NAACP Convention in Orlando

Hazel Dukes, a member of the board of directors of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), cheers at the end of a speech by NAACP president Benjamin Jealous  to the 2013 NAACP convention in Orlando, Florida July 15, 2013. In the wake of the George Zimmerman murder trial, civil rights leaders, including Jealous, are urging the Justice Department to pursue federal civil rights charges against Zimmerman.  REUTERS/David Manning 

Stepping back into my role as a press photographer, I spend two days at the NAACP convention in Orlando, mostly for NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous.

As always, hit the jump for more photos




This is a straight up political, staged event.  As a stringer for a wire service, my main role is to document what happens, make photos for the world and find something outside the norm that makes a great photo.

My advice to young photographers is much the same: look for something else, look for something different and look for something that no one else is getting. Case in point with the top photo, no one was photographing Mrs. Dukes and she made a very nice photo - Everyone else was photographing the front row center where Mr. Jealous' family was.

I always get there early and I love working the light as much as possible. For example, the photo below - light just streaming through the windows of the OCCC.  Stood there and milked it for about 10 minutes before I got something I was happy with.

E. Jean Wrice, of Lorain, Ohio, walks through the Orange County Convention Center at the 2013 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) convention in Orlando, Florida July 15, 2013.

Benjamin Jealous, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), speaks to the 2013 NAACP convention in Orlando, Florida July 15, 2013.

Benjamin Jealous, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), speaks to the 2013 NAACP convention in Orlando, Florida July 15, 2013.

Benjamin Jealous, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), speaks to the 2013 NAACP convention in Orlando, Florida July 15, 2013.

A woman walks through the Orange County Convention Center before the 2013 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) convention in Orlando, Florida July 15, 2013.

Kevin Myles of Atlanta, Ga., looks on an iPad during the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) 2013 convention in Orlando, Florida July 15, 2013. 

Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony Brown waits to speak to the 2013 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) convention in Orlando, Florida July 15, 2013.  

People are silhouetted against a display of Dr. Martin Luther King's writings at the 2013 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) convention in Orlando, Florida July 15, 2013.