Spanish photographer Ricardo Cases is known for his signature bright colors—colors that were on vivid display in his most recent book, Paloma Al Aire, which captures the traditions of pigeon racing. This week, TIME asked Cases to turn his eye to a different kind of sport: politics.
The photographer traveled to Florida to cover Tuesday’s Republican presidential primary, which Mitt Romney easily won. Although Cases had never photographed American politics before, he said he found the atmosphere one that was well suited for his photographic process.
“Florida has everything I need to work: color, color, color, good weather and all the consequences of these four factors in the development of the society,” he said in an email to TIME.
Cases was not very familiar with the topic he was sent to shoot, but he didn’t need to do much preparation to capture these vibrant images of candidate former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and the voters he hoped to persuade, as well as events for Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. In fact, Cases said he rarely does much preparation for a shoot, preferring to rely on randomness as a catalyst for his pictures. “What stimulates me is the freshness of the first encounter with a new place, with a new people,” he said. “I think that chance is a great tool for a photographer.”
And now that he’s experienced that moment with birds and politicians alike, what’s his take-away for the future?
“It’s easier to work with politicians,” he said, “because they can’t fly.”
Ricardo Cases is a Spanish photographer. See more of his work here.
Interview with Ricardo Cases translated by Javier Sirvent.
Newt and Callista Gingrich pose for photos during a rally at The Villages, Fla., January 29, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEAttendees of a Gingrich rally at The Villages, Fla., January 29, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEA vendor sells buttons outside the GOP presidential debate at the University of North Florida, January 26, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEA worker in an orange grove, Mt. Dora, Fla., January 29, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMECallista Gingrich during a rally at The Villages, Fla., January 29, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEAn employee washes a car at the BayWash Bikini Car Wash in Winter Park, Fla., January 28, 2012. Ricardo Cases for TIMEAttendees of a Gingrich rally at The Villages, Fla., January 29, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEA Rick Santorum supporter at Aloma Baptist Church, Winter Park, Fla., January 28, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEA couple reads notes left on the a cross in front of a Jesus statue overlooking a pond at the Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Fla., January 28, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMENewt Gingrich addresses the Republican Jewish Coalition in Delray Beach, Fla., January 27, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEAttendee at a Gingrich rally at the Republican Jewish Coalition, Delray Beach, Fla., January 27, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEA man with buttons at a Gingrich event in Delray Beach, Fla., January 27, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEA man relaxing outside a T.G.I. Friday's at the Villages, Fla., January 29, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEAt Flea World, America's largest flea market, in Sanford, Fla., January 29, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEA man sells flags outside a Gingrich rally at the Centro de Familia, Orlando, Fla., January 28, 2012. Ricardo Cases for TIMEAt the Republican Jewish Coalition, Delray Beach, Fla., January 27, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEButtons at a Gingrich rally at the Republican Jewish Coalition, Delray Beach, Fla., January 27, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEA journalist stands outside the Centro de Familia while waiting for the former Speaker Newt Gingrich to arrive, Orlando, Fla., January 28, 2012. Ricardo Cases for TIMENewt and Callista Gingrich pose with a member of the audience at the Centro de Familia, Orlando, Fla., January 28, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEThe scene before a Gingrich rally at the Republican Jewish Coalition, Delray Beach, Fla., January 27, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEAttendees at the Orange County Republican Executive Committee's annual Lincoln Day Dinner, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, Fla., January 28, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEOrange County Republican Executive Committee's annual Lincoln Day Dinner, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, Fla., January 28, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEA couple relaxes at The Villages, Fla., January 29, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEPalm trees, Tampa, Fla., January 31, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEHotel outside of the Tampa Convention Center before Romney´s Florida Primary night event, January 31, 2012. Ricardo Cases for TIMEMitt Romney arrives at The Villages, Fla., January 30, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEMitt Romney event at The Villages, Fla., January 30, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEA man waits for a Romney autograph during a campaign event at Ring Power Lift Trucks in Jacksonville, Fla., January 30, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEA flag decorates Romney's campaign event at Ring Power Lift Trucks in Jacksonville, Fla., January 30, 2012.Ricardo Cases for TIMEChildren at Romney's campaign event at Ring Power Lift Trucks in Jacksonville, Fla., January 30, 2012. Ricardo Cases for TIMEThe scene outside the Tampa Convention Center before Romney´s Florida Primary event, January 31, 2012.
Ricardo Cases for TIMERomney election headquarters in Tampa, Florida, January 31, 2012. Ricardo Cases for TIMEScenery near the Tampa Convention Center before Romney´s Florida Primary event, January 31, 2012. Ricardo Cases for TIMEA worker at the Tampa Convention Center before Romney´s Florida Primary event, January 31, 2012. Ricardo Cases for TIMEA man smokes a pipe outside the Tampa Convention Center before Romney´s Florida Primary event, January 31, 2012. Ricardo Cases for TIMEMiss Florida, Kristina Janolo, at the Tampa Convention Center for Romney´s Florida Primary event, January 31, 2012. Ricardo Cases for TIME
