129 ☼ Documenting A Political Event
A self-assignment that lead to licensed work
Dear friends,
In this week's letter: how I documented a political rally in San Francisco in an exciting and creative way. One of the most fun self-assignments I’ve done.
☀️ Shout out to my friends at Squarespace for helping make this issue possible ☀️
Housekeeping
The first Process Projected exhibition is now up for viewing at the What Is Happening Here gallery in Amsterdam. It’s the first gallery showing of Noah Kalina’s epic Everyday project in its twenty year edition and will run from January 23 through February 5. To learn more about Noah, his work, opening times, etc. check out the first issue of
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Documenting A Political Event
On a sun-drenched autumn day in 2019, I photographed a political event in the beautiful city of San Francisco. It was a rally pulsating with the peculiar energy of Andrew Yang, an outlier vying for the Democratic candidacy in the lead-up to the 2020 US national election.
This was a self-assigned shoot born out of curiosity about this unconventional candidate and his following. I had never shot a political event before. I wanted to see what it took to create interesting images that would be conventional enough for a newspaper to run but still creative enough for the work to stand out from the fray.
What struck me most about Yang was his unorthodox approach, his outsider status, and his rallying cry for ideas like universal basic income and job loss as a result of AI and automation. At the time, these ideas were hardly discussed outside of academia and certainly not part of any mainstream politician’s platform.
I reached out to Yang's communication team, and managed to secure a press badge that granted me full access. From the backstage to the pit, I was able to move with freedom and document with purpose, strategically positioning myself to try to give a perspective different from the newspaper photographers there on assignment.
The freedom of self-assignment allowed me to be more broad in my visual exploration. Beyond capturing the typical shots of Yang addressing the crowd, I got to follow my curiosity and dive into behind-the-scenes moments with his campaign staff.
What intrigued me even more were the individuals who brought colorful signs and wore special outfits, with two enthusiasts even dressing up as robots – a nod to Yang's foresight on automation's impact on employment. (see above)
The freedom to photograph somewhat differently ended up paying off. I sent a link to a gallery of the images to the communications director who gave me the press pass and a day or two after the event the Yang campaign reached out to license some of the shots for their promotional materials. It felt like a nice and unexpected nod of approval, confirming that I had captured a distinctive angle on this political spectacle.
I had a blast taking these photos. It didn’t feel like a political event in the sense that I see them in the news these days. There wasn’t a divisive us vs. them atmosphere. It was a more of a celebration of positivity and new ideas.
Even though it feels like the political landscape has shifted since, I am motivated to explore more on this side of the pond, perhaps bringing my perspective to political events in Europe or even locally in Amsterdam. A political assignment might seem dry and boring, but we all have the power to tell these stories in a more unique way.
This experience wasn't just about photographing a political rally; it was about capturing the spirit of a movement and finding inspiration in unexpected places. I share this story not just as a photographer but as your pal in creativity, encouraging you to find your voice and tell stories that matter to you.
Note: This letter is not an endorsement of Andrew Yang’s candidacy then or his political activities now, merely a story about my experience documenting this political event.
Takeaways
Self-assign, self-assign, self-assign. I will continue to beat this drum because everything I have accomplished as a photographer has come from self-assignments. You can do it too! Read more about this in Process 054.
Having a versatile lens in a fast-moving environment allowed me to capture a variety of shots, from shallow and close portraits to wide overview shots. This 24-70 lens (see gear section) is my work horse for this reason.
It can be intimidating to get close to your subject, especially a politician with security staff everywhere, but it’s a great way to capture emotions that move a viewer and showcase the occasion from a human point of view.
That’s it for this week! If you enjoyed this issue I’d love for you to share it with friends.
Next Week: Three different client portraits shoots in one day. An actor, a model, and an author all in a stunning studio environment.
Keep shooting and take good care of yourselves and others. <3
Wesley
PS Don’t forget to sign up for Process Projected newsletter. Work by inspiring contemporary photographers twice a month.
PPS Want to support Process? Consider buying my photo book NOTICE.
Gear & Tools Used
Camera: All images were shot on the Canon 5D Mark IV with Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM. These links bring you over to my friends over at MPB.com which is my go-to place to buy, sell, and trade used cameras and lenses. MPB caters to over 625,000 visual storytellers and provides a 6-month warranty. Thanks for the support, MPB! <3
Lab: All my analog work is developed and scanned by my friends at Carmencita Film Lab. They’re my favorite lab in the world. Use code “PROCESS” to get a free upgrade.
Website: Shout out to Squarespace for supporting Process. If you need a website, I highly recommend using Squarespace. I’ve been a paying customer for over 10 years (!!?). It’s an easy, professional, and affordable way to have a beautiful portfolio website and webshop. Use the code PROCESS10 for 10% off your first order.
Excellent Wesley, getting a press pass is well worth the effort, or a stage pass, or anything that lets a person get "inside". Fantastic images and a really great prompt for the rest of us!
very nice... I did a few concerts like this at the Winnetka Music Festival (in Chicago) and it was a wonderful experience being onstage with various bands. Proximity = the great shots you got. I've been itching to go to Eagle Pass, Texas, one of the hot beds of the influx of, now, millions of illegal migrants into America... but every time I get close to going, I get a job... Thanks for sharing... and for the reminders! ;)