2400 Miles, 9 Days & 8 Votes

I wanted to share more with you about my journey through Iowa over the past 9 days. Reuters assigned me to cover the caucuses for the third time. Last time I only traveled 3000 miles in 10 days, this time I only traveled 2400 miles in 9 days… a virtual vacation.

In the end Mitt Romney edged out Rick Santorum by 8 votes, however, I had the privilege of shooting Santorum for the last five days of the race.

While I updated my blog almost daily, I never really had time to share much about my experiences.

Several days I worked 12 hours or more, sometimes shooting 4 events in one day in 4 different cities. Often times I had to shoot the events, edit and upload as many photos as possible and then race to the next event. Most of the time I sent pictures the front seat of my car and sometimes my colleges and I would take over a restaurant table covering it with laptops and over $40,000 in cameras.

I rigged up with carry-on sized bag so I could quickly store my three cameras and small shoulder bag between shoots. I did this to keep them safe as I traveled across the state. 10 years ago I had a loose camera fall out of the back of my SUV when I opened the back hatch.

I traveled to some towns twice and I swear I saw the same man fixing his mail box two days in a row.

One of the most uncomfortable moments of the week for me personally was being stuck behind Rick Santorum for 10 minutes while he was introduced at a coffee shop in Sioux City. We were sandwiched together front to back so close that I had to turn my head to literally not breath down his neck….. literally. For someone used to being behind the camera, I found my self with a dozen lenses pointed at me and no place to hide. You can see video of this moment in the thumbnail and at 1:31 in the clip below.

When Santorum turned around in the coffee shop, I made this frame, just a few inches from his face.

 

I tried to hide behind him.

On the morning of the election several candidates attended an event at a West Des Moines high school. While that may sound very ordinary, it was far from it. Because there were so many candidates in one place all of he media descended on the event where journalists almost outnumbered students. The overpopulation quickly led to massive scrums with over 60 people trying to photograph candidates as they left the event. I have to say it was the first time in years I really had to box out my opponents like I did when I played basketball. I heard several people moan and groan, slam into walls and I had to push back with my elbows to hold my position…. needless to say… I hate it when it comes to this… but our editors and out end clients demand early images of the politicians.

This was the scene the morning of the election as photographed by Rick Wilking.

 

On election night the Santorum campaign allowed myself and three other photographers special access to shoot the candidate watching early returns behind-the-scenes. After the five minute shoot, we were ushered out of the room and I was so happy with the moments I had captured I wanted to hug someone.

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum hugs his wife Karen Garver Santorum as he reacts to Iowa Caucus voting results during a private backstage party at a caucus rally in Johnston, Iowa, January 3, 2012. REUTERS/John Gress
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (C) stands with his wife Karen Garver Santorum (R) and daughter Elizabeth as he reacts to Iowa Caucus voting results at a caucus rally in Johnston, Iowa, January 3, 2012. REUTERS/John Gress
Bachmann said she would cut government spending with a big knife right before she cut a cake celebrating her visit to all of Iowa's 99 counties at Snack Time Family Restaurant in Nevada, Iowa, December 29, 2011. REUTERS/John Gress
Everyone seems to love photos of politicians and babbies. Here Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum campaigns outside the Legends American Grill in Marshalltown, Iowa, December 30, 2011. REUTERS/John Gress
I love how the TV camera light rim lit Santorum during this poignant moment. Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum reacts by his car after he was asked a question about the death of his son as he campaigned at The Pizza Ranch in Newton, Iowa, January 2, 2012. REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES)
This was probably the best photo I made from my first Santorum event. I felt a little unsettled jumping in with both feet and covering him to and from the car. Sometimes it can be better to ease into it and feel the candidate out and guage how comfortably he interacts with the media. Offending a candidate early could hurt you on election night or prevent you from getting access to behind-the-scenes moments, but thankfully it all worked out. Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum leaves a campaign stop at the Legends American Grill in Marshalltown, Iowa, December 30, 2011. REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES)
Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry waits to campaign at The Sports Page restaurant in Indianola, Iowa, December 28, 2011. REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES)
I was excited to get this photo of Santorum praying because his faith has been central to his campaign. Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum prays in a kitchen before campaigning in Orange City, Iowa, January 1, 2012. REUTERS/John Gress
Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry points at the Iowa flag as he campaigns at Doughy Joey's Pizza in Waterloo, Iowa, December 30, 2011. REUTERS/John Gress
I'm not sure what they were talking about, but the woman was very upset and Perry made here smile. Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry campaigns at Doughy Joey's Pizza in Waterloo, Iowa, December 30, 2011. REUTERS/John Gress
I loved seeing Santorum having a drink like a regular guy. Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum drinks a beer while watching an Iowa football game at Johnston, Iowa, December 30, 2011. REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES)
I love the look on Perry's face in this photo. I chose this position because there was a kid in a Texas A&M sweatshirt (left) and I knew the Texas Governer would walk up to him given his past behavior. However, what played out was a surprise. Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry waits to be introduced as he campaigns at the Fainting Goat restaurant in Waverly, Iowa, December 30, 2011. REUTERS/John Gress
The congresswoman charged out of her bus so fast, I thought she was either going to knock me over or we were both going to get hit by a car. Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachman campaigns outside Snack Time Family Restaurant in Nevada, Iowa, December 29, 2011. REUTERS/John Gress
While the early events were filled with journalists, the later events in the day were not. I made this photo after all the other photographers left. Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum leaves a campaign stop with his children John (L) and Elizabeth (R) in Orange City, Iowa, January 1, 2012. REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES)
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum and his wife Karen Garver Santorum celebrate at his Iowa Caucus night rally in Johnston, Iowa, January 3, 2012. REUTERS/John Gress

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