THE ABOVE PHOTO, by Leon Farrell of Rollingnews.ie, made the front pages of all three main broadsheet newspapers this week.
Politician pictured beneath unfortunate sign – it’s a standard format for a photojournalist.
As one experienced political PR handler, Richard Moore, told us during the week, such scenarios are something of an occupational hazard:
“Photographers are very inventive – they have an eye. They’ll usually spot something that even someone in that kind of advisory role mightn’t be tuned into.
You’d keep a weather eye out for something – but then again the photograph might only be relevant if the politician is in the eye of a storm. But invariably there is a backdrop somewhere – it’s a common enough thing, where they’ll frame a photograph with maybe half a word or a word that’s germane at the time.
We trawled the archives for some of the best (or worst, depending on whose side you’re on) examples of the genre.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny pictured at an event on Dublin’s Sheriff Street this week, and former Taoiseach Brian Cowen in the dying days of the Fianna Fáil-led government in 2010…
Someone really needs to change the backdrop for the ‘Be Winter Ready’ campaign.
Then-Health Minister Leo Varadkar launches a Community First Response scheme in 2015.
An unfortunate place to sit for Paschal Donohoe.
This picture of Alan Kelly struck us as being oddly comical – though we can’t quite explain why.
Fine Gael’s Phil Hogan, pictured at a party conference in 2010, Labour minister Pat Rabbitte in early 2011 and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald at Dublin Airport in 2014.
A deep cut from the archives – Labour leader Ruairí Quinn campaigns on Moore Street in 2002.
Even the winemakers were out to get Bertie…
Phil Hogan again… The former Environment Minister stares down the lens from a lab in Co Kildare.
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