Well, not me, but a photo of mine.
One of our ventures, Globalpoint, was written up in the New York Times Technology section today. The freaking New York Times! Major hats off to Michael Urban, who is highlighted in the article, for working so hard to create such an awesome product/technology and matching that effort with getting the exposure that resulted in this article.
The article highlights the trend in measuring sentiment through the social web and how this information is being used in not just political campaigns, but really all sorts of campaigns. I know we use sentiment analysis for all sorts of projects and ad campaigns. The information you get from these sorts of tools can be light years more informative and real than what you may get from a focus group or cold call survey.
Of course, there are natural biases and difficulties in fully understanding the sentiment in a medium not known for its ability to evoke tone, but the technology is definitely promising! Companies like ViralHeat, ThinkUp, Radian6 and more have all put their hat in the ring in this burgeoning research sector.
“We’re not necessarily seeking to replace — immediately, in 2012 — the traditional mechanism. But it’s got to have a seat at the table,” said Michael Urban, who worked on several Republican campaigns and on polling for Mr. Hancock’s political consultancy, before starting Globalpoint, a start-up that develops sentiment analysis tools for use in politics.
I lucked out in that the New York Times needed someone to take the picture for the article and I was given the honor of taking on the task. I recruited the help of Amy and Krissy as my lighting grips and shot this photo.
For the shot I used my Nikon D700, Nikon F1.8 50mm, SB800 flash corded to my camera and fired through a 52″ pop-out diffuser. Really simple one light setup but it worked! I’m really pleased with the image and the quality of light.
What do you think?
One of the best parts for me is that I actually got a byline! It’s not an easy feat getting credit in any newspaper, much less one as venerable as the New York Times!
So totally check out the article online or in print. It’s on page B4, above the fold for today’s edition, November 1, 2010. And if you can spare a copy for me… I’d love to have a few for my portfolio and family. Thanks!
Related articles
- Nation’s Political Pulse, Taken Using Net Chatter (nytimes.com)
They are four people on the page right now. Wonder if anyone will make a comment 😀
They are four people on the page right now. Wonder if anyone will make a comment 😀
Congrats! Great pic!
Congrats! Great pic!
Congratulations! That’s quite an achievement.
Congratulations! That’s quite an achievement.
@JonHearty Thanks! I’m glad it came out. I’m more of an fine art/architectural photographer so taking a portrait, last minute, with a single flash was a little unnerving. Luckily it seems to have worked out!
@JonHearty Thanks! I’m glad it came out. I’m more of an fine art/architectural photographer so taking a portrait, last minute, with a single flash was a little unnerving. Luckily it seems to have worked out!
@sushi Thanks! I am so blessed to have had the opportunity. I really appreciate the congratulations, I was holding in the excitement for nearly a week waiting to find out if it was REALLY going to be in the Times! Talk about stress anxiety!
@sushi Thanks! I am so blessed to have had the opportunity. I really appreciate the congratulations, I was holding in the excitement for nearly a week waiting to find out if it was REALLY going to be in the Times! Talk about stress anxiety!
I’m so proud of you!! This is MAJOR! Congratulations!
I’m so proud of you!! This is MAJOR! Congratulations!
Congrats Justin! Thats awesome!
Congrats Justin! Thats awesome!
That is VERY cool. Congratulations!
@yourdailythomas That means a lot, thanks so much. I never thought I’d have an opportunity like this!
@yourdailythomas That means a lot, thanks so much. I never thought I’d have an opportunity like this!
@travelfox Thanks! What did you think of the light? I didn’t have a lot to work with, or much time… My first “one light” portrait haha.
@travelfox Thanks! What did you think of the light? I didn’t have a lot to work with, or much time… My first “one light” portrait haha.
@jmatthicks Thanks!
@jmatthicks Thanks!
