This week’s top photo comes from Visual Journalist and Assistant Photo Editor Pat Nabong. Follow her on Instagram.
What makes this photo great?
News conferences are often predictable: I get a photo of a speaker walking to the lectern, a close-up of them animatedly speaking, a few wide photos, and then a photo of them walking away. Sometimes, the scene offers something different, like a candid moment of Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez standing in the elevator before the doors close, and it’s an opportunity to be a little more creative and photograph him in a more natural and less performative moment.
How did you get the shot?
After the news conference, I watched Martinez walk with his staff to the elevator. I was about to turn around to pack up when I noticed him face the elevator doors, waiting for them to close. My first few frames were zoomed in on him but out of the corner of my eye, I saw the silhouette of a staff member on the left and thought it would add an interesting layer to the composition. I zoomed out and waited for the elevator doors to close until they obscured the other people he was in the elevator with.
Technical details
- Equipment: Sony A7IV with a Sony 70-200 f/2.8 lens
- Focal length: 156 mm
- Aperture: f/2.8
- Exposure: 1/500
- ISO: 3200
12 more great photos from the Sun-Times staff
Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin greets supporters at his Election Night party at his campaign headquarters in Aurora, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Irvin, who has been the western suburb’s mayor since 2017, lost his re-election bid to at-large Ald. John Laesch in Aurora’s runoff election.
Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
(From left) Jose Gregorio Gonzalez and his brother Jose Alfredo Pacheco Gonzalez stand next to each other during a news conference at the Resurrection Project in Pilsen, hours after Jose Gregorio Gonzalez was temporarily released from ICE custody to donate a kidney to his ailing brother, Friday, April 4, 2025.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
(From left) Jose Alfredo Pacheco Gonzalez and his brother Jose Gregorio Gonzalez hold hands during a news conference at the Resurrection Project in Pilsen, hours after Jose Gregorio Gonzalez was temporarily released from ICE custody to donate a kidney to his ailing brother, Friday, April 4, 2025.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Robert Johnson (center) walks out to cheers alongside his attorney Lauren Myerscough-Mueller (left) and family after a hearing at George N Leighton Criminal Courthouse at 2650 S California Ave in Little Village, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Robert Johnson’s conviction was vacated by a Cook County Judge after 29 years in prison as a result of the Burge-era police misconduct.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Robert Johnson gets a kiss from his grandmother, Mary Robinson, after a hearing at George N Leighton Criminal Courthouse at 2650 S California Ave in Little Village, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Robert Johnson’s conviction was vacated by a Cook County Judge after 29 years in prison as a result of the Burge-era police misconduct.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Michael Sosa, Air Force veteran 74-76, tears up as Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) pins a 50th anniversary Vietnam pin at VFW Armed Forces Post 8322 at 6940 W. Diversey Ave in Mont Clare, Friday, March 28, 2025. An event was held at the VFW to commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and recognize Vietnam service members.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times