TAKING THE SHOT CRAIG GOLDING ON SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY AND BEYOND
Sydney’s domestic airport terminal some time in 1987 and press photographer Craig Golding is waiting for a flight to Melbourne.
Everyone is on the aircraft except for Craig and the pop star. Craig is hiding around the corner and the gate is now locked off. They bring the pop star out and put him in first class. Craig walks on after him and the airline staff hassle him.
“What are you doing?”
“Here’s my ticket, I’m on this flight.”
Craig has to walk past the pop star who is sitting by a window. He’s got his camera and flash ready, but he didn’t want to just blast him. When he’s level with the pop star’s seat, Craig says, “Hello, Michael”. Michael Jackson replies, “Hi”.
“Look, is it OK if I take a picture?” Craig asks. Michael says, “Sure”.
“It was in the wimpiest voice you have ever heard, whilst giving me a peace sign,” Craig recalls. “He was a completely different person to the Michael Jackson at the Melbourne concert that night, who was screaming, yelling and ripping his shirt off. I went bang, bang and then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw this gigantic guy running up the aisle towards me. ‘What are you doing here?’ he demanded and I replied, ‘Michael said it was all right to take a picture’. Michael said ‘sure’ again, and went back to looking out the window.”
Arriving at Melbourne airport, Craig went and waited in the aircraft’s toilet while they herded everyone off the plane and then closed the main exit so the only way out was down the back stairs that
