Over the course of my career I've gotten close access to a number of "famous" people. I was asked by Andy Roddick to photograph a fund-raiser he held at the Four Seasons Hotel here in Austin for his foundation. His friend, Sir Elton John was the main draw for the event. He did a one person set on a grand piano for a packed house in the hotel's main ballroom. But before the concert I spent a couple hours in the green room photographing various combinations of Andy's family with Elton John. Having grown up (high school) listening to "Madman Across the Water" and "Tiny Dancer" the experience of just hanging out with him and a small, intimate group including Andy Roddick and his family members was exhilarating. The image above is from the dinner before the concert.
There's a back story that involves politics and a Texas Governor but I won't go into that here.
Since George W. Bush's press secretary, Karen Hughes, lived right across the street from us I had ample opportunities to photograph George Jr. both as Texas Governor and then as president. But I only got to work with his father, President George H.W. Bush on two occasions; both times at a request from Dell, Inc. Once was at a conference outside of Scottsdale, AZ. where I had to set up lights in a vast museum space and then photograph the former President with about 110 V.I.Ps; all lined up waiting their turn to participate in a one-on-one photo session with President Bush.
He arrived on set about 15 minutes early and we were surprised to find that we were both wearing the identical model of suit, (his bigger than mine as he's taller) in the same color, and from the same clothing store. We chatted and game planned our shoot together and he was amazingly cordial. He helped me stay calm. This was in the film days and I'd need to be reloading a 35mm camera at least twice as we worked through our line of folks waiting their turn (no assistant for this shoot). He was so good at the reception line photo stuff. He could tell when I needed to re-load and would keep the conversation going with whoever was with him at the time. I would nod when I was ready and he'd send off that person and welcome the next one. Together we nailed all of the shots.
I got seated at a staff table in the back of the room during his speech but was able to get up and move around the dining room to get photos of him speaking. It was a really nice event and I came away liking him, as a person.
The image above was from a different event here in Austin. Former president Bush had spoken to a group of Dell's top customers at a meeting of about 100 people and then there was a scheduled private gathering with just Mr. Bush, Michael Dell and four or five of the senior officers from Dell. The informal reception was held in the penthouse suite on the top floor of the Barton Creek Conference Center. President Bush and I came up in the elevator (with a Secret Service team) while Mr. Dell gave a final speech to the clients downstairs. At one point I was there with Mr. Bush, his security people and a bartender from the conference center. Mr. Bush and I struck up a conversation and he invited me to have a glass of wine. In his opinion, a very good Sauvignon Blanc. I thanked him but told him that if Michael Dell walked in and I had a glass of wine in my hand it might be the last time I'd be invited back to work for his company....
I was there through the hour long reception. A lively give and take. And I came away impressed with the former president. A wonderful guy.
Just two events that allowed me to be on the periphery of really, really interesting, world famous people. And so happy to have the photographs as a momento. Photography opened many doors for me. But it's important not to stub your toes walking in.
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