Redlights and Redeyes

swing state blues (and reds)

November 14, 2012 by Chip

21 hours of red, white, and blue. I spent election day cross-crossing Florida a bit for the wonderful folks at The New Yorker with a really amazing crew of photographers I had no idea I was shooting alongside (Peter van Agtmael, Kenneth Jarecke, Stanley Greene, Jon Lowenstein, Andrea Bruce, Landon Nordeman, etc.) with until I starting seeing galleries coming in on their site. Florida is a crazy state. There is no denying that any weird story that happens to pop [...]

Categories: photography, photojournalism industry, photos, politics, the new yorker, Uncategorized • Tags: Chip Litherland, color, election day 2012, Florida politics, lection, Obama, politcs, presidential election, red, romney, the new yorker, white blue

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newt, mitt, ron, and rick…

February 1, 2012 by chip

I could sit here and write a ton of copy about covering Florida politics. Fact of the matter is, it’s weird, it’s draining, and it’s one of most fun things I get to do in photojournalism. With that, here are some random rectangles from the week of covering Mitt Romney’s win in the Florida Primary with some scraps from the cutting room floor as a bonus. Tweet

Categories: chip litherland, photography, photojournalism industry, photos, politics, The New York Times • Tags: Campaign, Elections, FL, gingrich, GOP Debate, paul, politics, romney, santorum, Tampa, The New York Times

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I-4 or bust

February 1, 2012 by chip

I-4 is an interesting road. Connecting Daytona, Orlando and Tampa, it slices the nub of South Florida right off the map, it provides a vast array of landmarks – strange kitschy theme parks, vasectomy billboards, and rest stop oasis after oasis. It is also fertile ground for voters and an area candidates target every election cycle. The New York Times sent me with a reporter and videographer to tackle I-4 man-on-the street style to try to find folks opinionated about [...]

Categories: in print, photography, photos, politics, promo, The New York Times, theme park • Tags: Chip Litherland, color, daytona beach, economy, Florida, foreclosure, I-4, I-4 corridor, kissimmee, lake buena vista, lakeland, Orlando, plant city, politics, Tampa, Travel

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it’s the aperture, stupid

September 24, 2011 by chip

I am definitely coming up with some pieces of flair for photojournalists on the election trail. It can be a lonely place out there covering politics, running from spray to rope to riser, sending from the floor of some conference room, being surrounded by thousands, but only knowing the 10 other photographers in the pool. All of that, and we have to remain neutral the whole time – without a single piece of flair to adorn our credential laden torso. [...]

Categories: photos, politics, The New York Times • Tags: Chip Litherland, CPAC, debate, Florida, Fox News, Google, Herman Cain, Jon Huntsman, Michele Bachmann, Newt, Presidential Debate, Republican, Rick Perry, romney, Ron Paul

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that’s how you debate

September 14, 2011 by chip

Suit. Check. Tie. Check. Podium. Check. Stage full of red, white, and blue accents. Check. Talking points. Check. American flag pin. Check. Finger pointing. Check. Riser. Check. Twenty other photographers getting the same shot. Check. I really do love covering politics…there’s that inherent challenge in making something unique that goes beyond what is literally handed to you. You are given a single seat. You sit. You point. You click. Not only are you put in one spot, you’re almost [...]

Categories: photojournalism industry, photos, politics, The New York Times • Tags: bachmann, Chip Litherland, color, debate, florida primary, gingrich, paul, perry, politics, republican presidential debate, romney, Tampa, Tea Party

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history or his story?

May 5, 2011 by chip

At first glance the photo is history. This is the moment in time that will forever be remembered. For what most of what America saw in print, the images were completely false. By now, most have heard the photo of POTUS announcing that Osama bin Laden had been killed was a re-enactment. Still shooters were kept out of the room during the televised address to the nation. Second passed, then President Obama walked right back in and fakes it [...]

Categories: photojournalism industry, photos, politics, The New York Times • Tags: Chip Litherland, ethics, Flickr, Obama, osama bin laden, photojouralism, photoshop, potus, re-enactments, white house

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a republican star is born

November 3, 2010 by chip

Yes, He Can. You can see it now. It’s not from policy or polls or pundits, but from a gut feeling. It’s coming from a purely visual person who has covered politics for a few elections now. This guy will be running for president someday. He has the look, the cute kids that make cute photos, the bigger-than-life speech, the story, the beautiful wife, and a following of dark-blue suit and heels and mini-dress clad fans ready to anoint him. I’m [...]

Categories: photos, politics, The New York Times • Tags: chip, color, Florida, Florida politics, litherland, Marco Rubio, miami, Obama, photojournalism, politics, Republican, Tea Party, The New York Times

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political chum

October 28, 2010 by chip

If there’s one thing I learned late in my days as a staff newspaper photojournalist, it was to stop looking at the newspaper. Nothing good can come of it. Don’t get me wrong, I love newspapers, but I’ve seen my photo cropped to a circle before. Literally. I don’t save clips. I have a small stack of papers that I have saved from 10 years of work that could fit inside my back pocket. That’s it. I learned to stop [...]

Categories: photos, politics, The New York Times • Tags: Chip Litherland, color, Florida, governor, photojournalism, politics, Republican, Rick Scott, Tampa, The New York Times

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