Any ideas for shooting a politician...WITH a camera!

[joback]

Thanks, Keith. When doing event photography, wides are an excellent way to gowhen capturing the croud and ambiance of the event. Wides just don't make good portrait lenses. A wide lens can give someone a balloon head and tiny feet. That's a sure way to earn a sock in the nose! If you're taking a pictureto pleasesomeone with a big ego, use a protrait lens.Canon's 70-200lenson afull-frame sensor is just about perfect for most candid situtations, with a wide on a secondary camera. That's my two cents worth, anyways.

[Keith B]

I wouldn't do portrait with ultra wide. I was more talking about the 24 to 35mm range. He seemed to be talking about environmental portraits. I was talking more of the type of shots you'll see from the White House photogs.If you shoot straight on you shouldn't get balloon heads or tiny feet.

[joback]

Good point, Keith.Everyone has their own favorite style. Speaking only for myself,I can see unacceptable perspective warpingusinga 50mm lens. If the purpose isdo a flatteringportrait of someone, I wouldn't go less than 70mm on a full-frame.Another advantage ofgoing long in a public situation is that the politician needs to be the center of attention. If you're using a short lens, you have to get too close to get the shot. In other words,you become too intrusive. It's not your place to be part of the action--you're just there to documentit. When shooting at a public venue, go long-ish and stay out of the way. If there are other photographers on scene, they'll thank you fornot blockingtheir shots.

[Victor Pelino]

Thanks guys. I appreciate it. I'll probably be using my 24-105mm f4 and a 70-200mm f2.8 on a 50D. For really wide angle all I have is the ef-s 17-85mm which I'll have with me too. Seems likely I'll be shooting around a courthouse (exterior) and some other locations of that nature. In July I'll be shooting indoors around the public/media for his official announcement.