For his birthday, some wonderful pictures of President Obama.
August 4, 2016 6:56 AM Subscribe
A very nice collection of 55 photos taken by White House photographer Peter Souza. "Since 2009, Souza has compiled an annual “Year in Photos” gallery; a collection of 75-100 of his favorite photos from the previous 12 months. I went through all of the albums and have compiled 55 highlights. "
I want to know more about #55!
posted by tilde at 7:12 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by tilde at 7:12 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Happy birthday, Mr. President. Thank you for being the man that you are.
posted by Sophie1 at 7:14 AM on August 4, 2016
posted by Sophie1 at 7:14 AM on August 4, 2016
I am so going to miss this man.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 7:17 AM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 7:17 AM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
Those were awesome. Can't we set aside the 22nd amendment, and have four more years? Please?
posted by dfm500 at 7:21 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by dfm500 at 7:21 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
> I want to know more about #55!
I'm fairly certain that photo was taken when the Smithsonian made a 3D portrait of POTUS.
posted by enjoymoreradio at 7:30 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
I'm fairly certain that photo was taken when the Smithsonian made a 3D portrait of POTUS.
posted by enjoymoreradio at 7:30 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
It's striking how many of those pictures involve little kids and how much he seems to enjoy them. That one with the little black boy touching his hair is wonderful.
posted by peppermind at 7:30 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by peppermind at 7:30 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Damn. I'm sure Hillary will be a fine POTUS, but i'll miss the O-Man. Wonder what he'll do in the following decades?
Real talk, i wish we were coming off of 8 years of Hillary and about to get 8 years of Obama. Because Obama would most likely beat Trump. Real talk.
posted by ELF Radio at 7:33 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Real talk, i wish we were coming off of 8 years of Hillary and about to get 8 years of Obama. Because Obama would most likely beat Trump. Real talk.
posted by ELF Radio at 7:33 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
What I'm going to need is a calendar every year with new pictures of Obama and kids.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:34 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Lyn Never at 7:34 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Was staring at #25 thinking how cool it was to have captured such a very human one-on-one moment between the President and a lone person in a diner booth. Then I realized...hey, that's Matt's Bar! Home of the Juicy Lucy! I EAT THERE!
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:36 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:36 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Spider-Kid has awesome spidey powers.
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:37 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:37 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Gorgeous, beautiful, lovely, etc.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 7:38 AM on August 4, 2016
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 7:38 AM on August 4, 2016
I know these are all carefully composed and curated to present him well, but damn does that guy take a good photo.
posted by Etrigan at 7:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 7:39 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Wonder what he'll do in the following decades?
My bet is President of the University of Chicago. Academics, community involvement, close to home (finally), and a nice podium from which to speak from time to time.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:47 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
My bet is President of the University of Chicago. Academics, community involvement, close to home (finally), and a nice podium from which to speak from time to time.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:47 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Wonder what he'll do in the following decades?
In my dreams, he refuses to reward the Senate Republicans' obstructionism and withdraws Garland's nomination. Then Clinton 45 puts him in Scalia's seat. The only downside as I see it is that he would need to recuse himself too often, but I don't see that as presenting a much bigger issue than it did for Kagan.
posted by [expletive deleted] at 8:03 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
In my dreams, he refuses to reward the Senate Republicans' obstructionism and withdraws Garland's nomination. Then Clinton 45 puts him in Scalia's seat. The only downside as I see it is that he would need to recuse himself too often, but I don't see that as presenting a much bigger issue than it did for Kagan.
posted by [expletive deleted] at 8:03 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
> Real talk, i wish we were coming off of 8 years of Hillary and about to get 8 years of Obama. Because Obama would most likely beat Trump. Real talk.
This was my attitude in 2008, when I was a Hillary supporter during the primaries. Obama, at 46, had plenty of time to go for it again in 2016. In retrospect, it would have given Obama a bit more experience with the intransigence of Congress too. I know Congressional republicans amped up the obstructionism when faced with Obama, but I still believe that legislative experience would have helped tremendously.
posted by enjoymoreradio at 8:03 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
This was my attitude in 2008, when I was a Hillary supporter during the primaries. Obama, at 46, had plenty of time to go for it again in 2016. In retrospect, it would have given Obama a bit more experience with the intransigence of Congress too. I know Congressional republicans amped up the obstructionism when faced with Obama, but I still believe that legislative experience would have helped tremendously.
posted by enjoymoreradio at 8:03 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Then Clinton 45 puts him in Scalia's seat.
I don't see it. Not for reasons of politics, but because -- as these pictures show -- Obama is a people person, a community person, and being a Supreme Court Justice is an incredibly isolating position at the personal level.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
I don't see it. Not for reasons of politics, but because -- as these pictures show -- Obama is a people person, a community person, and being a Supreme Court Justice is an incredibly isolating position at the personal level.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Then Clinton 45 puts him in Scalia's seat.
