We Are America Photo

Photographer’s Note

An overall shot of yesterday's protest on the capitol for Immigration reform.

I shot one very similiar to this photo last month. Since the protest is the same subject matter, I figure I give it another try, This time around, there is a very prominent foreground and emotion. I prefer this one more than my earlier flag photo, and I think this will probably go in my portfolio.

benkrut, peter1892, bnallama, tjanze, dragonslayero has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

peter1892 (3201) 2006-04-11 17:19

A good image - lots of colour & action, also the light is really good (and I like the way the sunlight is coming through the flags). Good DOF & the tilt is quite nice as well. I like the overall composition & the way you have two people (father & son?) who are very prominent.

kLe (2039) 2006-04-11 17:31

After reading your note I wanted to compare this photo with the other one you mention ("We are Americans too") and I agree in your preference for this photo. Both are fantastic works but this one makes one feel better. Perhaps the vibrant colours and the light make this image more optimistic. The composition is very good too.

kinginexile (2440) 2006-04-11 20:20

Seems we were in the same place, different cities, Mark, yesterday, so to speak. I like the luminosity of the flags, all of them backlit by the sun, which tell a story of pride and belonging, here, not thru birth given rights, but thru one's labor and striving for a better life, which this country of immigrants is about.
I suspect you are the influence behind my nascent interest for photo-journalism ;-)....
Hope your internship is proceeding succesfully.

Polonaise (5638) 2006-04-11 21:03

This is an incredible event going on right now in your country. The politicians, the public, the mass media - all of us actually are quite dumbfolded what the heck is going on and how to solve THAT problem. Regardless of outcome, I think there'll be great political repercussions in all those "immigrants Dream" countries, namely Canada, Australia, Germany,Great Britain and few others.
Greatly optimistic as well as pathetical picture
George

CaptainJack (0) 2006-04-11 22:45

Great photojournalistic shot Mark. The man in the foreground really stands out and symbolized the cause very well. Great timing with the flag obscuring the sun.

PeterC (2242) 2006-04-12 0:56

Mark,
A great prostest shot. I love the light on the American flags and that distincitive background. Great compostion and the colours are great too.
Cheers
Peter

bnallama (3755) 2006-04-12 2:29

Hi Mark, nice compo. I like the light and the tilt here. Bala

tjanze (5674) 2006-04-12 3:45

Hi Mark!
Good action photo charged with emotions.

markoci (3917) 2006-04-13 12:43

yep, if you had to chose one photo, this should be the one. this is photo journalism, good for any daily or magazine.

arturo (31) 2006-09-19 15:34

Hi Mark,

i can only say: We Are Not America here, at least for now...cheers, arturo

AdrianW (2243) 2006-09-28 10:22

Great shot Mark! You've captured this protest brilliantly. I particularly like the way the backlit flags seem to glow. Composition's excellent - the Washington Memorial in the background is a nice touch.

The flag brings me to my question though - how's this lit? The sun is behind the flag in the top of the frame, so that means the faces should be nearly silhouetted, yet they aren't. If you'd flashed it I'd expect the guys at the front to be lit, but not the rest of the crowd - yet everyone's lit. How've you managed that?

If I were to suggest anything, I'm wondering whether a little cropping would help, particularly off the right, but perhaps a little off the left too?

Anyway, excellent work - and congratulations on the workshop place :D

dragonslayero (3108) 2006-11-08 12:15

Hello Mark

Amazing moment, POV is great and the photo in it self has a very fair journalistic value.
The freezing of the moment seems to be perfect, the flag covers the sun perfectly and makes the flag really stand out.
The "main" protestor is nicely placed in the frmae, he gets an increadible amount of attention.

Odd Jarle