The Back Story: Preparedness + Opportunity = LUCK

"President Carter"  © Roberta McGowan

by Kate Dardine

For western photographer Roberta McGowan, it also didn’t hurt to have a heap of talent and a background in journalism, having worked years ago in Philadelphia as a newspaper photographer, then as a corporate photojournalist, and now with her true passion, as a western photographer.

That’s why, when she ended up with third row seats to see President Jimmy Carter speak at the Aspen Institute in Colorado, she was glad to have her iPhone 6 handy.  She made a few images during his talk, but when she managed to be in the right place at the right time as he was descending the stairs, Roberta took two more photographs. And the story could have ended there.

But it didn't.  Roberta, who is no stranger to marketing and PR, emailed two versions of the best photo – one color, one black and white, to President Carter's office staff, asking if they would like a copy.  They said yes, and chose the black and white.  She asked if she could send two – one for him and one that the President would autograph and send back to her. "Absolutely," was the reply.

That’s where Fine Print came in.  “I wanted these prints to be special, and I wanted them printed on bamboo paper,” Roberta explained in our recent phone conversation.  “Because Carter has always been an environmentalist, I thought he would appreciate the photo being printed on an environmentally friendly paper.”  We printed the images last week, and Roberta kindly emailed us letting us know how happy she was with how they turned out.  We were thrilled – and tickled to learn something we produced would be in a Presidential Collection!

Roberta shared with me her philosophy on getting the perfect shot:  “You don’t need to have the fanciest camera and lenses. You just need to know your craft, have talent and when an opportunity arises, make the most of it.”

 

Her portrait of Jimmy Carter looks like it could be a painting, but, she laughs, “It is straight out of the iPhone camera.  I didn’t do anything  elaborate; I’m not interested in manipulating the image. I just see my shot and take it.”

This philosophy has worked well for Roberta, who, aside from her photography and interest in western subjects, is an avid horsewoman. She and her husband live on the western slope of Colorado.  You can learn more about Roberta and see her beautiful photographs on her website, www.visualwestphotography.com.