I do see it. Yes, the private Obama is totally a people person, but I think that he is an academic at heart. I think that the research and debate about issues is a big part of what led him to law school, and then to teach Con Law. It would also fit with his desire to stay in DC.
Just my $.02.
posted by dfm500 at 8:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I do see it. Yes, the private Obama is totally a people person, but I think that he is an academic at heart. I think that the research and debate about issues is a big part of what led him to law school, and then to teach Con Law. It would also fit with his desire to stay in DC.
Just my $.02.
posted by dfm500 at 8:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
It would also fit with his desire to stay in DC.
Isn't that based (almost) entirely on not relocating Sasha in the middle of high school?
posted by Etrigan at 8:35 AM on August 4, 2016
Isn't that based (almost) entirely on not relocating Sasha in the middle of high school?
posted by Etrigan at 8:35 AM on August 4, 2016
Try to imagine a similar photographic retrospective that distills eight years of a hypothetical Trump presidency into any hint of warm, charismatic, or flattering light. Fail.
posted by Western Infidels at 8:43 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Western Infidels at 8:43 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Souza's a heck of a good photographer. There's so much personality and narrative in so many of these.
posted by octothorpe at 8:57 AM on August 4, 2016
posted by octothorpe at 8:57 AM on August 4, 2016
These are all mostly flattering and I have no doubt they convey his character fairly accurately, but that rainbow shot is a bit much.
posted by davebush at 9:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by davebush at 9:15 AM on August 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Spider-Kid has awesome spidey powers.
Obama has said on a few occasions that that is one of his favorite pictures. He's a known Spider-Man superfan.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:19 AM on August 4, 2016
Obama has said on a few occasions that that is one of his favorite pictures. He's a known Spider-Man superfan.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:19 AM on August 4, 2016
I hope he fills the role of Jimmy Carter.....a wonderful, national spokesman for peace... going to help when he is needed.... or maybe a SCOTUS seat..... He'll do something great, of that I'm sure.
posted by pearlybob at 9:24 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by pearlybob at 9:24 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
The Trump-baby debacle reminded me of the time Obama got a baby to stop crying. I'm not ready to say goodbye to the Obamas!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:28 AM on August 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
That's a lovely video, @ThePinkSuperhero! You can tell he's had some practice soothing a baby. Like probably every parent on the planet, he's got that "gently bounce/rock/sway the baby" move perfected. :-]
posted by zuhl at 9:36 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zuhl at 9:36 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Like probably every parent on the planet, he's got that "gently bounce/rock/sway the baby" move perfected.
Well, the ones who don't brag about explicitly outsourcing 100 percent of the actual parenting to their spouses.
posted by Etrigan at 9:41 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
Well, the ones who don't brag about explicitly outsourcing 100 percent of the actual parenting to their spouses.
posted by Etrigan at 9:41 AM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
That one with the little black boy touching his hair is wonderful.
Yes. It's beautiful and makes me cry.
It is terrifying that there are people who would look at these pictures and see an enemy, a threat, an other. That there are people whose reaction to Obama, with his charisma and his human dignity, is so different to my own.
He is not a perfect politician, no-one is, but how what kind of hate is it that would make someone hate what we see of Obama as a person?
posted by howfar at 10:08 AM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
Yes. It's beautiful and makes me cry.
It is terrifying that there are people who would look at these pictures and see an enemy, a threat, an other. That there are people whose reaction to Obama, with his charisma and his human dignity, is so different to my own.
He is not a perfect politician, no-one is, but how what kind of hate is it that would make someone hate what we see of Obama as a person?
posted by howfar at 10:08 AM on August 4, 2016 [16 favorites]
I like the way that #48 leads into #49 to make it look like he's not only holding those twins but also floating away with them.
posted by dng at 10:10 AM on August 4, 2016
posted by dng at 10:10 AM on August 4, 2016
These are all mostly flattering and I have no doubt they convey his character fairly accurately, but that rainbow shot is a bit much.
I dislike schmaltz as much as the next grumpy old bugger, as much as jazz bagpipes even, but...
Equal marriage happened on his watch. I think we can give him that one.
(Now, where's Diamond Joe's photo album?)
posted by Devonian at 10:10 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
I dislike schmaltz as much as the next grumpy old bugger, as much as jazz bagpipes even, but...
Equal marriage happened on his watch. I think we can give him that one.
(Now, where's Diamond Joe's photo album?)
posted by Devonian at 10:10 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Confident. The man is confident. I'm not, but as far as I can tell it comes first and foremost from knowing yourself, and I have no doubt at all that Obama knows himself to his core.
