How we got this photo of a couple concerned about potential cuts to Medicaid
What Makes This Image Great:
What makes this photo great are all the little details. The story was about Medicaid being taken away by a new bill, and in this photo, you can see various medications and hints of medical equipment. Beyond that, the background details subtly reveal insights into Deborah and Kenneth’s personalities. I also love the brief, fleeting moment captured between them.
How Did You Get This Image:
For this story, Lauren FitzPatrick and I followed a Meals on Wheels delivery route. We hadn’t met the families beforehand or given them a heads-up; at each stop, we’d ask if they were comfortable being interviewed. Sometimes they declined, but others welcomed us into their homes and shared their concerns about the future. This was the case with Deborah and Kenneth. We sat down with them, and Deborah described her medical issues and their bleak outlook, unsure how they would continue to afford her medical coverage and their living expenses. I waited until the end to take photos. I took a portrait first, and after that, they relaxed and seemed to forget the camera was there. That’s when I captured them simply being themselves and interacting with each other.
Technical details:
Equipment: Canon EOS R5 with an EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS II USM lens
Focal length: 24mm
Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure: 1/60th
ISO: 5000
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