How we captured this photo of CPS CEO Pedro Martinez taking questions from reporters

This week’s top photo comes from Visual Journalist Anthony Vazquez. Follow him on Instagram.

What makes this photo great?

I like this image because of the haunting tone. Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez is under a lot of scrutiny, and I thought that the eyes in this image reflect that defensiveness and worry. It’s also an image that you don’t usually get at a press conference.

How did you get the shot?

TV viewfinders are a guarantee at a press conference, and sometimes, if you find the right angle and distance, you can focus on the image in the small viewfinder. Occasionally, you’ll capture a perfectly clear image, but other times, the result is a haunting and unique shot.

To get this image, you’ll need to find the right camera operator and viewfinder. There are green and black, black and white, and color viewfinders on the different TV cameras, all providing a different look.

Next, you have to hope the TV videographer isn’t standing in front of the viewfinder. They usually stick to the side, but in a packed environment, that can be tricky. Once you’ve picked your viewfinder, do your best to line it up with your lens. This might mean getting in an awkward position, lowering yourself down or raising the camera well above your head.

Focusing on the shot is the hardest part. You can’t control what the person speaking does, and they’re bound to be moving around. This is where patience and luck come in. Just wait, and the subject will eventually pop back into frame. I also recommend manually focusing because autofocus tends to get confused by the viewfinder.

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