One of the things that ages presidents so rapidly is that your job, like being a parent, is a 24/7/365 gig. Add in that not only are you always on, you're nearly always publically on. That's a huge burden.
posted by maxwelton at 10:12 AM on August 4, 2016
One of the things that ages presidents so rapidly is that your job, like being a parent, is a 24/7/365 gig. Add in that not only are you always on, you're nearly always publically on. That's a huge burden.
posted by maxwelton at 10:12 AM on August 4, 2016
For the last almost-eight years I've lived with the fear that I would pick up my phone or turn on the tv and see the news that someone had finally succeeded in assassinating President Obama. When he and Mrs. O. got out of the car during that first Inaugural Parade and began to walk down the road, I sat there with my heart in my mouth the entire time thinking "Someone's gonna do it. Some racist fuckface in a sniper nest that the Secret Service missed is gonna murder him before he even takes the oath. Get back it the car. Get back in the car!"
I found out later that I wasn't alone--every black person I knew held their breath during that moment, waiting for the racism so endemic in this country to once again "snatch that hope away from us, like they always do". Later, I heard that the Secret Service reported that in the first six months of his term, Obama received more death threats than any other POTUS had received during their entire terms.
But he was alive, still there in the Oval Office. Then he got elected again ("Once you go black, you don't go back!" my family chortled), has been there for nearly four more years, and been a solid president to boot.
He's still alive. And all signs indicate that he's gonna make it out of office alive.
I don't think people appreciate how huge that is, at least for some people in this country. Black have folks joked about the first Black president dodging bullets, but then a black guy actually got elected and suddenly those jokes weren't funny anymore. Obama's election and re-election kicked over the racist anthill in the US and all those bigots came crawling out, screeching out birth certificates, and we knew, we just knew he was gonna get murdered, because that's how racism works in America--a black man doesn't know his place, he gets killed. That's our history. That's how it happens.
But Obama's still alive. Yes he's had failures and WTF moments and are-you-seriously-implementing-that-policy? moments and been held to standards that his predecessors weren't judged by and also pulled his own fair share of bullshit and made awful decisions.
But he's still here. He's still alive. He's still alive.
And now we've got nearly eight years of photos and videos showing him being president. Images proving that a black man can actually be President of the United States and live to tell about it.
Maybe that's a minimum standard for some people, living through the presidency. But for some of us, we could never take that for granted. I believe that decades from now, there will be historians who'll point out just how important it was that Obama lived through his presidency, and what a powerful message that sent to Black America.
Whatever President Obama does once he's out of office, I hope he and Mrs. O spend some time mentoring the next generation of African-American public servants. I hope they inspire more minorities to run for office, to serve on the local city councils and their school boards, to go to Washington, to not just live a political life but LIVE it loud and proud and I'm-still-here-serving-my-countrymen-yes-even-you-you-bigoted-fucks.
posted by magstheaxe at 10:42 AM on August 4, 2016 [90 favorites]
I found out later that I wasn't alone--every black person I knew held their breath during that moment, waiting for the racism so endemic in this country to once again "snatch that hope away from us, like they always do". Later, I heard that the Secret Service reported that in the first six months of his term, Obama received more death threats than any other POTUS had received during their entire terms.
But he was alive, still there in the Oval Office. Then he got elected again ("Once you go black, you don't go back!" my family chortled), has been there for nearly four more years, and been a solid president to boot.
He's still alive. And all signs indicate that he's gonna make it out of office alive.
I don't think people appreciate how huge that is, at least for some people in this country. Black have folks joked about the first Black president dodging bullets, but then a black guy actually got elected and suddenly those jokes weren't funny anymore. Obama's election and re-election kicked over the racist anthill in the US and all those bigots came crawling out, screeching out birth certificates, and we knew, we just knew he was gonna get murdered, because that's how racism works in America--a black man doesn't know his place, he gets killed. That's our history. That's how it happens.
But Obama's still alive. Yes he's had failures and WTF moments and are-you-seriously-implementing-that-policy? moments and been held to standards that his predecessors weren't judged by and also pulled his own fair share of bullshit and made awful decisions.
But he's still here. He's still alive. He's still alive.
And now we've got nearly eight years of photos and videos showing him being president. Images proving that a black man can actually be President of the United States and live to tell about it.
Maybe that's a minimum standard for some people, living through the presidency. But for some of us, we could never take that for granted. I believe that decades from now, there will be historians who'll point out just how important it was that Obama lived through his presidency, and what a powerful message that sent to Black America.
Whatever President Obama does once he's out of office, I hope he and Mrs. O spend some time mentoring the next generation of African-American public servants. I hope they inspire more minorities to run for office, to serve on the local city councils and their school boards, to go to Washington, to not just live a political life but LIVE it loud and proud and I'm-still-here-serving-my-countrymen-yes-even-you-you-bigoted-fucks.
posted by magstheaxe at 10:42 AM on August 4, 2016 [90 favorites]
Equal marriage happened on his watch. I think we can give him that one.
