Former Alaska Senator Ted-Stevens weighing salmon at the Seward Silver Salmon Derby, Seward, Alaska.
This photo dates back to 1998 – a couple years before I became a professional photographer. I walked down to check out the Silver Salmon Derby action with my camera and flash, and was surprised to see Senator Ted Stevens weighing salmon as a volunteer. It wasn’t a figurehead kind of role for show, he was actually handling the salmon just like myself and all the other people who would volunteer there during the week – no media, photographers or film crews in sight.
I thought it was pretty cool to see one of the most powerful people in the United States volunteering at our little town’s salmon derby – I had to get a photo. When he saw me positioning myself for the photo, he turned and pretended to throw a salmon at me – that is the photo above. He stopped at the last second holding on to the fish – gave me a quick smile, then proceeded to go about his business.
When I read about his passing yesterday I thought about this moment – dusted off and scanned the old slide and decided I would post it here. Rest in peace Senator Stevens.
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Though I do not agree with his politics, it is a tragedy. My condolences to his family & Alaska.
Since you mentioned that you scanned an old slide, did you scan it backwards? All the letters are reversed in the image. Remember when publishers did that all the time?
That is a really cool story, Ron. Admirable how he was out there doing the real thing, not some fake photo-op.
Kind of freaky to know how he passed considering we had similar conditions in the same area last week.
Author
Hey Jon – LOL, it is backwards! I scanned and posted this quickly the night before leaving for Denali and didn’t even notice. That used to drive me crazy when publishers did it.
Thanks Ricard, it is kinda freaky!