Embedded Files
Coverage of various events, protests, marches, concerts and talks.
Diverse groups of people doing something.
So first of all, this was a really fun experience, here are the general impressions.
I had press accreditation for this event so I both didn't pay and also technically didn't have to stand in line or follow some of the rules. It's also possible that this made some people treat me specially.
The main goal of the visit was taking photos for Wikipedia as part of WikiPortraits.
Nevertheless, the staff was very nice, helpful and competent. Multiple times I felt confident asking something or making a request to be allowed to do something that I wouldn't ask otherwise, in many cases I was allowed to do it.
Documentation / Website listings of who is speaking when and where was actually quite good but I still took screenshots from the app for most of the events and photos of the background screen.
I don't see a reason why everyone/press couldn't just be given a spreadsheet with all of this in one place. I don't need it to be pretty, I just need it all to be clear and correct. But the info was there and vastly better than ComicCon.
The event started on Monday and lasted until Saturday, technically.
In practice there seemed to be only movies on Saturday and the main location disassembly and packing started on Friday midday. I think Monday and Tuesday had some special guests too. If you are like me, coming only for a few days, make sure to come at the start instead of starting in the middle as the event seems to be very front-loaded.
I managed to skip all AI talks except one that wasn't horrific.
AI was pushed a lot though, most events had multiple AI ads. Surprisingly, all the ads for AI video generators looked like absolute garbage. I have to assume having them play on events like that costs a lot of matey so those companies actually think this looks good. They are very wrong.
All attendees I spoke with hated the AI angles. Few AI presenters I spoke with seemed really disorganised and poorly prepared.Â
There was also a group of protesters. I didn't manage to get any flyers from them but I think it was a general protest against this massive corporate event that brings nothing to the local community and the general wastefulness of AI.
Fair enough
On the photography side
On the photography side
I'm shooting Fuji so everything is x1.5
I used the 23mm f2 for "wide" shots, which I mostly took while moving from place to place. Super small and light, not very useful for the main purpose.
56mm f1.2 that I used mostly at f2/f2.8 for many many shoots, heavy and a bit big.
18-135mm F3.5-5.6 that I used almost exclusively at the long end, light but big-ish.
While the main location was actually quite well lit (aside from the pink everywhere) I still really struggled when using f5.6 and often used 56mm just because it was faster. I actually never needed a fast zoom/long prime before so I don’t have one.Â
I'm going to start saving up for XF50-140mmF2.8, that would have been amazing to have. I would need only it and something wide instead of having to carry 3 lenses and swapping a lot mid talk.
I have a Peak Design Everyday Backpack 30L. All lenses had hoods on and I just put them in without front caps for speed; there was no chance of something touching the glass and I had to fiddle less with them.
I didn't bring a flash or lights and that was a good choice, I wouldn't have had any opportunity to use them. (I was mostly shooting conferences, no music or red carpet)
A few snacks and a spare small drink really helped in an emergency. Add to that the most comfortable and soft shoes available paired with light clothing and it was fine.
While a first-row seat is nice and non-disruptive, everyone understands that the event is full of photographers who have a job to do. Try not to get into the view of people doing video with big cameras but you can just walk in and take a bunch of shots, it's fine. I didn't really get into this until the very end; that's a lesson for next time.
On the flip side, some talks I maybe wouldn't have stayed on were actually really good.
In case there are any doubts, I'm really out of touch with "pop culture" of any kind.
If anyone asks, I'm doing the impartial Wikipedia thing and making sure I work to photograph everyone as best as I can. It's not that I have no idea that some people are actually really famous…
So the notes for future me are:
So the notes for future me are:
Be friendly and polite and ask for things in case they say yes even if you expect they will say no.
Wikipedia hat actually helped, people see it even when they don't say anything.
"oh, you are the Wikipedia hat guy", and I got waved in, which actually happened on the last day.
You have a camera and a job to do, be unobtrusive as much as you can but it's expected you will move around, including in front of other people, take photos and leave the event for another one.
Make sure you are comfy and light on your feet
Do not depend on future info, save who is who right away, ideally with the main camera.
nvest your time at the start of the event
Some of the shoots from the week for you, title also links to the commons gallery with most of the shoots I've uploaded.
I'm not sure what I think about the event, it was better and more spacious then one I was to few years ago.
It's very clear that people in costumes have much more fun then everyone else and I have most fun looking at them.
Various photos for the Wiki are linked on top. Here are general photos I liked.
I've tried to balance generic "OMG look at them" with actual photography. I'm finding my preference is to take photos of people in costumes "candid" instead of hero poses.
Ratio of photographers to other visitors was super high, I don't remember when I last saw so many people with film cameras either.
My plan was to mostly take photos of people to get better at it, I'm not great with cars either but I don't have much interest in those.
I've brought my IR camera to test how people will look and I think I will use it more.
The main learning was that while bringing vintage lenses to look cool is fun it would have been much better to just grab a zoom as a spare.
It was a fun experience with great energy, but a more organised event required some more preparations I didn't do.
Ideally try to get a Press Pass, apply 1 month in advance at the latest.
If that fails bring a small collapsible stool.
Find a spot early, ideally in front of a phone box if you have the stool and just stay there the whole time.
Spend more then 5min thinking about the camera rain cover...
It was the first protest I ever had a chance to photograph. Great experience
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