True Paul Ryan lets a point sink in with the crowd's applause. Alex Farris
Paul Ryan stumps in Owensville, Ohio | Alex Farris Photo Blog
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or Politicians talk with their hands and faces

2012.09.13
Maybe I should apologize for not providing any verbal substance or analysis of Congressman Paul Ryan's stump speech at the Clermont County Fairgrounds in Owensville, Ohio. (I did record a bit of it on my iPhone, near the beginning when he addressed the U.S. Embassy attacks in Libya and Egypt that resulted in the death of four diplomats in Benghazi, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens. Specifically, he defended the guy at the top of his ticket, Mitt Romney, in his critique of the Obama Administration's early responses to the events. Audio here.) Like I usually am at these sorts of things, I'm too immersed in the visuals to pay attention to the words.

But maybe I can provide some substance. Along with the photos on Demotix, I have a set of images that analyzes (somewhat) Ryan's non-verbal methods of delivery. I've been fascinated by politicians and other speech-givers talking with their hands ever since I noticed Bill Clinton's "pointing without pointing" (also known at the Clinton thumb) when I was a kid. There's so much that politicians can say without saying a word, and it would do everybody some good to separate, every once in a while, the words and the gestures (and the faces) of a speech.

Update: Corbis picked up five of my photos! Screen shot of proof and current live search results page. With all the Super Bowl stuff, I now have a respectable photographer page on Corbis. w00t.

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Paul Ryan lets a point sink in with the crowd's applause. Paul Ryan lets a point sink in with the crowd's applause. Alex Farris
Paul Ryan points both ways. Paul Ryan points both ways. Alex Farris
Paul Ryan makes a forceful, yet open-ended, case with his hand. Paul Ryan makes a forceful, yet open-ended, case with his hand. Alex Farris
Paul Ryan raises a point into the rarefied air of emotional appeal. Paul Ryan raises a point into the rarefied air of emotional appeal. Alex Farris
Paul Ryan clinches a point. (He was not talking about food, so I know this isn't a Paul Ryan clinches a point. (He was not talking about food, so I know this isn't a "It's magnifico!" gesture.) Alex Farris
Paul Ryan grabs a point for support. Paul Ryan grabs a point for support. Alex Farris
Paul Ryan clenches his fist in a soaring wave of conviction. Paul Ryan clenches his fist in a soaring wave of conviction. Alex Farris
Paul Ryan points toward an idealized future. Paul Ryan points toward the far-off place of Washington, D.C., as the source of problems. Alex Farris
Paul Ryan points down to a present that isn't what he wants it to be. Paul Ryan points to the ground below, a strong force of conservatism that will change that far-off place the way they know it should be. Alex Farris
Paul Ryan is pensive. See first photo. Paul Ryan is pensive. See first photo. Alex Farris
Paul Ryan begins a circle of pointing. He starts on right... Paul Ryan begins a circle of pointing. He starts on his right... Alex Farris
...then to the front... ...then to the front... Alex Farris
...then to his left, just to make sure he's included everyone. ...then to his left, just to make sure he's included everyone. Alex Farris
Before his speech, Paul Ryan shows excitement and embrace by raising his arms and giving a Before his speech, Paul Ryan shows excitement and embrace by raising his arms and giving an "Awesome to see you guys!" smile. Alex Farris

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