On January 10, 2017, Barack Obama held his last speech as the President of the United States. He said goodbye with the words that didn’t only inspire his run for President, but also his eight-year term in the White House: “Yes, we can!”
Renown photo journalist Pete Souza spent 12 years at Barack Obama’s side. Now he published a book about this era – a photobook which gives us insight into world politics and paints a very intimate picture of the 44th President of the United States of America.
Barack Obama: a book about great hope
The book Obama: An Intimate Portrait depicts the President and his family in 300 images as well as special moments that were caught on camera during his term from 2009 until 2017. And these pictures represent only a fraction of the two million images Pete Souza has archived.
That the photo journalist became a close ally to the Obama family also shows in the foreword of the book, where the former President thanks Souza for the “gift.” “ORIGINAL QUOTE,” so Obama.
From world politics to celebrities as well as romantic moments
The book about Barack Obama portrays wonderful memories of his family: How their daughters Sasha and Malia run around the White House with the dogs or an intimate moment between Barack and his First Lady Michelle.
But the photobook doesn’t only reveal private moments. There are also images of the first meeting with Wladimir Putin and an intense conversation with Angela Merkel in front of an Alpine backdrop. Next to heads of state, we also get to see celebrities: Whether it’s Paul McCartney singing the Beatles song “Michelle” for the First Lady or young Prince George, who greets Barack Obama in a bathrobe.
Photojournalist Pete Souza succeeded in showing Obama’s personality and the essence of his Presidency with the perfect selection of his images. The book doesn’t only show important historic moments, but also heartfelt moments that touch viewers and put a smile on their faces.
