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| Barack Obama |
Are happy days here again? It sure looks that way from the new official portrait of President Obama released by the White House on Friday.
The new color photo shows the President standing tall, flashing a big smile, his arms folded, flanked by flags and standing in front of his desk in the Oval Office.
It’s a markedly different image of Obama than the official portrait taken four years ago, after he won his first historic election.
In the 2008 photo the President looked somewhat somber. The setting was bland and unrecognizable, with flags over his right shoulder. Of course, the first photo was taken as the nation was rocked by a recession and mired in two wars, and Osama Bin Laden was on the loose.
Today, the U.S. is out of Iraq and the economy is back on its feet, if not quite standing tall. Perhaps the President feels he has something to smile about. The new photo, however, reflects a change that, in private moments, might not make the President so happy. It shows his hair now flecked with gray.
The new color photo shows the President standing tall, flashing a big smile, his arms folded, flanked by flags and standing in front of his desk in the Oval Office.
It’s a markedly different image of Obama than the official portrait taken four years ago, after he won his first historic election.
Today, the U.S. is out of Iraq and the economy is back on its feet, if not quite standing tall. Perhaps the President feels he has something to smile about. The new photo, however, reflects a change that, in private moments, might not make the President so happy. It shows his hair now flecked with gray.
White House photographer Pete Souza took the new photo on Dec. 6 with a digital camera. It will replace the 2008 photo in all federal office buildings, including all U.S. embassies around the world. The new portrait received mostly positive reviews Friday.
“The first Obama presidential portrait was, well, kind of lame. Somber, yes, but not exactly confidence inspiring,” John Avlon wrote in The Daily Beast.
“Part of the trick of presidential leadership is projecting optimism and strength — something iconic presidents like Reagan and FDR well understood. Which is why President Reagan was offering a broad grin in his official portrait at the height of the Cold War.”
Jezebel.com said the new image reflects a switch “from business to business-casual.”
“Things have changed. The President has been reelected and can now relax a little bit and party it up with a big toothy smile.”
“The first Obama presidential portrait was, well, kind of lame. Somber, yes, but not exactly confidence inspiring,” John Avlon wrote in The Daily Beast.
“Part of the trick of presidential leadership is projecting optimism and strength — something iconic presidents like Reagan and FDR well understood. Which is why President Reagan was offering a broad grin in his official portrait at the height of the Cold War.”
Jezebel.com said the new image reflects a switch “from business to business-casual.”
“Things have changed. The President has been reelected and can now relax a little bit and party it up with a big toothy smile.”
nydailynews.com
