Photographing the 2024 Democratic National Convention

Aug 26, 2024

Steve Simon

A woman stands at a podium, smiling and waving while speaking. She is dressed in a dark suit, and behind her are two American flags. The image is black and white.

This is the sequel to my article covering the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last month. It has been 20 years and thousands of frames and I figure at this time in our political history, it’s probably a good time to close the chapter on this work and seek out a publisher.

Four individuals stand on a stage holding hands and raising them triumphantly. They are dressed formally in suits and smiling. Behind them are American flags and a podium, with an enthusiastic crowd taking photos. The image captures a celebratory moment.

But it won’t be easy sifting through the thousands of frames and turning the selects into a cohesive narrative through design and sequencing— telling the story I want to tell about the American Political Convention.

It’s always a challenge when thousands of media, delegates and protestors converge in one place — and to find room among the throngs to make strong images is a challenge.

Black and white image of a jubilant crowd, many holding "Kamala" signs. Balloons fill the air as people cheer and celebrate, capturing a moment of excitement and unity.

A man in a suit stands on a stage with a large American flag backdrop. He is smiling and walking, surrounded by photographers capturing the moment. The image is in black and white.

Black and white photo of a diverse group of people attentively watching something off-camera. They range in gender, ethnicity, and age, each with expressions of focus and engagement. The background shows a blurred, crowded atmosphere.

I shot the majority of the convention with two cameras, a Nikon Z8 and Z9 with a 24-120mm and 70-200 f/2.8 zoom and 1.4x converter attached which allowed me to find shots even when I wasn’t in the ideal position — which was often.

A man in a suit, with neatly combed hair, looks to the side in a serious manner. He is surrounded by blurred signs and people, creating a focused yet intense black and white portrait.

A black and white photo of a woman standing behind a podium, speaking into a microphone. The backdrop features a pattern of stars and stripes, possibly indicating a patriotic or political event. A microphone stand is visible on her left.

A somber elderly man in a suit and tie stands at a podium with his hand covering his mouth and eyes closed as if in deep thought or mourning. The background is blurred and the image is in black and white, emphasizing the emotional moment.

I have some experience at these events having covered them for as long as I have — and though I can’t be everywhere I want to be — with a combination of serendipity and experience it tends to work out. Navigating the convention floor can be an exercise in frustration since many areas are off limits (more so at this DNC than the RNC) and you can’t often be in the camera position you want when something photo-worthy is happening.

A black and white photo shows a group of people in formal attire gathered around a man in a wheelchair, who is smiling. The image is taken from behind a man making a peace sign with his hand in the foreground. The scene appears to be at an event backstage.

Black and white photo of a crowd celebrating at a political convention. A person in the foreground raises their hands as balloons drop from the ceiling. People take photos with their phones. Large screens display various city names like Detroit, Madison, and Pittsburgh.

A black-and-white image of a dynamic musical performance. The central male singer is passionately holding a microphone. Onstage with him are two female musicians playing instruments and singers/dancers energetically moving. An American flag is visible in the background.

A big part of my strategy is to photograph behind the scenes and on the periphery of the convention to pull back the curtain on the reality of this political theatre. You also never know who will turn around the corner, as when I ran into a very friendly Oprah in the basement of the United Center. She was rumored to attend but not on the official list. (No, she did not throw the keys to a new car at me like I had hoped).

A black and white image showing a group of five people walking down a hallway. A woman in the center, wearing glasses and a lanyard with a badge, appears to be leading. Others follow closely behind, all dressed in professional attire. An exit sign is visible in the background.

Black and white image of a person speaking on a stage, holding a microphone. Crowd in the foreground holds signs reading "We Fight. We Win." Background features an American flag pattern with stars and stripes. The atmosphere is energetic.

A diverse group of people stand together in a crowded arena, smiling and clapping. A man in the center places his hand over his chest, while another man beside him wears a turban. The atmosphere is lively and celebratory. The background is filled with more enthusiastic spectators.

