Ask Roll Call: Twitter Q&A Transcript

By Christina Bellantoni
Posted March 7, 2011 at 7:17am

Roll Call is continuing Twitter Q-and-A sessions, and the latest edition was with the talented (and multiple-award-winning) photo department. Tom Williams, Bill Clark, Doug Graham and videographer Andrew Satter were here to share their views on their winning images, discuss how to visually tell a story on Capitol Hill and more.

Follow the team: @pennstatetom @clarkshadows @rcpixs @asatter

Since it was on Twitter, of course, their answers were kept to under 140 characters. A transcript follows.



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We had a stand-in for @, who was late, but now he’s here

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Roll Call photo team prepares to take your Qs in 3, 2, 1 …


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Welcome to our 7th Twitter Q&A w/ Roll Call’s Photo team. Tom Williams & Doug Graham have been here 11 yrs, Bill Clark 4.5 yrs


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Thanks for all your questions — let’s get started!


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Q1! RT @: @ @ Nikon or Canon? Why?


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A1! Tom: Nikon b/c everything operates backwards on Canon. Got 1st Nikon @ 16 b/c my dad had Nikkormat Bill: Nikons better on low light.


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Q2! RT @: @ dear @ what is status of Puerto Rico Democracy Act? We want to vote!!!


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.@ That unlikely to pass divided Congress, we’re more interested in DC Vote protests @ image:


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Q3! RT @: @ @ how did you get into video as means of storytelling.

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.@ Produced mini-doc at 1st job @ Arizona paper, in love w/ video ever since ^@

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Q4! MT @: @ When will House Senate start articles of IMPEACHMENT of Obama?

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.@ Not likely, but if it happens, photo team will be there. Here’s image @ took near WH

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Q5! RT @: @ how many jobs have the created in just under 2 months?


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.@ Tough question. But both parties pushing issue. Here’s Rep. Lungren today via @:


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Q6! RT @: @, How do you find your great feature shots around Capitol Hill? What’s your favorite pic you’ve taken?


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.@ fave: @ fave: @ fave:


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Q7! RT @: @ @ what kind of story can video tell of life on the hill vs. written word


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.@ Video good for showing Hill’s personalities, like this one on Rep Paul Broun ^@


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Q#8 from @ is actually a compliment of team’s amazing, award-winning work. See it here:


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Q9! RT @: @ Does it get tedious photographing the same guys behind the same podiums every day? How do you liven things up?


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A: Bill: Our saying is closer you get to podium worse picture gets. Doug: Don’t shoot what wire guys shoot. Tom: Come early, stay late


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A#2: Tom: Lots of pix happen before & after event. Ex.: after Boehner event, photogs filed, I caught this:


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Q10 comes via email, makes moderator laugh. How can you tell all old white men (aka Members) apart when photographing them on Hill?


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A: Doug: It’s difficult. Even being up there all the time you have to be extra careful. Case in point:


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A#2 Tom: We know when it’s Conrad because he’s the one w/ the dog – photo by @


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A#3: Team: Thankful for new faces on the Hill this year, for example, Kristi Noem


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Q11: RT @: @ So…do you roam the halls of Congress all day searching for story? What’s your game plan each day?


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.@ Doug: Photogs start day w/ assignment list but like reporters they find their own way.


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Q12 from @ mom via e-mail, Is there anywhere in the Capitol you can’t shoot?


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A: Tom: Lots of places off limits. Doug: Interesting keepers of 1st Amendment don’t allow photogs on chamber floors. All 50 statehouses do


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The question on everyone’s mind – how does @ manage to make everyone look beautiful? What’s your secret?


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A: Doug: It’s Tom’s gift. Tom: I have photogenic friends & I find nice lights, nice moments to choose from. Just like any photographer.


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That’s a wrap! Thanks so much to all the questioners and to our awesome team for their great work and candid sharing.


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Next week tune in for@ambreenali from @.

Follow @rollcall on Twitter and follow our staff list for the full complement of reporters and editors.

Read our previous Twitter Q&A transcripts with Steven T. Dennis here, Jennifer Bendery here, Steve Peoples here, John Stanton here, Stu Rothenberg here and Paul Singer here.