Tugasan membuat liputan lawatan Setiausaha Negara AS, Hillary Clinton minggu lalu meninggal pelbagai cerita di belakang tabir. Ini adalah kali kedua penulis membuat liputan ke atas bekas wanita pertama AS itu selepas mesyuarat menteri luar ASEAN di Phuket tahun lalu.
Tolak ketepi soal sentimen anti AS yang sememang sentiasa bersarang di lubuk jiwa kita. Namun dari segi penampilan diplomat mereka dan cara pasukan media mereka bekerja perlu menjadi bahan renungan.
Pertama, seperti apa yang dirasakan oleh Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Menteri Luar kita semasa kami berada di Phuket, beliau sendiri mengakui ramai diplomat terpegun dengan gaya Hillary malah ramai yang pakat nak ambil gambar bersamanya.
Pertama sidang media yang Hillary berikan cukup menarik kerana ucapannnya keluar satu persatu, tidak kalut dan pergerakan tangannya memberikan peluang kepada jurugambar mendapat shot menarik berbanding ada menteri kita sering kaku bila mengadakan sidang akhbar.
Hillary juga menampakkan keakraban dengan media apabila menyebut nama pemberita yang bertanyakan soalan seperti hari itu pemberita AFP bernama Asyraf. Pengalaman yang sama ketika saya membuat liputan di Phuket sebelum.
Dan apa yang menarik, semua transkrip sidang akhbar Hillary itu begitu cepat disiarkan secara verbatim dalam laman web Setiausaha Negara AS itu.
Paling menarik Hillary memang sukakan pakaian berwarna biru, warna tu lembut, sesuai untuk lensa dan sesuai dengan perwatakannya sebagai diplomat yang mesra. Sampaikan Asmah Dahari dari TV3 pun mengenakan busana berwarna biru.
Pengalaman Harry, jurugambar Bernama Putrajaya paling menarik, cerita beliau tentang pasukan media Hillary bekerja menjadi bahan bualan kami di warung Haji Tapah di Presint 16 beberapa hari sebelum berita mengenainya disiarkan. Wartawan Bernama, Massita Ahmad mendapat byline dalam Utusan Malaysia kerana berita itu. Ini menunjukkan berita itu benar-benar mendapat perhatian editor.
Saya setuju dengan pandangan Harry, pasukan media terutama melibatkan menteri-menteri perlu memainkan peranan untuk memudahkan kerja media. Itu untuk kebaikan bos mereka juga supaya apa yang disiarkan dalam media adalah terbaik.
Bernama Pixman Impressed With Attention To Detail By Clinton's Team
By Massita Ahmad
PUTRAJAYA, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- When US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came to town a few days ago, it turned out to be a valuable lesson and experience for Bernama photographer Harry Salzman Abu Bakar.
Maybe it could not be compared to his experience during the Iraq War seven years ago when he was a cameraman for Bernama TV, but for Harry Salzman, he felt that the detailed preparations for America's highest-ranking diplomat ought to be emulated by other leaders and officials who want to get the best out of their pictures.
What was asked by the US officials and aides accompanying Clinton several minutes before the picture-taking ceremony might seem minor but the attention to detail had a wonderful effect: it enabled the pictures of their leader to be more outstanding.
"As the only photographer from the official media entrusted for the task, I was invited by the US officials to discuss about taking pictures of the former First Lady of the United States.
"I was told of the colour of Secretary Clinton's clothing beforehand so that I could make adequate preparations for the spatial lighting," said Harry Salzman who was assigned to the signing ceremony of three agreements between Malaysia and the US at the Prime Minister's Office here on Tuesday.
"The officials also asked me on the best standing position for the handshakes, either facing the front or move slightly to the side, after Clinton had signed the agreements.
"After I had agreed to the position that I wanted, the officials then marked on the floor where Secretary Clinton should stand. The end result was that one could see from the pictures taken of Clinton that she looked fit and smart amidst the people around her," said the Perlis-born photographer.
Harry Salzman said even the way she held the folder after the signing also showed her appreciation for the ceremony and signalled that "it was a serious business".
The photographer also witnessed how the Clinton officials placed great importance on how the US "Stars and Stripes" flag should appear.
"A clothes hanger was used to prop it up from behind the flag so that it appeared lively at the signing ceremony," he added.
