Hi Everyone:
Its been awhile since I updated my blog. Sorry about that. I’ve never been a great letter writer like my mom. The good news is that I’ve been very busy with my weddings and stock photography.
I decided to update my blog today with something a little special, my photo adventure with President Obama coming to Alpha, Illinois. Alpha is a tiny town up by Galesburg. So on Wednesday I headed up Route 74 to Alpha with excitement and dreams in my head that I would get there early and get a front row seat for Obama’s speech. I can’t lie, I had dreams of me shaking his hand and kidding with the President. I even thought that I might end up on the evening news.
But just then, I was snapped back to reality as I turned off 74 towards Alpha. All I could visualize is me acting like an idiot in front of the President, like Guber on the Andy Griffth Show. And then, what would my wife say to me after she saw me totally embarrass myself on the nightly news. I couldn’t bear the humiliation. So I decided I would sit a few rows back and zoom in with my telephoto lens for some great pictures.
As you’ll see below, I couldn’t get within a mile of the President. I think every police officer in the State of Illinois was in Alpha.
And to top it off, you had to have a ticket to get into the tent for his speech. Forget it.
Yeah, I found that out after walking a quarter-mile in the hot sun to come face to face with a very tall and big secret service agent. He snapped out a
question to me as I stagger up to him suffering from near heat exhaustion from my walk, “What are you doing here”. My first thought to myself was…what a totally dumb questions. Obviously, someone in shorts and a tee-shirt carrying a camera is here to see the President. But without any thought I quickly answered, I’m here to see President Obama. After 15 seconds of conversation, which he totally monopolized , I slowly made my way back to my car in the searing summer heat.
What a bummer, I said to myself, wiping my brow.
But wait a darn minute, no, I’m going to make the best of this day. So I decided to hang around Alpha a few hours. It was great…I got to talk with a lot of nice people, take a few pictures of the town, its people and of course the motorcade of President Obama coming into town. I am positive he was waving just at me through his 4 inch bullet proof – tinted dark window glass – in his million dollar bus that was built-in Canada.
No, I didn’t get to see President Obama in person today. Like all of you, I had to wait for the nightly news to come on to get a glimpse of what I thought I would be apart today. One thing is for sure, at least I didn’t embarrass my wife.
I hope you’ll enjoy the pictures I did take while in Alpha with President Obama and get some idea of what happened today.
And remember to call me for your upcoming wedding, family pictures and events.
Thanks for listening. Greg
Town folks waiting for Obama’s motorcade
Faithful Obama followers
Not so faithful Obama followers
Patriotic flags were everywhere in Alpha
Country Corner, a tiny produce market in Alpha is where President Obama held his speech
Cool picture of a Police helmet
The first wave of State Police on motorcycles leading the way for President Obama’s motorcade. Pretty impressive and intimidating.
This is what I came for. I wasn’t disappointed. It was incredible to see the security and
support staff that came with the President on his three day tour of the Midwest.
