Conservativa

Here’s your morning wakeup smile. This was taken a couple of years ago near West Point, when the President was promoting biodiesel. It was the first time I had ever seen a president. He seemed relaxed and cracked a joke or two. At first no one laughed - I think we were all a little in awe.

Photo details: Canon Elan 7, Fuji 400 NPH? 135mm lens. For some reason I was sure the event would be indoors, so I took 400 speed film. Instead, it was outdoors in the blazing sun and I wished I had taken 1oo speed film.

Semi-funny story. You can’t see it in this picture, but there are several tractors behind the president, parked in front of that building. As the President was leaving, a guy behind me asked about the camera I had. “Is it digital?” No, but I’m having the film scanned. Are you interested in prints? “Well,” he said pulling a business card out of his pocket, “We’re from John Deere,” indicating his two friends, “and if you got any nice pictures of the tractor…” The leader of the free world was addressing us, from just a few feet away. And the guy wanted pictures… of the tractor.