In addition, the visitors' book and the documents to be signed had been marked earlier to enable Clinton to know where exactly she should sign.
"This meant that there was no necessity for certain officials to be present alongside the dignitaries. Even the curtain backdrop was given plenty of attention. A dark coloured backdrop without any letterings or wordings on the signing ceremony was preferred," said Harry Salzman.
The officials explained that they preferred a dark coloured backdrop as opposed to a light-coloured or shiny one so that the spatial lighting would be more accommodating to the camera, he said.
"Just imagine the attention to details accorded to their leader in picture-taking alone," he said.
Harry Salzman said the same level of attention was also given to the replicas of airplanes in the agreement signing between Malaysia Airlines and Pratt and Whitney.
"I was asked where the replicas should be placed for better visual impact. After I had indicated where, their positions were also marked on the table for the replicas to be placed later when the time came for the signing ceremony."
Harry Salzman was also full of praise for Clinton for her gestures which were appreciated by photographers.
"She looked very lively although the pictures were just still pictures. The way she moved her hands, her broad smile and her gaze into the lenses made a lot of difference.
"I hope other leaders and officials would be able to emulate the examples of Clinton and her team although it may just be for taking pictures. Such pictures have great impact.
"A picture tells a thousand words, ain't it so?" Harry Salzman said.
-- BERNAMA
PUTRAJAYA, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- When US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came to town a few days ago, it turned out to be a valuable lesson and experience for Bernama photographer Harry Salzman Abu Bakar.
Maybe it could not be compared to his experience during the Iraq War seven years ago when he was a cameraman for Bernama TV, but for Harry Salzman, he felt that the detailed preparations for America's highest-ranking diplomat ought to be emulated by other leaders and officials who want to get the best out of their pictures.
What was asked by the US officials and aides accompanying Clinton several minutes before the picture-taking ceremony might seem minor but the attention to detail had a wonderful effect: it enabled the pictures of their leader to be more outstanding.
"As the only photographer from the official media entrusted for the task, I was invited by the US officials to discuss about taking pictures of the former First Lady of the United States.
"I was told of the colour of Secretary Clinton's clothing beforehand so that I could make adequate preparations for the spatial lighting," said Harry Salzman who was assigned to the signing ceremony of three agreements between Malaysia and the US at the Prime Minister's Office here on Tuesday.
"The officials also asked me on the best standing position for the handshakes, either facing the front or move slightly to the side, after Clinton had signed the agreements.
"After I had agreed to the position that I wanted, the officials then marked on the floor where Secretary Clinton should stand. The end result was that one could see from the pictures taken of Clinton that she looked fit and smart amidst the people around her," said the Perlis-born photographer.
Harry Salzman said even the way she held the folder after the signing also showed her appreciation for the ceremony and signalled that "it was a serious business".
The photographer also witnessed how the Clinton officials placed great importance on how the US "Stars and Stripes" flag should appear.
"A clothes hanger was used to prop it up from behind the flag so that it appeared lively at the signing ceremony," he added.
In addition, the visitors' book and the documents to be signed had been marked earlier to enable Clinton to know where exactly she should sign.
"This meant that there was no necessity for certain officials to be present alongside the dignitaries. Even the curtain backdrop was given plenty of attention. A dark coloured backdrop without any letterings or wordings on the signing ceremony was preferred," said Harry Salzman.
The officials explained that they preferred a dark coloured backdrop as opposed to a light-coloured or shiny one so that the spatial lighting would be more accommodating to the camera, he said.
"Just imagine the attention to details accorded to their leader in picture-taking alone," he said.
Harry Salzman said the same level of attention was also given to the replicas of airplanes in the agreement signing between Malaysia Airlines and Pratt and Whitney.
"I was asked where the replicas should be placed for better visual impact. After I had indicated where, their positions were also marked on the table for the replicas to be placed later when the time came for the signing ceremony."
Harry Salzman was also full of praise for Clinton for her gestures which were appreciated by photographers.
"She looked very lively although the pictures were just still pictures. The way she moved her hands, her broad smile and her gaze into the lenses made a lot of difference.
"I hope other leaders and officials would be able to emulate the examples of Clinton and her team although it may just be for taking pictures. Such pictures have great impact.
"A picture tells a thousand words, ain't it so?" Harry Salzman said.
-- BERNAMA
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