This week’s top photo comes from Visual Journalist Anthony Vazquez. Follow him on Instagram.
What makes this photo great?
I think what makes this photo great is the lighting on Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s face. It’s lit by a TV news photographer’s camera light in the background, and another light off to the left. You can see how warm the room was from the sweat on Pritzker’s face. The intensity of his face and the number of microphones, phones, and people surrounding him shows just how much attention was focused on him as he answered reporters’ questions about his reelection run and political future.
How did you get this photo?
Candidate rallies always provide great moments if you wander around. It’s important to get the podium shot, the wave, and the smiles. But, it’s also nice to just walk around, experiment, and get creative. For this one, the press gaggle formed around Pritzker, and I wandered off to the side and back, went low, and tried a bunch of different things.
At the end of the day, I liked this one the most because of the striking lighting and intense moment.
Technical details:
- Equipment: Canon EOS R5 with an EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS II USM lens
- Focal length: 50mm
- Aperture: f/2.8
- Exposure: 1/1250
- ISO: 4000
22 more great photos from the Sun-Times photo staff
Members of the Chicago Police Department honor guard fold the Chicago flag that draped the casket of Officer Krystal Rivera after her funeral at Living Word Christian Center in Forest Park, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Officer Rivera was accidentally shot and killed by her partner while responding to a call.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Haroldand his daughter Diane O’Connell at his home in Edgewater, Tuesday, June 24, 2025. Harold was one of the patients at Weiss Memorial Hospital who was moved to West Suburban Medical Center. He said the hospital was still hot over the weekend and he received terrible care. They were able to get him home on Monday, and he is staying in his Edgewater apartment.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Former Gov. Pat Quinn shows a note written in 2011 by Robert Prevost, now as Pope Leo XIV, outside of Assumption Church at 323 W. Illinois St., Sunday, June 22, 2025. Documents obtained by WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times through a public records request show that in 2011 the Chicago-born pope sent his gratitude to then-Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn for abolishing the death penalty in Illinois.
Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times
Kathy Ismar with her dog, Molly, at her home in Franklin Park. Ismar said Legal Aid Chicago helped her keep her home, where she used to “walk on eggshells” when living there with her ex-husband. “And then the day came when I could do anything,” she said, recounting how she felt after the organization helped her keep her house after her divorce.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times