Mark Hunter radiated pure, unadulterated joy as he was named the brand new 2009 World Champion of Public Speaking. It was the coolest thing to see!
This image is copyright 2009 Angie Key, all rights reserved. It may be used with prior permission and proper attribution; contact the photographer for details.
Shot with Nikon D200 at ISO 400, 200mm and 1/60s at f/5.6 using Tamron 70-300mm lens.
Six of the best speakers to ever walk the "big stage" - top row, left to right: 2001 WCPS Darren LaCroix, 2005 WCPS Lance Miller, 1995 WCPS Brown; bottom row: 2000 WCPS Ed Tate, 2009 WCPS Mark Hunter, and 2003 WCPS Jim Key.
This image is Copyright 2009 Angie Key, all rights reserved. It may be used with prior permission and proper attribution; contact the photographer for more information.
Mary Cheyne of Region VII took 2nd place at the 2009 World Championship of Public Speaking. I was lucky enough to shoot this quick photo before she was whisked away by her home district.
This image is Copyright 2009 Angie Key, all rights reserved. It may be reused with prior permission and proper attribution; simply contact the photographer for details.
Shot with Nikon D200 at ISO 400, 50mm and 1/250s at f/1.4
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the 2009 World Champion of Public Speaking - Mark Hunter of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
NOTE: This image is Copyright 2009 Angie Key, all rights reserved (as with all images on this blog). It may be used with permission and proper attribution. Simply drop me an email for details.
Shot with Nikon D200 at ISO400, 70mm and 1/60s at f/5.6 using Tamron 70-300mm lens.
On Thursday, August 13th, I had a unique opportunity as a photographer.
Jim and two of his colleagues - Darren and Ed - spent an hour shooting video for podcasts.
Jim asked me if I'd be willing to shoot some still images. Uh ... yeah!
It was a unique behind-the-scenes opportunity to capture the relationship between these men - not just colleagues, but friends.
They were sometimes serious...
...and sometimes not so serious.
But more than anything else, it's obvious how much they respect each other and enjoy each other's company.
It was a privilege to have this inside look and inside access.
And it's a privilege to know these three awesome men.
Shot with Nikon D200 using fixed 50mm Nikkor lens using "natural" hotel ballroom light... on-stage at the Toastmasters International Convention at the Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
Jim Key - the 2003 World Champion of Public Speaking ... and my husband.
It warms my heart to see how much the champs enjoy each others' company.
Shot with Nikon D200 and 50mm fixed length lens in the lovely light of a hotel ballroom.
Darren LaCroix is the 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking, another of Jim's colleagues.
Darren's background lies in stand-up comedy, and he's constantly cracking jokes.
He's a really fun guy to hang with!
Shot with Nikon D200 and Nikkor fixed 50mm lens in the oh-so-lovely lighting of a hotel ballroom.
Ed Tate is the 2000 World Champion of Public Speaking - one of Jim's colleagues - and he is hysterical.
See what I mean?
All photographs copyright 2009 Angie Key, all rights reserved. Images may be re-used with prior permission and proper attribution; contact the photographer for details.
Shot with Nikon D200 and Nikkor fixed 50mm lens in the oh-so-lovely lighting of a hotel ballroom.
I caught this moment at our San Diego Dealer Meeting, early in the morning as the first presenter of the day was walking the stage. Angela was mentally preparing herself for the crowd of 400 that would soon come streaming into the hotel ballroom. From a photography/technical standpoint, there are a number of things I can spot I should have done differently, but as a speaker, something about this shot touches me on a visceral level. The warmth of the stage lights, the rows upon rows of soon-to-be-filled chairs ... I've been in that moment so many times over the past several years, and as a speaker, it's one that you yearn for. It means all your preparation, all your rehearsal, all your work is about to come to fruition. There's such energy in that moment...
Shot with Nikon D200 using 70-300mm lens; 1/30s at f/8 and ISO 1600.
I absolutely HATE the lighting in hotel breakout rooms. Hate it, hate it, HATE IT. The shades were closed because the hot Florida sunlight was heating up an already steamy, overcrowded room, so I had to make do with the overhead fluorescents. I tried increasing my ISO and using a slower shutter speed to compensate, but his hands still came out blurry. I guess it adds to the feeling of energy ... when Jim speaks, his hands do, too. Candids of 2003 World Champion of Public Speaking Jim Key at the District 84 Conference. Shot with Nikon D200, 55-200mm lens at 175mm and f/5.5 (November 8, 2008).
