noticed the setting sun glancing off volunteer Zelda Anesko's face and followed her progress through the crowd to capture this moment.
 |
| Waiting for the candidate to arrive. |
Serendipity became beauty as randomly snapping the shutter to test a lens created this image, one of my favorites from the event.
 |
| Handing out lawn signs and buttons, along with collecting volunteer information. |
I worked the angles and light capturing the story of activity, inspired by veteran journalist Pete Hamill's book, News is a Verb.
 |
| U.S. Senate Candidate Graham Platner reads his stump speech. |
It was fun clambering around the stage like old times. My camera a passport to vantage points.
 |
| ASL interpreter Maegan Walden at Graham Platner's Town Hall. A freelancer hired by the campaign, she honors Platner for specifically requesting disability access for the event. |
Working the light.
 |
| Platner kisses his wife Amy Gertner after completing his speech. |
In regular life, I normally fear the judgment of others. Does the person tailgating my car actually dislike me for not going fast enough?
However, I felt totally comfortable sitting on the floor of the stage, waiting for a special moment.
 |
| Platner listens to a question from a supporter. |
 |
| Platner reacts to a question from a supporter. |
The event occurred early in Platner's quest to unseat Republican Susan Collins and thus the national media swarm was absent. Therefore, I could pick my perches without competition.
John Nordell blogs about the creative process at johnnordell.com Instagram: @john.nordell
0 comments :
Post a Comment