Aw yes, The Campaign Trail: that special meadow of Hell where large men in dark suits herd you this way and that, then accuse you of stealing sunshine. I'd rather shoot a walking tour of the urinal factory. But that's just me, a sullen schlub who wallows in the longview. Most TV news camera-folk run headlong into the Presidential scrum, eager to witness history with a tiny, black and white screen in their face. It's the damndest thing, really. But those of us who've done it will tell you that you've never truly lived until Secret Service goons pilfered through your gear while you and your buddies sent out for Mexican. Add thousands of screeching supplicants with one mother of a cable pull and you've got just a few of the reasons why I dodge this all important goat-pile every chance I get? Hmm? You want me to profile the guy who scrapes up roadkill for the county? Then scrub up for a prostate surgery shoot at the prison clinic? Um, Okay! Just don't make me go stand in line at the hairspray parade, I beg of you!
9 comments:
walking tour of a urnial factory? sweet!
I was wondering if you were the one shooting the Biden speech at WFU. It may not be your preferred assignment, but as a Biden supporter, WFU grad, and all-around political junkie, I was glued to the webcast. Nice job, and thanks for making it available!
Longview???
I was born & raised in Longview....Texas.
Hey Stewart! Gret blog, and love your witty reportois (or however you spell it).
I am so damn cynical, I fail to see the point at all of going to a political rally, other than to be an unpaid extra for the nightly news. :-)
That said, I was, however, blown away by the crowd that gathered around Obama's stage in KC... damn near doubled the town's population. I suspect that the long knifes are already out in the McCain campaign, aimed at each other's backs, jockeying for blame-retardent positions. And Palin, rumor has it, is a bit of a Diva and is going to be with us on the national stage one way or the other. The rich irony of her blaming McCain for their loss (which she will do, back-channel wise), when it was his selection of her that sealed that outcome in the first place, is a stunning sight to behold.
Whoever says politics is boring isn't paying attention.
well said! you would think the candidate's handlers would be making our jobs easier year after year not harder and more unpleasant. the only photogs i run into who like these events are the freelance cameramen and truck operators who need the work. They go after it like hobos after a twinkie.
after 2 years of being on the receiving end of the campaign, robocalls, endless coverage, ads galore that is why the Great Heads of Statesville Exit Poll was so cathartic. http://www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=7719926&version=1&locale=EN-US
There is no better feeling than slinging political pumpkin heads.
stewart - i'll be at the kay hagan victory party on election night. that's in greensboro, if you didn't know. will i be seeing you at the cocktail weiner bar?
Officialy I'm roving Guilford County election night, so there's a good chance I'll end up there helping out with live shots. Call the cellie...
cool...i get to see the world famous lenslinger on election night. stop by the courthouse for a stogie.
amernick
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