I could sit here and write a ton of copy about covering Florida politics.

Fact of the matter is, it’s weird, it’s draining, and it’s one of most fun things I get to do in photojournalism.

With that, here are some random rectangles from the week of covering Mitt Romney’s win in the Florida Primary with some scraps from the cutting room floor as a bonus.

I-4 is an interesting road.  Connecting Daytona, Orlando and Tampa, it slices the nub of South Florida right off the map, it provides a vast array of landmarks – strange kitschy theme parks, vasectomy billboards, and rest stop oasis after oasis.  It is also fertile ground for voters and an area candidates target every election cycle.

The New York Times sent me with a reporter and videographer to tackle I-4 man-on-the street style to try to find folks opinionated about the state of the GOP and politics in general.  I did that.  Then I also did this.  Whenever I could break away and find some images for me I did, and luckily the NYT embraced the latter and ran it A1 as a grid of four.

I know there aren’t any faces, a lack of folks, but sometimes the details and vignettes of nouns can tug at the sweater string of story mood.

For more photos along I-4 in Florida please visit my Photoshelter archive.

I am definitely coming up with some pieces of flair for photojournalists on the election trail.  It can be a lonely place out there covering politics, running from spray to rope to riser, sending from the floor of some conference room, being surrounded by thousands, but only knowing the 10 other photographers in the pool.  All of that, and we have to remain neutral the whole time – without a single piece of flair to adorn our credential laden torso.

Over the last couple days of covering the Fox News / Google Debate and CPAC Florida, I’ve come up with the Top 12 Neutral Campaign Slogans for Photojournalists Covering the 2012 Presidential Election.  Buttons, shirts, bumper stickers will be never available, but someone else feel free to make them.

Just give me a cut.

1. “I’m Pretending to Listen to Your Rant, but It’s Only Because I Can’t Stand to Hear the Rocky Theme One More Time.”
2. “Yes, I Took Your Photo.  No, I Probably Won’t Email It To You.”
3. “I’m Neither For Nor Against Whatever.”
4. “It’s the Aperture, Stupid.”
5. “Yes, That Liberal Rag.”
6. “He’s Going to be Late?  That’s Ok.  I’m Way Too Early Anyway.  By Early, I Mean On-Time.”
7. “NoPodiums!”
8. “No I Won’t Throw Out That Flyer/Press Release For You.”
9. “I Like Rimlight.”
10. “Yes We Can – Make Hand Gestures.”
11. “Wow, Your iPhone Takes Really Good Photos Above Your Head Right in Front of Me.”
12. “Winter/Webb 2012.”

I did take some photos as well, and they are below…and available on Photoshelter…here.

Suit.  Check.

Tie.   Check.

Podium.  Check.

Stage full of red, white, and blue accents.  Check.

Talking points.  Check.

American flag pin.  Check.

Finger pointing.  Check.

Riser.  Check.

Twenty other photographers getting the same shot.  Check.

I really do love covering politics…there’s that inherent challenge in making something unique that goes beyond what is literally handed to you.  You are given a single seat.  You sit.  You point.  You click.  Not only are you put in one spot, you’re almost required to sit there and shoot the candidate talking in case one decides to slap the other.

It will never happen, but it does, you better have it in all its glory.

Luckily, The New York Times gives me the freedom to wander and make some different imagery at things like the recent Tea Party / CNN Republican Presidential Debate, but most of it is shot from that one assigned seat.  As snarky as this post is, I wouldn’t switch seats with anyone.

The rest can be found…here.