This week’s post is a feature on QMI photographer, Andre Forget, who works in the National Bureau in Ottawa. Andre covers national news both here in Ottawa and abroad and regularly finds himself on Parliament Hill. Above is a nice feature photograph Andre took in between jobs and it speaks to how a daily news photographer must think and work.

I asked Andre to offer some insight on why and how the picture was made. Here is our Q&A:

 

• Andre, as QMI Agency’s National Bureau photographer, you find yourself on The Hill quite often. How did you come by this photograph?

A: “Since my bureau isn’t on the “Hill” I’m always walking to and from that location. I like to mix it up and try never to walk the same way twice in the same day. This changes up my perspective of the Hill. I also try and put the days news context into my photos in order to them them some value for our chains content.”

• 2: Sometimes as photographers photographing in the same “arena” we can become “blind” and struggle to see familiar things differently. How do you maintain a level of creativity while photographing on The Hill nearly every day?

“I can and document the hill from different angles on different days. You could quite easily look at the “Hill” from the same angle and never come up with a different photo. That day was foggy and I deiced to use it to my advantage. I chose this angle for the simple reason that I never shot it from that exact location yet. At first it didn’t work for me but I took this a challenge and worked it harder. I knelt down…changed lenses and used different subject matter to make the photo work better. I finally went with the man walking in exactly the middle of the frame.”

• 3. What are one or two things you keep in mind while photographing weather features? (for the camera geeks) what was the camera setup and setting used for the photo?

“As I mentioned before I always try and put the days top news into my features. It makes them a news photo as well as a feature photo as the same time. An example would be the new session on the hill is starting…..so I did a fun low angle photo of feet and legs heading to the hill with the Peace Tower framed between the workers. It could be used as a news photo as well as a feature photo. And a feature is always a pretty photo by definition so I try and make an interesting photo with some creative angle that pops. “

Camera Info: Nikon D3S, 24-70. Shutter priority @1/250, f9 with a –1.7 exposure compensation.

Andre Forget is an award winning photographer who has covered major events all over the world. Most recently, Andre lived and worked in Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates and now calls Ottawa his home.