I am very bummed right now about this picture. Someone emailed, and we got at least 3 calls saying that we printed this picture to be mean, or somehow partisan and even that we had “alterior motives” for printing it. If you know me, you know this could not be farther from the truth. She was there for her “Let’s Move!” campaign, which promotes student health through healthier school lunch options and fitness. The event included her first speaking from a podium in the library to about 20 adults, not a very exciting photo opp. We call it “the podium shot” and it’s usually a last resort as a photojournalist. Especially this time as there was a television mount bracket (with no TV) hanging right behind her head, making for a really bad/cluttered background. As with most Presidential events, all of the media was sectioned off to 1 spot literally about the size of a Chevy Suburban for around 30 members of the media, all with tv tripods, giant lenses and cameras, more than usual because Rachael Ray was also taping a show there at the same time so her whole production team was there as well.
After Mrs. Obama spoke to the adults, The media was hurried into the cafeteria to get into a place for when she came in to eat with the children. Another thing about covering Presidential events is there are levels of access. The AP, REUTERS and a couple other wire service photographers where allowed to follow her through the lunch line with kids as they picked up their trays, lovely photo opp, but I was not allowed in there. I was only allowed to shoot photos of her while she was eating with the kids. I don’t know if you have ever tried to get good pictures of someone eating, needless to say it’s very very VERY difficult, especially from 20 feet away with 20 other photogs and tv camera people crammed into a tiny spot, all shooting the same thing.
I chose this photo because I thought it was a cute interaction between her and a student as she is pulling a facial expression that I see as a face to say to the child how great this healthy food tastes. Like “Mmmmmmmmm this is good.” I think it tells the story perfectly, as that is what she was there to do, convince these kids that eating healthy can taste good. As a photojournalist I am trying to take story-telling images, not just pretty pictures. I usually get 1-2 pictures printed per story, unlike a reporter who can spell things out for someone. So that means I try to tell a whole story in 1-2 photos, and that is why I chose that picture of Michelle Obama. I felt it told the story of what she was doing there, convincing children to make healthier food choices. A good thing, right?
I wonder if this were a photo of a man, would anyone have cared? I think that to much emphasis is on appearances and what the First Lady, or any woman in politics for that matter, is wearing rather than what she is doing.
what do you think?
BRILLIANT! Clearly you are moving in the right circles! Did you ask her for private portrait time? Could you pull off a great portrait in less than 5 minutes? I’d wager you could!
CONGRATS!
Love it!!
haha… sounds like you had good intentions. Honestly, It’s not a flattering picture of her and I’m sure you could see how some people might construe it as wanting to make her look bad. I think a lot of people have their tin-foil hats on all the time and think every picture/article has a hidden agenda. I read the comments section of the local newspaper’s website and I could totally imagine the idiots that post on there saying the same thing about this photo. It’s hard to believe that 3 people actually picked up the phone and called to complain about it though. Some people have too much time on their hands. Do you get in trouble when people complain about something like this?
Thanks for the input Pat. nope, no trouble. yeah, I guess we all interpret images differently. Plus, I had the advantage of seeing the event unfold in front of me, whereas just seeing 1 pic could be seen number of different ways. OH well, at least we know people are looking, or where looking as a few said they will not be reading the paper anymore. Dooh!
This is a humorous photograph of a classy woman, doing exactly what you suggest in your write-up: telling kids “ummmm, this is yummy!” Look at her eyes, people! She’s obviously engaged with the kid(s) sitting across from her. She’s a beautiful woman, and it IS absolutely impossible to get an attractive photograph of someone eating! Have you ever sat down to eat (say, an oversized burger, a hugh sub/grinder, or an EAR OF CORN which leaves instant residue on your teeth and chin?) and said to your dining companion “this is only something I would eat with a friend. Because it’s awkward, sloppy, makes your teeth fill with all sorts of flotsam and jetsam between your teeth? And sometimes you’re WEARING half your meal? And that doesn’t EVEN take in to consideration the constraints that are on a photographer, let alone the constraints that are on a photographer SHOOTING THE FIRST LADY! You don’t think “just any Joe-with-a-camera” gets in the room, do you?” “Hey, I heard The First Lady of The United States was going to be here today eating with the kids. Mind if I come by and take a few photos?” NEVER. GONNA. HAPPEN. And I fully defend this photographer’s critique on “the podium shot.” I have a photograph of Elie Wiesel taken in South Beach when he dedicated the Holocaust Memorial. So I can say “I photographed Elie Wiesel” but not one person is going to realize I was using a 70mm – 210mm macro-zoom, and had it racked all the way out just to get the shot…over the heads of all the people who were in front of me.
So cut this photographer some slack. It’s a very light and humorous photograph of a First Lady who isn’t above sitting down to lunch in a school cafeteria and show how the quality of nutrition needs to be improved…from the school lunch table straight to our dinner table.
Did people make a big deal when Bill Clinton would go on an infamous run…straight to McDonalds? Nope. And that set a bad example, as Clinton wouldn’t DARE have a McDonalds today. Look at the NEW example he’s setting.
So before you bitch, moan, and complain, you have to realize that in any situation there still exists a “Kodak moment” and Mr Fatzinger captured it. The First Lady is known for her sense of style, and her sense of humor. I’m sure she’d just roll her eyeballs and say “gosh, do I really look like that?” and laugh.
People should be complaining about the “new citizen journalists” – the hacks with an iPhone or any smartphone which permits them to just “take a picher” – they are putting people like me out of business because no one’s going to hire a trained photographer for $80,000/annum when they can get the photo FOR FREE from some hack.
But I doubt sincerely that the people who called to complain were just complaining that day about that photograph. (Do people even know the difference between a photograph and a pic?) If they weren’t complaining about this photograph, they’d be complaining about something else.
Because that’s what some people are here on this earth for, the poor saps. To complain.
About anything.
Bravo on the photograph, Shamus!
I think it is cute! That being said, please do not photograph me eating! lol
I love this picture! Sometimes you have to make a goofy face to make a kid smile. I would imagine that extra goofy is necessary when there are tons of photographers and etc. around. It surprises me that there are people out there who can look at her face in this picture and not smile.. her kindness really shines in this.