Ethel Kennedy sings
Let’s face it, everyone who knows me personally, knows I’m the underdog photographer with amateur equipment, limited resources, and I’m stretching them to the limits everytime I use them. I don’t have that special $2000 lens, or that camera that can shoot full-frame at 9 frames a second.
With that, I was assigned, out of all the photographers the newspaper has, to shoot Ethel Kennedy, wife of her late husband, Robert Kennedy. Out of any spot in the country, Mrs. Kennedy was here, and I was right next to her. Whether she had or not, I put my personal and political differences aside, briefly greeted myself, and she continued on with her campaign personnel, greeting the fellow residents and supporters of the Obame campaign. Photographers from the Salem Community Patriot, Salem Observer(thatsme!), The Eagle Tribune, and the Boston Globe. She was a presence I won’t soon forget, and it was an assignment that I will forever hold as one of the highlights in my early career.
I remember as a kid, for the first time meeting president George Bush Jr. He shook hands with me, posed for a picture taken by my dad, and wouldn’t you know it, we developed the film, had a good frame, and somehow managed to meet him again. He looked at me and smiled, signed it, patted my head and moved on. We met him three times after that, having a Texas Rangers had signed, and one of his campaign signs. You just never know when your going to meet somebody important like that (whether people admire that person or not).
I remember being even younger, when Bob Dole made his bid to the white house in 96′. Ya, the year the Pats blew in the superbowl, we know. Meeting him was an early lesson that there was more to life than your videogames and primetime television. After I met Bush for the first time, and after the election, I was watching tv about 80% less. I was more focused on news, current events, and school. I have since worked hard crafting my art, and my passion for photography. It is something that has become obsessive, challenging, and rewarding, all at the same time. It’s never an easy road, and requires alot of sacrifice at times, but in the end, sometimes, your able to get a nice shot.
Ethel Kennedy is greeted with a bouqet of flowers by residents on Salemhaven
Ethel Kennedy is greeted by residents
1 Comment
October 7, 2008 at 8:00 pm
You are Peter Parker! LOL Nice work bro.