Great news photos from 2009

boston.com has compiled 120 great news photos from 2009. It's worth a look to see how visual journalists captured some of the biggest news stories of the year. You can find part one here.

I wanted to share some insight about photo No. 1 in Part 1, the image of President Obama and his family during the inauguration. Photographer Chuck Kennedy was able to capture the image from a unique angle and it is believed that it was the closest any camera had ever been during the presidential inaugural oath.



If you watched the inauguration, did you see Chuck standing behind the podium with his back to the crowd during the oath? Was he crouched down low next to the podium? Did he have some special zoom lens from afar? No, no and no.

Chuck captured the image by using a remote camera with a wide-angle lens mounted at the base of presidential podium. Before the actual event, he tested the camera position several times to make sure he would be able to capture the once-in-a-lifetime photo.

At Homan Designs Photography we use similar technology for weddings and special events. By using remote cameras placed at unique location allows me to capture photos that I wouldn't normally be able to get. For example, during certain weddings I will place a camera somewhere on the altar to capture those moments when the bride and groom are looking away from the audience (and towards the camera).

Here is an image I got during a wedding in a small church. There was no way I could stand on the altar and not be a nuisance. I was able to get Michele and Justin as they were lighting the unity camera. No one in the church pews could see their smiling faces but I got the photograph using a remote control.



This type of technology is not some type of gimmick. They are tools used by the creative photographer to capture unique images. I had a professor tell me one time to imagine my eyes on the end of a long stick and to hold the stick high and low to find new angles to view your subjects. He was trying to encourage me not just to stand there with the camera at eye level, but to look for creative angles and locations.

By lying on your stomach you can get below your subject and shoot upwards. Using a ladder, you can get above your subjects to get a different angle. I have two different sized ladders I use on photo-shoots to assist me in getting better photos.

Next time you are taking photos, just don't stand there with the camera at eye level. Move around and try to find a different angle to view your subjects from.

Mike