Comments on: The New Official Portrait http://www.bagnewsnotes.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/ Reading the Pictures — Visual politics and the analysis of news images Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:58:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Molly http://www.bagnewsnotes.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88491 Molly Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:50:37 +0000 http://bnn.weightshift.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88491 In answer to all the posted questions, he's serious. In answer to all the posted questions, he’s serious.

]]> By: cenoxo http://www.bagnewsnotes.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88490 cenoxo Sat, 17 Jan 2009 20:53:49 +0000 http://bnn.weightshift.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88490 Looking at PEBO's highly detailed <a href="/files/.a/6a00d8341cc90353ef010536d1fc2e970c-pi.jpg" rel="nofollow">bigger picture</a> (which has much less contrast and saturation than the BAGMan's <a href="/files/.a/6a00d8341cc90353ef010536d1fc7e970c-pi.jpg" rel="nofollow">lead image</a>), you can see:<ul><li>A relaxed, pleasant expression with a slight smile and level gaze.</li><li>No makeup.</li><li>Little or no retouching — visible mole, freckles, beard stubble, eye bags and veins, ear hair, wrinkles, dust on suit, lint on lapel, thread on collar, tie a little loose, etc.</li><li>A dark-skinned subject against a white background (a simple photographic choice, not an editorial one).</li><li>Simple umbrella lighting (note reflections in the eyes).</li><li>Good color harmony throughout.</li><li>The United States flag (echoed by the lapel pin) and the official, gold-fringed <a href="http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-pres.html" rel="nofollow">Presidential flag</a>.</li></ul> All in all, it's a nicely done, unpretentious, very straightforward portrait. Let's hope the same attributes mark Obama's administration also. Looking at PEBO’s highly detailed bigger picture (which has much less contrast and saturation than the BAGMan’s lead image), you can see:
  • A relaxed, pleasant expression with a slight smile and level gaze.
  • No makeup.
  • Little or no retouching — visible mole, freckles, beard stubble, eye bags and veins, ear hair, wrinkles, dust on suit, lint on lapel, thread on collar, tie a little loose, etc.
  • A dark-skinned subject against a white background (a simple photographic choice, not an editorial one).
  • Simple umbrella lighting (note reflections in the eyes).
  • Good color harmony throughout.
  • The United States flag (echoed by the lapel pin) and the official, gold-fringed Presidential flag.

All in all, it’s a nicely done, unpretentious, very straightforward portrait.
Let’s hope the same attributes mark Obama’s administration also.

]]> By: Ray http://www.bagnewsnotes.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88489 Ray Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:34:11 +0000 http://bnn.weightshift.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88489 There's a lot of tea-leaf reading going on about this picture of him. This is not objective analysis, you're reading a lot into it, predictably; what you want to see, you find. There’s a lot of tea-leaf reading going on about this picture of him. This is not objective analysis, you’re reading a lot into it, predictably; what you want to see, you find.

]]> By: ChrisTheRed http://www.bagnewsnotes.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88488 ChrisTheRed Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:57:59 +0000 http://bnn.weightshift.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88488 I work in a federal building, and each day have to see the second Bush portrait Karen posted above. I'll not be sad when the smirking mug disappears in favor of a picture of someone who looks serious, focused, and engaged. I work in a federal building, and each day have to see the second Bush portrait Karen posted above. I’ll not be sad when the smirking mug disappears in favor of a picture of someone who looks serious, focused, and engaged.

]]> By: We the people http://www.bagnewsnotes.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88487 We the people Sat, 17 Jan 2009 11:40:06 +0000 http://bnn.weightshift.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88487 I'm pretty sure they photoshoped his ears... I’m pretty sure they photoshoped his ears…

]]> By: Michael http://www.bagnewsnotes.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88486 Michael Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:58:30 +0000 http://bnn.weightshift.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88486 I see reserved strength, intelligence and compassion. I see a president. I see reserved strength, intelligence and compassion. I see a president.

]]> By: CAli http://www.bagnewsnotes.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88485 CAli Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:27:54 +0000 http://bnn.weightshift.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88485 No one seems to have caught this one, yet: his eyes are slightly crossed. This, to me, indicates an intensity and focus that he must have been feeling at the moment the photo was taken. No one seems to have caught this one, yet: his eyes are slightly crossed. This, to me, indicates an intensity and focus that he must have been feeling at the moment the photo was taken.

]]> By: cherish http://www.bagnewsnotes.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88484 cherish Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:54:27 +0000 http://bnn.weightshift.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88484 Personally, the flag pin reminds me to always discern between real criticism and ridiculous criticism. Personally, the flag pin reminds me to always discern between real criticism and ridiculous criticism.

]]> By: vcInCA http://www.bagnewsnotes.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88483 vcInCA Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:37:28 +0000 http://bnn.weightshift.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88483 in comparison to bush's pics, here's what i see. bush's 2nd pic in particular (or, the one posted on the R, above) evokes everyone's third grade school photo, where you're holding a smile that isn't yours as long as possible, so it captures a 'happy' and 'attractive' you. obama's shot, on the other hand, is calmer-i don't feel the tension. like he could look like this for an hour, its his real face, not his 'presentation' smile. and yes, obama is slightly not-center in the pic. his body is facing the left, he is situated within the frame on the right, and he's looking directly down the center. that has a bit of something for everyone in it, i think. it doesn't remind me of a high school angled graduation shot, even with the body angle, though. in comparison to bush’s pics, here’s what i see. bush’s 2nd pic in particular (or, the one posted on the R, above) evokes everyone’s third grade school photo, where you’re holding a smile that isn’t yours as long as possible, so it captures a ‘happy’ and ‘attractive’ you. obama’s shot, on the other hand, is calmer-i don’t feel the tension. like he could look like this for an hour, its his real face, not his ‘presentation’ smile.
and yes, obama is slightly not-center in the pic. his body is facing the left, he is situated within the frame on the right, and he’s looking directly down the center. that has a bit of something for everyone in it, i think. it doesn’t remind me of a high school angled graduation shot, even with the body angle, though.

]]> By: Tom http://www.bagnewsnotes.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88482 Tom Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:39:32 +0000 http://bnn.weightshift.com/2009/01/the-new-official-portrait/#comment-88482 Like others I am drawn to the flag pin, to me it represents the compromise Obama has taken to deflect ridiculous criticism that was leveled against him in the campaign. Compromise may be his best chance to close the gap between Dems and Repubs and make this one nation again Like others I am drawn to the flag pin, to me it represents the compromise Obama has taken to deflect ridiculous criticism that was leveled against him in the campaign. Compromise may be his best chance to close the gap between Dems and Repubs and make this one nation again

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