Everyone should read this… 🚨 The NYT Reporter who Captured the Bullet Flying Past Trumps Head, was using the Kind of Camera & Settings you’d Use to Capture Live-Fire Action, Such as a Head Exploding! Michael Yon, one of the most experienced combat war correspondents living today, made a Compelling assessment. I put together his assessment in a more understandable breakdown, provided additional details, and my analysis. 🔴 All Quoted (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/14/us/politics/photo-path-trump-assassination.html) from the NYT • Who was the Photographer? —— A famous veteran NYT photographer named Doug Mills. • What Kind of Equipment & Settings were used? —— Mr. Mills was using a Sony A1 and 24mm f/1.4 GM, capable of capturing images at up to 30 frames per second. Priced at $6,499. —— He took these photos with a shutter speed of 1/8,000th of a second. Extremely Fast by industry standards. The above is quoted from NYT themselves. 🔴 The Perfect “Shot” • If the gunman was firing an AR-15-style rifle, the .223-caliber or 5.56-millimeter bullets they use travel at roughly 3,200 feet per second when they leave the weapon’s muzzle. —— “And with a 1/8,000th of a second shutter speed, this would allow the bullet to travel approximately four-tenths of a foot while the shutter is open.” • Most cameras used to capture images of bullets in flight are using extremely high speed specialty cameras not normally utilized for regular photography, so catching a bullet on a side trajectory as seen in that photo would be a one in a million shot and nearly impossible to catch even if one knew the bullet was coming. At that distance and trajectory, had any bullet hit Trump, that type of camera and settings would have easily captured his head frankly exploding. Were they there for the “Perfect Pulitzer Prize Head Shot”…? 🔴 COUNTER ARGUMENTS • “Some journalists argue Its usage by the NYT photographers is not unusual.” —— Only professional photographers can answer this question. • “Shooting at 1/8000 at f1.6 in daylight is also not unusual, but necessary for proper exposure.” —— again, only Professional and unbiased photographers can answer that question. 🔴 CRITICAL QUESTIONS THAT WILL EITHER PROVE OR DEBUNK THIS • Examine any and all Video footage of the Photographer, Doug Mills, at least 1-2 minutes before the shot. —— check body language. —— how many images did he capture leading up to THAT moment? —— was he ultra focused in the moments leading up to the shots? • How many times has Doug Mills photographed at a Trump rally? —— apply that same question to other cameramen & photographers. • Who made the decision to send Doug Mills there? —— climb the ladder. • How common is it for these kinds of cameras and these settings used to capture rally speeches, where the “object” being photographed is standing still? —— Trump campaign photographers can weigh in easily on this, or maybe even Gene Ho. • Why were all legacy media outlets showing THIS rally Live? —— they rarely do that… —— CNN, MSNBC, FOX, and others decided to show THIS rally? —— Find out who gave those outlets the green light to show this rally live. Climb the ladder. These questions can lead the Trump campaign to answers.
30 frames a second is standard speed for video. Most new digital cameras today can capture videos at 30fps. The issue is was this photographer expecting something to happen that motion would want to be stopped and closely examined? The second question is shutter speed. Unless someone is trying to capture a super speeding car or perhaps sprinters at the Olympics where inches determine the winner, it's simply not needed. 1/8000th of a second means the photographer was trying to stop motion. The fact that he was capturing 30 fps means he was trying to capture something speeding and have the ability to stop at a very precise spot and also play the sequences surrounding that spot back in slow motion.
The fact that it was broad daylight gives a still photographer the option to decrease the ASA number (decrease light sensitivity) and/or decrease the aperture of the lens. It's like your eye's pupil. When it's bright your pupil closes and when it's darker the pupil opens to let me light in. Shooting at 1/8000 means not much light can get in before the shutter closes so the lens aperture was wide open at F1.6. Being a 24mm lens, assuming the camera had a full frame sensor, was a moderately wide angle. All that means is that the photographer wanted the ability to capture an object moving at high speed and using the fully open aperature to let enough light into the camera and wanting to get a wide area of view to see the object and the area around that object at the same time.
The photographer could have been looking for the perfect facial expression, perfect hand gesture, perfect flag ripple in his defense. Conversely, it would have been totally consistent to have the camera set like this to catch the president's head explode and see the bullet entering and exiting. It's not unusual for professional photograhers on assignment to try their best to capture just the right cover photo for a magazine for example and burn through thousands of images trying to find the exact perfect one. Often, they are in competition with lots of other photograhers doing the exact same thing. It's why you often hear the motor drives whirring at press conferences or paparazzi trying to catch that perfect crotch shot as a starlet is exiting the back of a limo.
No way to tell what the exact motive of the photographer was however. More evidence would be needed to prove he was looking for a specific thing like a head exploding.