I generally don’t need to be where others are anyway. Having the zooms gives me the opportunity to get something from wherever I happen to be when things start to happen. I then try and rush into a better position. I’m always looking for images that are a little different anyway.

A grayscale image of a crowded hallway, showing a woman in the foreground with closed eyes and a content expression. She wears a dotted jacket and a necklace. Behind her, diverse individuals are engaged, some looking at her, others conversing or looking past the camera.

A black-and-white photo showing two people in suits hugging on a stage, flanked by American flags. The background features a starry design. Both appear to be smiling warmly at each other.

Black and white image of a man with a serious expression, seated and looking into the camera. He is flanked by security personnel in an indoor setting. The banner on the side reads "DNC 2024.

With hundreds of accredited photographers and most everyone else in the United Center with a phone camera I’m sure we all came home with satisfying shots since the “perfect angle” is not always the most interesting. Perfection is overrated I say.

A black and white image of a group of diverse individuals on a stage, some clapping and smiling. Large balloons are scattered at the bottom of the frame. In the background, a sign with partial text is visible, along with a crowd of people.

Black and white photo showing four people on stage at a crowded venue. They are holding hands and smiling, with one person waving to the crowd. The audience in the background is holding large vertical signs with state names.

Black and white photo of two people embracing on stage with a "Thank You" sign in the background. U.S. flags are positioned on the left, and a podium with a microphone is on the right.

Jeff Kent is the Director of the United States Senate Press Gallery along with Assistant Director Tricia Munro and their amazing team, who have the unenviable task of keeping hundreds of anxious photojournalists happy in a very stressful environment. The somehow pulled it off.

There was a lot of talk about the joyful atmosphere of the DNC, but for photographers trying to capture that joy it was a little more difficult than it was in Milwaukee. The convention organizers at the DNC were all about the delegates, as maybe they should be, so photographers were more limited in where they could go and had to be frequently rotated into various “good” vantage points and stay down as not to block the view of the delegates. It was stressful but the Senate team in charge of still shooters were always fighting for us to get where we needed to go.

A woman in a suit bends down and smiles at a young child with shoulder-length hair. The woman appears to be engaging in a warm, friendly conversation. The background is blurred, and the image is in black and white.

A black-and-white photo of a man standing behind a wooden podium, speaking energetically with a raised fist. The background features vertical panels with star patterns projected onto them. A teleprompter is positioned in front of him.

A black and white photo of a large crowd at a rally or event, where many people are holding signs that read "Union YES!" and "Thank You Joe." The crowd appears energetic and enthusiastic, with one person in the foreground cheering enthusiastically.

There’s always a hierarchy of access and the photographers representing big circulation media often have the best access. But as mentioned, if you’ve been cleared by Secret Service and you’re in the building, you will get great shots.

A group of formally dressed individuals walk through a corridor. One person with white hair, wearing a suit and smiling, is surrounded by others in suits, some with lanyards and badges. The corridor has a low ceiling with exposed pipes and cables.

A black-and-white photo of a woman with braided hair, wearing a patterned blouse, covering her mouth with one hand and holding a rolled-up poster in the other, overcome with emotion. Beside her stands a smiling man in a suit. They are among a cheering crowd.

It’s a lot of work but it’s never lost on me what a privilege it is for me to be there with my camera. Regardless of how the book turns out, I hope to be back in 2028 if they let me. It’s an exhausting but highly rewarding photographic/life experience.

Black and white image of a woman speaking energetically at a podium with three American flags behind her. She is wearing a suit, and the background features vertical lines and star patterns.

About the author: Steve Simon is a photographer based in New York City who’s obsessed with documentary photography and all things photographic. When he’s not shooting political conventions Steve is photographing the streets and leads street photography workshops around the world. You can link to his work and writing on his website or follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or X. This article was also published here.

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democrat, dnc, election, experience, kamalaharris, photojournalism, politics, stevesimon

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