No, not talking about full court basketball press, it’s the twelve times a day press conferences here at the Super Bowl in NOLA. Well I guess you could call them Media Conferences, but I’m a little old fashioned and to think newspapers give a little more in-depth coverage.
Don’t get me wrong, the pressers need to be covered. It’s how the news gets out here ESPECIALLY at this event. There are over 1,000 credentialed media in Crescent City and that’s a lot of people that feed the beast in the dubya dubya dubya age. It’s a deadline every minute. The effect of a player saying something controversial-AKA 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver-can go viral in a matter of seconds.
The press conference is a planet in the universe of a team hotel. Orbiting that planet are moons, risers, where the bigger name players are featured. On the surface are the lesser known players who sit at round and numbered tables who sometimes will not be interviewed the entire week. All the players need to be present every day. Most bring head phones and a wireless device to pass the time. On Thursday, I saw several players with iPads playing video games. I sort of feel guilty about this and try to at least say hello to a few of the guys that I’ve met from time to time.
Me? I’m pressed for time.
Katherine Webb, Miss Alabama, interviews Baltimore Ravens from left Pernell McPhee, Haloti Ngata and Arthur Jones during the team media interview session for inside edition, Thursday Jan 31, 2013. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2013
Mike Ditka, former coach and now analyst withe ESPN waits with Trent Dilfer, Jerry Rice and Cris Carter as they prepare to talk with the media, Thursday Jan. 31, 2013 Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2013
Jerry Rice talks to the media, Thursday Jan. 31, 2013 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans as he talks about the 49ers and their chances in Super Bowl XLVII Sunday. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2013
Backgrounds are pretty important when shooting a interview. Heed this warning PR people (and photogs), try to keep backgrounds clean and tidy so the message is clear.
49er QB Colin Kaepernick answers questions from the media Thursday Jan 31, 2013 at the team hotel in New Orleans for Super Bowl XLVII. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2013
Moving around helps but sometimes everything works visually against your camera.
49er QB Colin Kaepernick is mobbed by the media, Thursday Jan 31, 2013 at the team hotel in New Orleans for Super Bowl XLVII. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2013
Viola! CLEAN!
Forty Niner QB Colin Kaepernick is interviewed by the media, Thursday Jan. 31, 2013 at the team hotel in New Orleans. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2013
1,2,3,4 I declare a thumb war. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat 2013
Kyle Williams of the Forty Niners watches a media throng interview Chis Culliverat during San Francisco's last press conference of the week, Thursday Jan 31, 2013 in New Orleans. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2013
Forty Niners receiver Randy Moss dons a headband at San Francisco's last press conference of the week, Thursday Jan 31, 2013 in New Orleans. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2013
During the last interview session of Super Bowl week, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver is surrounded by media, Thursday Jan. 31 as he apologizes Thursday for anti-gay comments he made earlier this week. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2013
Can you spot three present and past Press Democrat reporters in the above photo? If you can, you’re good.
Tedd Ginn Jr. horses around after a press conference at the 49ers team hotel in New Orleans, Thursday Jan. 31, 2013. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2013
With the digital age, background illumination can become tricky; it’s very difficult to marry-up shutter speeds with ISO on the camera. I call the lines on the illuminated screens a Digital Roll, there is no perfect way to keep from getting lines on these giant screens.
Brothers John Harbaugh, left, coach of the Baltimore Ravens and Jim Harbaugh, coach of the San Francisco 49ers talk to the media, Friday Feb. 1, 2013 in New Orleans, for Super Bowl XLVII. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2013
-Kent Porter