Congrats Justin, that’s freakin’ awesome. Really great shot too – you lit the room perfectly, no harsh spots, perfect softness, and the window isn’t even blown out. I have an SB-800 as well but I still haven’t learned out to use it effectively. Nice work, look forward to seeing more of your shots in big publications, keep posting ’em 🙂
Congrats Justin, that’s freakin’ awesome. Really great shot too – you lit the room perfectly, no harsh spots, perfect softness, and the window isn’t even blown out. I have an SB-800 as well but I still haven’t learned out to use it effectively. Nice work, look forward to seeing more of your shots in big publications, keep posting ’em 🙂
@justex07 I think it’s perfect – jennalanger was on the dot describing it. indoor shots are always tough especially when its bright out, but you balanced the light on his face/skintone perfectly, making it the focal point.
can i add another 2 cents? not a deal-breaker, but just something i would try to do to see if it makes a difference. maybe burn the yellow lamp in the bg a bit during post, just because its the closest bright thing to his face. but as it is, this is a very flattering photo, he must really like it.
@justex07 I think it’s perfect – jennalanger was on the dot describing it. indoor shots are always tough especially when its bright out, but you balanced the light on his face/skintone perfectly, making it the focal point.
can i add another 2 cents? not a deal-breaker, but just something i would try to do to see if it makes a difference. maybe burn the yellow lamp in the bg a bit during post, just because its the closest bright thing to his face. but as it is, this is a very flattering photo, he must really like it.
@travelfox Thanks for the analysis and thoughts. I really appreciate it and you are TOTALLY right about that yellow lamp! It’s crazy how it seems to defy reality in how dominant it is within the frame. Amazing how a little bit of yellow can do something like that haha.
I could change the lamp to some other color, or take it out completely though, with journalism, you’re not supposed to touch the photo with photoshop besides resizing. Of course, I’m not a journalist, just shooting a photo for one of the biggest in the country haha.
What a weird position to be in. I don’t REALLY have any Journalistic Integrity to keep intact, of course, do I have ANY integrity? 😛
@travelfox Thanks for the analysis and thoughts. I really appreciate it and you are TOTALLY right about that yellow lamp! It’s crazy how it seems to defy reality in how dominant it is within the frame. Amazing how a little bit of yellow can do something like that haha.
I could change the lamp to some other color, or take it out completely though, with journalism, you’re not supposed to touch the photo with photoshop besides resizing. Of course, I’m not a journalist, just shooting a photo for one of the biggest in the country haha.
What a weird position to be in. I don’t REALLY have any Journalistic Integrity to keep intact, of course, do I have ANY integrity? 😛
@JennaLanger Me too! That is, I also hope to see my photos in big publications.
It’s really cool that I got this opportunity to be in the NYT but part of me was sad that it wasn’t my fine art work that did it, instead it was a portrait of someone for an upcoming article. I guess it’s a foot in the door though!
The SB-800 is a great speedlight! What camera do you have? Seems a cheap (Opteka) flash extension cable and some sort of diffuser can make that flash go a LONG way. I used to rely on the Nikon Creative Lighting System but once I got that flash cord, I was sold!
@JennaLanger Me too! That is, I also hope to see my photos in big publications.
It’s really cool that I got this opportunity to be in the NYT but part of me was sad that it wasn’t my fine art work that did it, instead it was a portrait of someone for an upcoming article. I guess it’s a foot in the door though!
The SB-800 is a great speedlight! What camera do you have? Seems a cheap (Opteka) flash extension cable and some sort of diffuser can make that flash go a LONG way. I used to rely on the Nikon Creative Lighting System but once I got that flash cord, I was sold!
@justex07 hahaha i know what you mean, justin. i guess thats why i didnt go that route and opted to photograph landscapes instead (you know, the kind i could photoshop the hell out of) 😛
@justex07 hahaha i know what you mean, justin. i guess thats why i didnt go that route and opted to photograph landscapes instead (you know, the kind i could photoshop the hell out of) 😛
@justex07 I shoot with an old Nikon D70 (wasn’t so old when I bought it!) I’m much more of a street shooter, but I want to get a diffuser and learn how to use the flash effectively. I’ll check out the cord too. Thanks for the tips!
@justex07 I shoot with an old Nikon D70 (wasn’t so old when I bought it!) I’m much more of a street shooter, but I want to get a diffuser and learn how to use the flash effectively. I’ll check out the cord too. Thanks for the tips!