At the risk of adding to the media’s nauseating “First 100 Days” Obamagasm this afternoon, it’s worth noting that the White House yesterday added the first 300 or so photos to its Flickr photostream.
From a strictly photographic standpoint, most of the pictures are nothing short of spectacular. Official White House photographer Pete Souza has an amazing talent for capturing moments in a moving and creative ways.
From a political standpoint, the Flickr photostream is a savvy way for Team Obama to further humanize their guy. There’s Barack Obama the “Serious Leader.” Barack Obama the “Guy You Wish Was Your Boss.” Barack Obama the “Loving Husband and Father.” Barack Obama the “Vigorous and Healthy Athlete.” Barack Obama the “Guy Like You Who Tosses a Football to Himself While Making Decisions.” There’s even Barack Obama the “ Aspiring Photographer.”
As I browsed through the White House photostream, two things really jumped out at me:
1. Every single photo is designed to show a candid behind-the-scenes moment. I viewed all 293 photos, and not one of them shows Obama posed, behind a podium, or in any other openly scripted moment. This is obviously intended to give voters a voyeuristic thrill, like many of the the online videos Team Obama produced during and after the campaign.
2. Quite a few of these behind-the-scenes photos show Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton getting along quite swimmingly, likely an attempt to bury the campaign hatchet with any of their supporters who haven’t yet completely closed ranks. One particularly effective photo shows Clinton laughing with Obama behind a half-closed door aboard Air Force One. Another shows them meeting at a picnic table on the White House lawn.
All in all, very smart stuff, and once again, the kind of thing that every candidate should be doing to more effectively humanize themselves with the voters they’re trying to attract.
Leave a Comment so far
Leave a comment