That's a great point. I didn't make that connection, but it's valid.
posted by davebush at 10:46 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
That's a great point. I didn't make that connection, but it's valid.
posted by davebush at 10:46 AM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
#26. #37. #41! (He's trolling that little kid so hard!)
I'll miss this man. Whatever you think about his policies (why isn't WYTAHP a standard abbreviation?), he's kept his humanity and seems, by all accounts, to've kept his family close and sane through a hellish eight years. He's a model for anyone who wants to live a life of the mind and spirit.
His successor, for whatever complex and indeed unfair assortment of reasons, seems to want different things from life.
posted by waxbanks at 10:53 AM on August 4, 2016
I'll miss this man. Whatever you think about his policies (why isn't WYTAHP a standard abbreviation?), he's kept his humanity and seems, by all accounts, to've kept his family close and sane through a hellish eight years. He's a model for anyone who wants to live a life of the mind and spirit.
His successor, for whatever complex and indeed unfair assortment of reasons, seems to want different things from life.
posted by waxbanks at 10:53 AM on August 4, 2016
magstheaxe, reading your comment made me cry out loud.
posted by mumimor at 10:56 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by mumimor at 10:56 AM on August 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
The Trump-baby debacle reminded me of the time Obama got a baby to stop crying.
My favorite part about that clip is actually when the baby stops crying, and Michelle gives him this shocked "wtf?" look and he gives her a smug look back all "yeah, who da man?"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:18 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
My favorite part about that clip is actually when the baby stops crying, and Michelle gives him this shocked "wtf?" look and he gives her a smug look back all "yeah, who da man?"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:18 AM on August 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
I share my birthday with Obama, and I really want a birthday hug. The man clearly is an excellent hugger.
posted by gladly at 11:27 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by gladly at 11:27 AM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
(Now, where's Diamond Joe's photo album?)
Oh, Diamond Joe's done one better.
Happy 55th, Barack! A brother to me, a best friend forever.
posted by Existential Dread at 11:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
Oh, Diamond Joe's done one better.
Happy 55th, Barack! A brother to me, a best friend forever.
posted by Existential Dread at 11:52 AM on August 4, 2016 [17 favorites]
So many wonderful pictures of him and various children, and somehow this one missed the cut? Unpossible.
So, #56
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 11:58 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
So, #56
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 11:58 AM on August 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Was staring at #25 thinking how cool it was to have captured such a very human one-on-one moment between the President and a lone person in a diner booth. Then I realized...hey, that's Matt's Bar! Home of the Juicy Lucy! I EAT THERE!
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:36 AM
That photograph now hangs above that very booth. I get a little frisson every time I see it.
posted by padraigin at 11:58 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:36 AM
That photograph now hangs above that very booth. I get a little frisson every time I see it.
posted by padraigin at 11:58 AM on August 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I just adore this man. Happy Birthday from now until you are, like, 125, Mr. President.
posted by bearwife at 1:05 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by bearwife at 1:05 PM on August 4, 2016
A fine-looking man with a great smile who obviously loves kids. That's what I got from this, pretty much. Not bad, for a President.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 2:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 2:08 PM on August 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
This is one of my favorite photos of Obama.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 2:59 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 2:59 PM on August 4, 2016 [9 favorites]
los pantalones del muerte - I cannot favorite that comment hard enough. That one made me catch my breath.
posted by hilaryjade at 4:39 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by hilaryjade at 4:39 PM on August 4, 2016
Awesome shots. I'm gonna miss this guy.
posted by turbid dahlia at 9:14 PM on August 4, 2016
posted by turbid dahlia at 9:14 PM on August 4, 2016
Thank you for posting this, OmieWise. It gave me the push I needed to push back against some right-wing garbage that showed up in my inbox yesterday. A guy I'm acquainted with from a club has a bad habit of sending me that kind of crap, and this time it was a bunch of photos of Dubya gladhanding with the troops and saying there are no photos of Obama like that. A quick search instantly turned up lots of them, of course. I selected two links and sent them back. His response should be interesting.
I am so damn sick of the unreasoning hatred of this president.
posted by bryon at 11:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
I am so damn sick of the unreasoning hatred of this president.
posted by bryon at 11:18 PM on August 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
The old Buzzfeed photo collection about Obama losing his chill around kids making the rounds right now + Joe's birthday Twitter post are making me lose MY chill.
posted by Ragini at 1:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Ragini at 1:06 AM on August 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
#4 kills me. The simple, human happiness in that moment.
posted by that's candlepin at 7:23 AM on August 5, 2016
posted by that's candlepin at 7:23 AM on August 5, 2016
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