Nice Pick for Best President Elect Obama Photo – And Some Thoughts – Yes We Can
Nice Photo Mag’s pick for Best Newspaper day after cover photo of President Elect Obama:
This image is from the cover of today’s Chicago Sun Times (if anyone can tell me who the photographer is, I’d like to put their name in this post). The photographer seems to capture the optimism of a better future without forgetting the hard road ahead. The short depth of field locks me into his eyes and makes it feel like I, as the viewer, am sharing a personal moment with the man. But that’s just my take. Let me know what you think in the comments below.
People who don’t want to read opinions that may be different from their own may wish not to read any further. Others, please read on.
Last night my wife and I wept with joy as we watched a Nation choose hope, peace, sacrifice, kindness, and understanding. At risk of alienating a sizable chunk of readership, I’d like to say, “Welcome, Mr. President.”
Despite several close calls, my wife has still not given birth yet (today is looking pretty likely, but we’ve been fooled before). Last night when I called my father to share in the happiness of the election results he said, “Your son will be born into a better world tomorrow than if he’d been born yesterday.” I believe that to be true.
I don’t often get political on Nice (I think maybe three times total before now), but when I do, I get a fair amount of hate mail. That makes me sad. But that’s the way it is. I am proud of my beliefs, of my family’s values, just as I’d imagine they are of theirs. The blog is meant to inspire people to communicate their ideas through the art of photography. I don’t expect or try to influence people’s political affiliations or beliefs with this blog. However, from time to time I will share mine.
I think there is a strong likelihood that the Obama win is a win for Science, the Environment, and Artistic Freedom. And what with me being artistic environmental scientist (not really), I have to say that’s…
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Hope…
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Peace…
Without getting too political in your comments section, I have to say that as a country, we got it right this time.
I couldn’t agree more. Yesterday when I woke up I felt a strange feeling that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I realized that I had been deeply angry at our government for the past 7-8 years and now with that anger gone, I noticed a new sense of optimism in my outlook on life.
WIth so much pressure on Obama to actually follow through with all the things he talked about in the campaign, I hope that things actually do change in light of the fact that our economy is so far down the toilet.
My pregnant wife and I had exactly the same feeling of relief that our daughter will be born in this new era of America instead of the old.
It’s your site, and you can say what you want!
I agree, I was equally excited about the election results–we have come so far! It is exciting to be part of the movement, the experience, and the history that has been made.
But there is also sadness; across the nation hateful ballot measures have succeeded in kicking many of our fellow Americans down, removing the opportunity for family that others enjoy freely.
These struggles can be inspirational and can generate additional artistic movements, especially in photography. We may be able to capture, express, and communicate this–if not in words, maybe in pictures–to make affect additional postive change.
Gee..I got caught up in the politcal moment, I forgot to post my response to your intial question-sorry. You are right, the out-of-focus around Obama’s face pulls you into his eyes. The only facial features of interests are those you’d be looking at if you were having a dialog with him. All else is far, distant, and immaterial.
Black and white vs. color also helps set the mood. Its one of contemplation, reserved judgment, cautious optimism. I want to yell YES!, but I also want to see how far this can go, anticipating something greater than I expect–hold back, because the best is yet to come. A colorful, bright picture would say “that’s it, the finale has been reached”–this picture evokes something more of a sense of journey that is still being fulfilled.