How Newsweek
Did its 2008 Convention Covers
by Eric M.
Appleman/Democracy in Action
The
prototypical cover for the convention issue of a newsmagazine is a
photograph of the presidential candidate and his (or her) running
mate. Newsweek was able
to achieve that in 2008, producing a symmetrical pair of covers shot by
Nigel Parry. By
contrast Time, which has an
earlier deadline (Thursday compared to Newsweek which can update some
files until very early on Sunday morning), featured solo shots of the
presidential candidates, albeit distinctive extreme close ups done by
Platon.
The Newsweek cover images are
medium close up shots. The presidential candidate is on the left,
slightly in front of and about four inches above the running
mate. The candidates are rather dramatically lit, with shadows on
the left side of their faces.
The key people involved in putting these covers together are Newsweek's director of covers Bruce
Ramsay, Newsweek director of photography Simon Barnett, and the New
York-based photographer Nigel Parry. Ramsay joined Newsweek as director of covers in
June 1997, while Barnett became director of photography around the time
of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Parry has worked in New
York since 1994, after starting his career in London. Ramsay said
Parry was "our immediate pick," describing him as "go-to guy" who is
very fast and a
good director. Barnett stated:
Nigel Parry has a distinct realness and
grit in his portraiture. His style has been a signature for us
that works perfectly for the magazine's tone. I brought him to
our fold some years ago and he never lets me down. In fact he
constantly exceeds my high expectations. He is a skilled lighting
technician who can achive great portraits without the aid of
manipulation in Photoshop. In this regard, he's a
throwback. So many younger generation portrait photographers
today just can't do it in-camera. Most resort to the computer to
manipulate and "better" there results later. We pride ourselves
in being a breed apart in making covers without the crutch of Photoshop
manipulation. The reality of our photographs, be they portraits
or photojournalism, is very important, and gives us a unique
authenticity among today's magazines.
Parry responded that, "To be able to work for such a respected
Magazine, and along side two of the most professional and accomplished
men in the business is any photographer's dream. Working with
Newsweek, Ramsay and Barnett affords "the opportunity to photograph the
most important personalities in world history." At the same time,
Parry noted, such shoots are often "super-rushed and super-high
pressure." He stated:
You only get one chance, and it has to
be successful. In consequence, I turn to the high reliability of
the
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III, and its accompanying high quality 'red-line'
series of lenses. I used for both shoots 2, 85mm f1.2, lenses,
and 2,
Mark III Camera bodies, and the same lighting set up (Chimera soft
boxes with Profoto lighting).
It was very important that the quality of the light, the angle of shot,
and subject positions remained the same on each shoot to maintain the
very un-biased view of the magazine.
The Obama-Biden announcement event took place around noon on Saturday,
August 23 in Springfield, Ill. Parry photographed the two before
they went out, shooting about 60 frames. "We had ten minutes
from start to finish--I think we used nine," said Barnett.
Barnett then did a quick edit and transmitted six images, including
shots for use inside the magazine, to Ramsay in New York. Ramsay
finished his work and sent the files off around 7:30 or 8:00
p.m.. The magazine's four printing plants went to work and the
magazines were on newsstands on Monday as usual.
Sen. McCain announced his selection of Gov. Palin on Friday, August 29
in Dayton, Ohio. "Up until a day before we shot McCain and Palin
it was touch and go," said Ramsay. The day before the event the
campaign told Newsweek the
shoot was off. Eventually they relented, however. Parry and
Barnett set up for the shoot early in the morning of the announcement
in the basement of the arena where the rally was held. Barnett
said, "At the time we had no idea who the VP would be, and we found out
just like everyone else, by watching MSNBC." He added, "I did a
quick Google search on Sarah Palin and brought up some pictures for
reference, and then we made some lighting adjustments to allow for her
very reflective glasses (again no retouching)."
Bruce Ramsay interviewed by phone on
Nov. 28, 2008. Simon Barrett responded to questions in a Dec. 2,
2008 e-mail. Nigel Parry responded to questions in a Dec. 2, 2008
e-mail.
Copyright
© 2008 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action |
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