269 – Election Day

100 pts

Assigned: Thursday, October 22, 2019

Due: Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Covering a live event on deadline

Goal – To look for strong visual moments that can tell a story about a relevant issue.

Obviously a big day. Please remember to vote if you haven’t already.

I would like you to cover Election Day, off-campus, on deadline. That means shooting and uploading your work all on Election Day – as quickly as you can after you take the photos.

For the assignment, I am looking for visually compelling photos and captions that tell the story of the day.

I would expect long lines at many polling locations, especially early in the morning (polls open at 7 am), and around dinner time after work(polls are open until 8 pm)

Possible ideas:

  1. People in line waiting to vote – show the long lines in an interesting way, tighter shots of people waiting. A good chance to talk to voters since they have nothing to do but wait.
  2. Get out the vote or campaigning. Check with the party headquarters and activist groups to see if there are any last-minute activities – driving people to the polls, demonstrations/rallies to encourage people to vote etc.
  3. Election night watch parties. These will be tricky with the pandemic – but perhaps in larger public spaces? Will the HUB have the TVs on and allow people to watch the results.
  4. Election night protests – I don’t know if this will happen or not – but large gatherings in protest or celebration later on election night as the results come in.

You need to submit work as quickly as possible after you shoot it.

Photos need complete AP captions and should include, beyond the basics, a sense of the mood of the day through quotes or your observations. Not your opinions. I don’t want your opinions. I want facts and the opinions and feelings of the people you meet.

  • Why does voting matter
  • what issues are important this year
  • how are they feeling about the process
  • who do they support and why
  • What in their own lives drives their decision

**Photos should also include the time you took the photo. PLEASE SET THE TIME ON YOUR CAMERAS IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY.

GO TO THE WRENCH ICON ON THE CAMERA>TIME ZONE AND DATE:

    • Set the Time Zone for NY
    • Set the Date and Time so it is accurate

Links:

As with all weekly assignments:

  • a minimum of 75 images
  • a minimum of 90 minutes of shooting

CAPTIONS: AP Style

Work is due on Election Day