White House photographer Pete Souza's selection of the best shots of the 1st year

Souza said all photos go through the WH press office before being released so I'm sure confidential material is screened. He also said he photographs every single meeting.

Re: equipment. Find the WH flickr stream. All photos are available full size and with Exif. From what I've seen he travels light using 5d2s. The official portrait was with the kit zoom and other shots have been seen from the 35 L.

TheHoff wrote in post #9434389
Re: equipment. Find the WH flickr stream. All photos are available full size and with Exif. From what I've seen he travels light using 5d2s. The official portrait was with the kit zoom and other shots have been seen from the 35 L.

Here's the Flickr account
http://www.flickr.com/​photos/whitehouse/

Many of the photos are taken with the 35L, I've also seen some with the 24L II, 50L, 85L, 135L, 200 f/1.8, and 24-70. But the VAST majority of the photos are taken with primes.

I actually exchanged e-mails with him and he's very nice. I had just purchased my 5D2 and asked if he liked his. He really likes it. And he got to shoot the group I shot the National Competition for when the winners went to the White House to see the President. I was so jealous. That should have been me! Okay, he is the official photographer.

So, this thread has been pruned even more - if it keeps up it's headed for quick closure.

Why you have to appreciate the white house photographers so much. They are documenting everything unbiased without one hint of an agenda. Now which ones the WH decides to make public is another story. Glad Pete went and created the WH flickr page to share! Great guy, great photographer.

You would think having the job of photographing the POTUS would be really interesting and all but it's seems to me from a lot of his shots that it isn't.

Two points that jumped out to me:

Pete seems to spend a lot of time at the White house trying to find new and interesting ways to frame his subject. There are a lot of shots reflected off things, shot through windows etc etc. It's like after a few months he can't stand shooting yet another meeting of a bunch of politicians.

Compounding the first point was something else Pete commented on in his shots from Moscow. He noted that in a lot of foreign settings he is restricted in where he can go and what he can shoot. What a bummer. He finally gets to shoot something other than the oval office and he gets restricted.

JeffreyG wrote in post #9435777
You would think having the job of photographing the POTUS would be really interesting and all but it's seems to me from a lot of his shots that it isn't.

Two points that jumped out to me:

Pete seems to spend a lot of time at the White house trying to find new and interesting ways to frame his subject. There are a lot of shots reflected off things, shot through windows etc etc. It's like after a few months he can't stand shooting yet another meeting of a bunch of politicians.

Compounding the first point was something else Pete commented on in his shots from Moscow. He noted that in a lot of foreign settings he is restricted in where he can go and what he can shoot. What a bummer. He finally gets to shoot something other than the oval office and he gets restricted.

He's restricted in the Oval office to - there's time set aside for photos and time when it's only those in the meeting allowed in. Sure he's getting the standard shots and the ones released are the ones chosen and are unique - how many shots can you shoot that are the same thing over and over again? It's not about getting bored with the subjects it's getting bored with the same angles, same type shots. If you noticed he has been shooting this way for awhile, and so did the last photographer of the POTUS. It's almost trying not to be seen taking shots.

What I'd like to see is more of his old Reagan shots - to compare them to how he shoots now...the growth, what he changed, etc.

JeffreyG wrote in post #9435777
You would think having the job of photographing the POTUS would be really interesting and all but it's seems to me from a lot of his shots that it isn't.

Two points that jumped out to me:

Pete seems to spend a lot of time at the White house trying to find new and interesting ways to frame his subject. There are a lot of shots reflected off things, shot through windows etc etc. It's like after a few months he can't stand shooting yet another meeting of a bunch of politicians.

Compounding the first point was something else Pete commented on in his shots from Moscow. He noted that in a lot of foreign settings he is restricted in where he can go and what he can shoot. What a bummer. He finally gets to shoot something other than the oval office and he gets restricted.

That's the job.

Unfortunately it will end up having pictures looking a bit stale. You can only do so many angles of the same office/room, being careful of any sensitive document that may happen to be on a desk - I'm sure some photos are deleted due to something inadvertantly captured.

I'm certain he doesn't take photos at every meeting, that's for sure. When you're discussing high level security clearance stuff I bet he's nowhere to be found.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #9435859
What I'd like to see is more of his old Reagan shots - to compare them to how he shoots now...the growth, what he changed, etc.

That would be interesting. The current photos I saw had a few nice shots, but so much are just too corporate looking to me. Not that that is a bad thing, as corporations need those kinds of photos - but it doesn't interest me and I don't think I'd want the job.

OdiN1701 wrote in post #9435873
I'm certain he doesn't take photos at every meeting, that's for sure. When you're discussing high level security clearance stuff I bet he's nowhere to be found.

He said he does in the interview this morning. Something like "I believe I've shot nearly every single meeting" but then said when the President wants one-on-one time, he leaves.

Wonderful photography! Thanks for sharing

OdiN1701 wrote in post #9435873
I'm sure some photos are deleted due to something inadvertantly captured.

If I remember correctly NOTHING is deleted or thrown away (it's just not released) - there was an interview with the last WH photographer about it and he mentioned something like that. May be wrong on that but thought it's what he said.

OdiN1701 wrote in post #9435882
That would be interesting. The current photos I saw had a few nice shots, but so much are just too corporate looking to me. Not that that is a bad thing, as corporations need those kinds of photos - but it doesn't interest me and I don't think I'd want the job.

That'd be half the battle there - it'd be a new challenge all the time to do something different.

Those are some great photos. I like the emotions in a lot of the images. While I am sure he enjoys his job, being the staff photographer isn't always peaches and cream. I enjoyed going through the shots.

Great set of photos. I enjoyed going through all of them and seeing the life of the president through this photographer and his camera.