So let's see, ISO 50-200 is 2 stops. A normal bright day without snow would typically be F16 with ISO 200 or F8 at ISO 50. Both of those would be accurate with a shutter speed of 1/250. So, assuming F16 was correct with ISO 200 @1/250, then F8@1/500, F5.6@1/1000, F4@1/2000, F2.8 @1/4000 and F1.6@ 1/8000 would be accurate. If working with ISO 50 @F8 @ 1/250 was accurate then F5.6@ 1/500, F4@ 1/1000, F2.8@ 1/2000 and F1.6@ 1/4000 would be the limit. With some brighter scenes and digital stretching 1/8000 is possible. But with any clouds and possible shade it's less so. What's the point? Each of the above settings would give appropriate exposure but only the fastest shutter speed would stop high speed, like a bullet. Interesting that he chose to go the the limit of shutter speed when other choices were available.
It was a burst of shots which is typical with modern cameras when you're trying to capture someone speaking otherwise you get some odd facial expressions which you don't publish if you want to keep your job. He was trying to freeze the motion of the flag behind Trump.
Being 24mm these image are still cropped at the top/bottom but you can see the flag is nicely captured with some softness from shooting at f1.6
Mills has taken memorable photographs of presidents going back to Ronald Reagan. But he has found a new, perhaps surprising, admirer in Trump, who, for all of his cries of “fake news,” has repeatedly singled out one photojournalist above all others for his omnipresence and talent.
Aboard Air Force One last fall, the president peered through a tangle of arms holding voice recorders to find his favorite journalist peering at him: “There’s my genius photographer,” he said, gesturing toward Mills. At a round table during the G-7 conference in Quebec that year, Trump squeezed in between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, chitchatting. Before the assembled press pool was shooed out, Mills caught Trump’s eye and, turning to Trudeau, crowed: “He’s the No. 1 photographer in the world,” adding, “Unfortunately, he works for the New York Times.” Trudeau and Merkel chuckled.
I hate them moar
Everyone should read this… 🚨 The NYT Reporter who Captured the Bullet Flying Past Trumps Head, was using the Kind of Camera & Settings you’d Use to Capture Live-Fire Action, Such as a Head Exploding! Michael Yon, one of the most experienced combat war correspondents living today, made a Compelling assessment. I put together his assessment in a more understandable breakdown, provided additional details, and my analysis. 🔴 All Quoted (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/14/us/politics/photo-path-trump-assassination.html) from the NYT • Who was the Photographer? —— A famous veteran NYT photographer named Doug Mills. • What Kind of Equipment & Settings were used? —— Mr. Mills was using a Sony A1 and 24mm f/1.4 GM, capable of capturing images at up to 30 frames per second. Priced at $6,499. —— He took these photos with a shutter speed of 1/8,000th of a second. Extremely Fast by industry standards. The above is quoted from NYT themselves. 🔴 The Perfect “Shot” • If the gunman was firing an AR-15-style rifle, the .223-caliber or 5.56-millimeter bullets they use travel at roughly 3,200 feet per second when they leave the weapon’s muzzle. —— “And with a 1/8,000th of a second shutter speed, this would allow the bullet to travel approximately four-tenths of a foot while the shutter is open.” • Most cameras used to capture images of bullets in flight are using extremely high speed specialty cameras not normally utilized for regular photography, so catching a bullet on a side trajectory as seen in that photo would be a one in a million shot and nearly impossible to catch even if one knew the bullet was coming. At that distance and trajectory, had any bullet hit Trump, that type of camera and settings would have easily captured his head frankly exploding. Were they there for the “Perfect Pulitzer Prize Head Shot”…? 🔴 COUNTER ARGUMENTS • “Some journalists argue Its usage by the NYT photographers is not unusual.” —— Only professional photographers can answer this question. • “Shooting at 1/8000 at f1.6 in daylight is also not unusual, but necessary for proper exposure.” —— again, only Professional and unbiased photographers can answer that question. 🔴 CRITICAL QUESTIONS THAT WILL EITHER PROVE OR DEBUNK THIS • Examine any and all Video footage of the Photographer, Doug Mills, at least 1-2 minutes before the shot. —— check body language. —— how many images did he capture leading up to THAT moment? —— was he ultra focused in the moments leading up to the shots? • How many times has Doug Mills photographed at a Trump rally? —— apply that same question to other cameramen & photographers. • Who made the decision to send Doug Mills there? —— climb the ladder. • How common is it for these kinds of cameras and these settings used to capture rally speeches, where the “object” being photographed is standing still? —— Trump campaign photographers can weigh in easily on this, or maybe even Gene Ho. • Why were all legacy media outlets showing THIS rally Live? —— they rarely do that… —— CNN, MSNBC, FOX, and others decided to show THIS rally? —— Find out who gave those outlets the green light to show this rally live. Climb the ladder. These questions can lead the Trump campaign to answers.
Excellent post. Thank you. It will be interesting following WHO auth'd all media to attend and WHO decided on this photographer..
Yes. Thank you. Post filed.
