I shot the President of Taiwan

Yesterday’s Taipei Cycle show was opened by Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou. He walked the show surrounded by burly secret service agents and was followed by a horde of Taiwanese press photographers. At the opening ceremony, guests had to walk through airport-style scanners to gain access. (In the recent election campaign, the losing presidential candidate was shot at so Taiwanese security is pretty tight).

I didn’t let any of this bother me when I saw the President walking the aisles, bringing a crowd in his wake. He was being led by King Liu, founder of Giant and I guessed that the two – and the President’s entourage – would head to the Giant booth. I ran ahead and clambered over a bike on a platform to see if I could nab a grab shot. It turned out my guess was a good one: King Liu and the President walked right over to the low booth wall where I was perched and I had the perfect position to take photographs of the President.

When the local news photographers realised where the President was heading they went ape, and squeezed in to the gap I had made for myself. Barking what I assumed were orders for me to move the Taiwanese paparazzi tried to dislodge me, pushing me from the back and the sides. I held firm.

King Liu asked the President to sign a Giant bike. I was right behind this bike and was able to fire off a number of shots before the President smiled, and moved on. 

I checked my shots. They were sharp and good close-ups of the bike signing. Bingo!

The Show Daily newspaper had some shots of the President opening the show but it was one of my close-up pix that eventually graced the cover.

I’d shot the President and survived to tell the tale.

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The Show Daily is produced at the Taipei Show and Eurobike by K.B. Media of Ireland.