Occasionally photographers find themselves witnessing historic events, although they may be too busy finding good positions, or checking their equipment, to realise it at the time.
My first job on April 4th is similar to many previous
assignments: a meeting of two politicians. My first challenge is
Dublin traffic - and the burning question of whether I have left
enough time to get to the job, at Farmleigh.
Listening to the radio in the car, the burning question is
whether Ian Paisley will shake hands with Bertie Ahern in public
for the first time. This changes my approach. Getting a photograph
of them together will not be a big problem, but the main picture of
the day is the first handshake.
We have been told we will not have access inside Farmleigh;
as it is a dry day, however, taking photographs outside will not be
difficult.
I manage to position myself in the centre of the front row of
the photographers' area. In my mind I can see the historic
handshake happening at the main door, straight in front of me,
beautifully framed by two columns.
The Taoiseach makes his way out, which means the First
Minister is about to arrive. His car approaches the house, then
stops about eight metres short of the door. My perfectly framed
photo is not going to happen.
Ahern walks over to meet Paisley, who emerges from his car
saying: "I have to shake this man's hand! Give him a grip!" (I'm
thinking: I have to get this picture sharp! Exposed correctly!)
As they shake hands I take a photograph. I can make out in
the frame that the background is not perfect, with a drainpipe down
the middle. It is far from the image I had envisaged, but that's
how some photographs work out.