30 frames a second is standard speed for video. Most new digital cameras today can capture videos at 30fps. The issue is was this photographer expecting something to happen that motion would want to be stopped and closely examined? The second question is shutter speed. Unless someone is trying to capture a super speeding car or perhaps sprinters at the Olympics where inches determine the winner, it's simply not needed. 1/8000th of a second means the photographer was trying to stop motion. The fact that he was capturing 30 fps means he was trying to capture something speeding and have the ability to stop at a very precise spot and also play the sequences surrounding that spot back in slow motion.
The fact that it was broad daylight gives a still photographer the option to decrease the ASA number (decrease light sensitivity) and/or decrease the aperture of the lens. It's like your eye's pupil. When it's bright your pupil closes and when it's darker the pupil opens to let me light in. Shooting at 1/8000 means not much light can get in before the shutter closes so the lens aperture was wide open at F1.6. Being a 24mm lens, assuming the camera had a full frame sensor, was a moderately wide angle. All that means is that the photographer wanted the ability to capture an object moving at high speed and using the fully open aperature to let enough light into the camera and wanting to get a wide area of view to see the object and the area around that object at the same time.
The photographer could have been looking for the perfect facial expression, perfect hand gesture, perfect flag ripple in his defense. Conversely, it would have been totally consistent to have the camera set like this to catch the president's head explode and see the bullet entering and exiting. It's not unusual for professional photograhers on assignment to try their best to capture just the right cover photo for a magazine for example and burn through thousands of images trying to find the exact perfect one. Often, they are in competition with lots of other photograhers doing the exact same thing. It's why you often hear the motor drives whirring at press conferences or paparazzi trying to catch that perfect crotch shot as a starlet is exiting the back of a limo.
No way to tell what the exact motive of the photographer was however. More evidence would be needed to prove he was looking for a specific thing like a head exploding.
Who uses or says ASA anymore?
As stated multiple times this has been posted, he was also capturing the flag in the background.
With an ISO around 50-200, an aperture at 1.6...a shutter of 1/8000 is an appropriate approximation for proper exposure.
So let's see, ISO 50-200 is 2 stops. A normal bright day without snow would typically be F16 with ISO 200 or F8 at ISO 50. Both of those would be accurate with a shutter speed of 1/250. So, assuming F16 was correct with ISO 200 @1/250, then F8@1/500, F5.6@1/1000, F4@1/2000, F2.8 @1/4000 and F1.6@ 1/8000 would be accurate. If working with ISO 50 @F8 @ 1/250 was accurate then F5.6@ 1/500, F4@ 1/1000, F2.8@ 1/2000 and F1.6@ 1/4000 would be the limit. With some brighter scenes and digital stretching 1/8000 is possible. But with any clouds and possible shade it's less so. What's the point? Each of the above settings would give appropriate exposure but only the fastest shutter speed would stop high speed, like a bullet. Interesting that he chose to go the the limit of shutter speed when other choices were available.
If you want the crowd to be a blur why would you shoot above f2.8 or f4? Trump is the focal point. He also wanted to capture the flag.
Exposure https://files.catbox.moe/jkjrgn.png
Somewhat less cropped. https://files.catbox.moe/zwm8l9.jpeg
I tried to say it on someone else's post, 1/8000th is extreme overkill for the job he was on.
oof
so to speak
:p
It was a burst of shots which is typical with modern cameras when you're trying to capture someone speaking otherwise you get some odd facial expressions which you don't publish if you want to keep your job. He was trying to freeze the motion of the flag behind Trump.
Being 24mm these image are still cropped at the top/bottom but you can see the flag is nicely captured with some softness from shooting at f1.6
https://files.catbox.moe/zwm8l9.jpeg
Or the opposite, he was hoping to catch a weird facial expression of Trump, as these shots are the ones leftist media usually publish. 😁
Unlikely, trump loves his photos.
Are you saying Trump has said he likes the photos from this photographer?
Yes.
https://archive.ph/feGn2
https://archive.ph/U0mDX
Mills has taken memorable photographs of presidents going back to Ronald Reagan. But he has found a new, perhaps surprising, admirer in Trump, who, for all of his cries of “fake news,” has repeatedly singled out one photojournalist above all others for his omnipresence and talent. Aboard Air Force One last fall, the president peered through a tangle of arms holding voice recorders to find his favorite journalist peering at him: “There’s my genius photographer,” he said, gesturing toward Mills. At a round table during the G-7 conference in Quebec that year, Trump squeezed in between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, chitchatting. Before the assembled press pool was shooed out, Mills caught Trump’s eye and, turning to Trudeau, crowed: “He’s the No. 1 photographer in the world,” adding, “Unfortunately, he works for the New York Times.” Trudeau and Merkel chuckled.
Thank you, very interesting.
Some people on the forums think that this shouldn’t even be in question. I disagree. This is a great post that needs more “heat”!
AMEN TO THAT. Ramp dis exposure UP!!!
Qeq!
Agree, Cyberhawk. All valuable pieces of evidence.