Representatives Don Armes (left) and Dale DeWitt bow their heads in prayer before the State of the State address at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City Feb. 4, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Looking for pictures at the Oklahoma State Capitol
Published: 2/5/2013 1:43 PM
Last Modified: 2/5/2013 1:43 PM
I jumped at the chance to cover the legislature's opening day on Monday and Mary Fallin's State of the State address. I've always liked going to the state capitol to take pictures, even though the light is scarce. When I worked in Oklahoma City I went there often. Chasing a picture I had in my mind, but that seems hard to find amid the handshakes and podiums.
There were pictures that I had to get for the newspaper, of course, Mary Fallin's speech, and the press conferences afterwards, but I also looked for pictures outside the legislative chambers. The lobbyists in the rotunda or trying to gather support for their cause in Senator's offices. The decor of the Capitol is interesting too. The blue room, on the second floor, one of my favorite places to attend a press conference, looks like a palace or a movie set.
One of my favorite pictures of the day happened after the speeches and the handshakes when the microphones have been turned off.
Donald Calmes walked a hallway on the third floor with a pole. There's a tennis ball at the end. He uses the tool to erase scuff marks, made be people's shoes, off the floor of the capitol.
Donald Calmes uses a tennis ball attached to a pole to clean scuff marks off of the floor of the state capitol after the State of the State address at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City Feb. 4, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Representatives Steve Martin (left) and Earl Sears (right) look at photographs and names of members of the House and Representatives and the Senate before the State of the State address at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City Feb. 4, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Members of the media listen to Secretary of Finance Preston Doerflinger go over the Governor's budget during a press conference in the BlueRoom at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City Feb. 4, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin delivers her State of the State address in the House of Representatives at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City on Monday, Feb. 4, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Surrounded by her staff and security, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin mirrors a thumbs up from a supporter (unseen) in the hallways at the state capitol after the State of the State address at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City Feb. 4, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Visitors to the Oklahoma State Capitol stand near a television that shows the proceedings inside the House of Representatives during the State of the State address at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City Feb. 4, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Representative Pam Peterson talks with Senator Nathan Dahm, both of Tulsa, before the State of the State address at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City Feb. 4, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Members of Choctaw High School Air Force JROTC, Chase Gooch and Connor Richards (right) stand outside the House of Representatives chambers before the State of the State address at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City Feb. 4, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Oklahoma Representative Katie Henke is greeted by Anthony Lauinger, of Oklahomans for Life, INC., as she enters the House of Representatives Chamber before the State of the State address at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City Feb. 4, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Chief Gregory E. Pyle, of the Choctaw Nation, (left) and Governor Bill Anoatubby of the Chickasaw Nation, look on as Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon talks to Patrice Douglas, Chairman of the Corporation Commission before the State of the State address at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City Feb. 4, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Sergeant at Arms Dennis Baker (right) ushers Governor Mary Fallin to the podium in the House of representatives during the State of the State address at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City Feb. 4, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Representative Terry O'Donnell sits underneath a portrait of Governor Mary Fallin as he listens to the State of the State address with other legislators at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City Feb. 4, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Kurt Beckelman, of Broken Arrow, Leah Aufill (center), of Stillwater and Dr. Leslie Lisdell, of Okemah, talk with a Senator Mark Allen's staff about legislation they support before the State of the State address at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City Feb. 4, 2013. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Written by
John Clanton
Multimedia Producer
