No, not a salute

Haven't taken any photographs today but this one was taken by Richard Graham, our MP for Gloucester who is now our campaigning as a candidate for re-election. 
As I was the only RBL Rider at the beacon lighting yesterday evening he wanted a photo. We've known each for a few years now, a really nice chap who I mentioned yesterday due to his furious pace up the steep hill.
Someone on FB asked me if it was a bad salute or was it the sun I was shading my eyes from. It was, of course, the setting sun, very bright and right at eye level.