When possible I shoot film. The photographer Robert McNeely

Marko Radloff/bildwerk3: Have you ever been to Europe?
Robert McNeely: I have been to Europe many times. My favorite time was in Germany for the fall of the Berlin Wall.

How did you become the presidential photographer under Clinton?
I have worked in politics since 1972 when I volunteered to photograph the McGovern for President campaign and was hired to be the campaign photographer. That led to work in the Carter White House and that led to meeting the Clintons and being asked to be their White House Photographer.

What are the most important qualities a successful photographer needs?
Good vision, reflexes, curiosity, ability to get along with people in many different circumstances, desire to learn.

Can you explain how and when you learned about this job for Kodak at the Obama Inauguration?
Kodak is the partner with us on the Inaugural project. We are working together to have all photographers around the world to send their pictures to obamaphotobook.com and put them in Kodak albums and print-on-demand books.

How did you prepare for it?
I have photographed Inaugurations since 1977 so I was pretty well prepared from the start. The main preparations were to be able to work in the very cold conditions.

Can you describe your role during the Obama Inauguration and throughout week?
I photographed the President and First Lady to be, for the first three days of the Inaugural and photographed in the crowds on the mall on the day of the Inaugural.

What is a day like as photographer at the White House?
Long. The President has a day full of meetings and events that need to be photographed and then there are evening events many days.

Did you work together with assistants or were you taking your pictures on your own?
I work alone when photographing news events but use assistants for commercial shoots and portraits.

Did you have any restrictions’/limitations when you captured the Obama Inauguration? What was your impression of the new President?
There are always restrictions when working around the President. Security concerns and other press photographers needing to be able to make pictures limit where you can go and how you can photograph. The new President is very easy to work around. He is animated and a good subject. He understands what the news media and photographers need and is very willing to help them get it.

How has your current collaboration with Kodak worked?
Kodak and I have worked together for 20 years and I have been using Kodak products for 40. They listen to photographers and try to make products that help photographers do their jobs.

From 1993 for six years you were the director of photography at the White House – under Bill Clinton. What was your biggest photographic challenge at this time?
Working for Bill Clinton was very exhausting but rewarding. He loved to travel and meet people and my job was to keep up and make interesting photos.

What materials and equipment have you used at that time?
I primarily used Leica cameras and Kodak T-Max film in all three film speeds.

What camera equipment, do you use for your work today?
I still use Leica cameras and T-Max film. For digital I use a Canon 5D.

Until when did you use film? How was the transition to digital photography?
I am primarily a documentary photographer. When possible I shoot film. I shoot film 80% of the time and digital color the other 20%.