I had the opportunity to photograph Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese at his farm near Nardin, Oklahoma for the cover and feature story on him for my good client Oklahoma Living Magazine. This excellent story was written by Anna Politano.
I knew I was going to have an opportunity to take great pictures when Mr. Reese agreed to meet me before daylight on his farm in north central Oklahoma. He was in the middle of the milo harvest so we met at his John Deere combine that he had left in the field the night before. When he asked me what he should wear for the shoot, I told him “wear what you normally use to farm in.” This turned out perfect since he normally farms in his worn white dress shirts that he cuts the sleeves short after he wears them out in a suit and tie. I thought that little touch really added a sense of realism and showed how he easily moved from the suite and tie world of state politics to the world of farming and running a combine.
Mr. Reese was very cooperative when I arrived and moved his combine so that I could get the best angle for the morning sun. I knew as soon as I snapped the first picture that we had a winner on our hands and was very pleased when the story came out. Of course Anna always writes a great story and the pictures I felt really showed who Jim Reese was in his down time.
Below are a few outtakes from the photo shoot.
