For the past two days, I was on assignment in downtown Oakland covering the highly watched legal battle involving Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and OpenAI at the federal courthouse.
As a Bay Area photojournalist regularly covering major breaking news, technology stories, and high-profile corporate figures for Agence France-Presse, assignments like this are equal parts patience, strategy, and technical problem solving.
And unlike what most people imagine, covering a story like this often involves far more waiting than photographing.
Photographing Elon Musk and Sam Altman at the Oakland Federal Courthouse
For roughly 9–10 hours per day, photographers waited outside the Oakland Federal Courthouse hoping to capture fleeting moments of Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and their legal teams entering and exiting security checkpoints, hallways, and courtroom areas.
Musk and Altman are notoriously difficult to photograph in uncontrolled environments. Security was tight. Access was limited. Movements were unpredictable.
Many of the strongest images from the assignment were made under extremely difficult conditions:
- Photographing through double-paned courthouse glass
- Shooting through security windows and metal detectors
- Working around reflections and glare
- Capturing moments through fourth-floor courthouse windows from outside the building
- Reacting instantly to fast-moving subjects with little warning
At times, I’d spend hours preparing for moments that lasted only a few seconds. That’s often the reality of modern photojournalism and editorial photography — especially when covering some of the most recognizable figures in tech and artificial intelligence.
The Technical Challenges of Courthouse Photography
Federal courthouse photography presents a unique set of challenges that most people never see behind the scenes. Unlike controlled corporate headshots or commercial productions, there’s no opportunity to direct subjects, shape lighting, or ask someone to repeat a moment. You have to adapt to the environment exactly as it exists.
In this case, the environment included harsh midday light, reflections from courthouse windows, security barriers, constant movement, limited sightlines, crowded media positions, and split-second opportunities.
The attorneys were somewhat easier to photograph because many entered through the courthouse front entrance. But Musk and Altman themselves moved carefully and quickly through secured areas, making every frame difficult to capture.
Why Agencies Hire Experienced Bay Area Photojournalists
Assignments like this are a major reason international news organizations continue to trust experienced photographers for high-pressure coverage. As a San Francisco Bay Area photographer covering breaking news, wildfires, protests, technology companies, and major corporate events, I’ve learned that great photography often comes down to problem solving under pressure.
Anyone can create strong images under ideal conditions. But when access is restricted, lighting is difficult, timelines are unpredictable, and subjects are elusive, experience becomes critical. That’s especially true for:
- Editorial photography
- Corporate event photography
- Crisis communications photography
- Executive portraits
- News and media coverage
- Technology industry events
- High-profile legal proceedings
Covering the Future of Artificial Intelligence in Real Time
The Elon Musk vs. OpenAI lawsuit represents far more than a typical court case. At its core, the dispute touches on the future of artificial intelligence, Silicon Valley power dynamics, corporate governance, and the rapidly evolving role AI will play in society.
As a photographer, being present to document moments like these is part of preserving history as it unfolds. Whether I’m covering California wildfires, political demonstrations, major technology announcements, or courtroom proceedings involving some of the world’s most influential tech leaders, the goal remains the same: create authentic, compelling images that tell the story of the moment.
Looking for a Bay Area Editorial or Corporate Photographer?
In addition to editorial assignments for international news organizations, I work with companies throughout the San Francisco Bay Area providing corporate event photography, executive headshots, conference photography, editorial portraits, PR and communications photography, technology industry photography, and same-day media coverage.
Over the past 15 years, I’ve photographed executives, CEOs, conferences, breaking news events, and corporate campaigns for companies and publications throughout California and beyond.
Josh Edelson is a San Francisco Bay Area photojournalist and commercial photographer. His editorial work is distributed internationally by AFP and published by Getty Images, the Associated Press, and major news organizations worldwide. Get in touch to discuss editorial or corporate assignments.
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