Obama and Peres in the Oval Office
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009
President Barack Obama meets with Israeli President Shimon Peres in the Oval Office Tuesday, May 5, 2009. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
This is a wonderful perspective on a historic meeting.
What interested me about this shot is that the White House Photographer, Pete Souza used a Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II for it. I prefer prime or single focal length lenses but I didn’t think photojournalists used them. However, Pete knows this room well and this particular lens is corrected so the edges don’t distort as much as they might on a zoom lens like my Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L.
Other shots in the white house photostream show Pete using a Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L lens, another fast and high quality prime. Interesting.
I continue to find Pete’s images of the new administration outstanding both as documentation of what’s happening in and around the White House but also as excellent photographs in their own right.
I think Pete may be taking more of a back stage role after the first 100 days if my source is correct. Souza is a cancer survivor so he has health issues of concern. He wanted to document the first 100 days while getting a team of photographers in place going forward.
Jim: Wow, that’s quite an inside piece of news. I did notice other photographers in the photostream although I have to say, his images stand out. I’d be sorry to see him go but if it’s for health reasons I’d understand. Still, he’s doing something that’s world class if you ask me and it cements him as an outstanding photographer (if he didn’t have that label already). Thanks Jim.