How we photographed the impact of Rev. Jesse Jackson's death
This week’s top photo comes from visual journalist intern Giacomo Cain. Follow him on Instagram.
What makes this photo important?
U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson is one of six children to survive their father, civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson. All except one of Rev. Jackson’s children were present for a news conference Wednesday in front of the family's South Shore home. They spoke about their father’s legacy and his global impact. Rev. Jackson had been battling with progressive supranuclear palsy and died Tuesday. He was a groundbreaking icon who fought alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and founded Operation PUSH. His children told emotional stories of who he was as a father and a civil rights leader, describing him as dedicated to his pursuit of social justice. Jonathan Jackson is the second oldest of the siblings, and serves in Congress as a representative of the 1st District of Illinois.
How did you get the photo?
There are only so many different angles you can photograph people standing behind a mic, so once the press conference was finished, I documented interactions between Rev. Jackson's children, supporters, friends and family. With my telephoto lens, I stood on a mound of dirt to see above people’s heads. Given the emotional atmosphere, I was waiting for people to hug, which this photo shows. I try to capture emotion, because it shows real human nature and helps the viewer connect to the story.
While looking around for Rev. Jackson's children, Jonathan walked in my direction and approached a supporter. I raised my camera to my eye and snapped away. This is where my telephoto lens came in handy; I zoomed into Jonathan's face, excluding unnecessary elements and focusing on his expression. I really like his expression in this photo, because at first glance you see anguish, but if you look longer, you might see a hint of a smile. Whatever you see, for me, it makes me think of his love for his father and his passion for continuing his legacy.
Technical details:
- Equipment: Sony A7III with a 70-200mm F2.8 lens
- Focal length: 70mm
- Shutter: 1/8000
- Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 1000
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Discussion in the ATmosphere