official presidential portraits
President Lyndon B. Johnson
Votes for the 2008 U.S. Presidential election are being tallied as I write this. The past year feels like it’s been one long, non-stop political conversation and many of us are relieved to see it finally coming to a close. Though prophotolife isn’t a forum for politics, it seemed a natural to tie photography into the big event somehow. Rather than looking at what’s happening today or contemplating the future, I thought it might be interesting to take a look back at Presidents and photography.
In a few months there will be a new nameplate on the Oval Office at the White House and shortly thereafter a new Presidential portrait will be created. Since many of us have an interest in portraiture I took a look online at some images preserving the likeness of those who have served at this country’s highest post.
A quick search turned up two interesting sources for Presidential portraits:
1. The Library of Congress Special Presentation: Time Line of Presidents and First Ladies
2. This smaller collection at the U.S. Military Department of Defense
The portraits all have different qualities and inspired a few different thoughts.
President William J. Clinton
First, the photo of President Lyndon B. Johnson (above) from the Department of Defense site. This is a beautiful environmental portrait with a strong main light and a nice edge light from slightly behind on the same side. This is a well known image among photographers of my vintage. Hmmm, I wonder if we should be concerned that the Department of Defense officially lists the photographer as “unknown”. For the record, the photographer was celebrated portrait artist Arnold Newman (and there’s his signature in the lower right of the photo).
The attached portrait of President Bill Clinton (right) is from an admittedly poor quality copy negative, so hopefully we can look beyond that. The most interesting thing to me is how this image defines “pre-digital photography” from not so long ago. Yes, airbrushing was available in the days of film but this portrait managed to slip through with a bunch of fly-away hairs. The reason I mention it is because it’s really easy for even amateur photographers to retouch such things now. Fifteen years ago they were often overlooked.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
President Dwight D. Eisenhower is looking relaxed and dignified in this simple two-light portrait. There’s a fairly hard main light at left (beauty dish?), no fill light, and a small spot light on the background. This is a perfect example of Rembrandt lighting that creates a triangle of light on the subject’s cheek (discussed in video episode 13, beautiful portraits with just one light). The lack of a fill light creates more contrast and drama. A sharp suit helps “Ike” look downright dapper.
There are many more portraits on the sites mentioned above and some are covered by copyright exclusions preventing them from running here. They range from nice images to not-so-impressive photography, to be honest.
The one constant is that they’re all of former Presidents of the United States, men among the leaders of the free world. That’s a lot of power to wield, isn’t it? Trying to capture that in a photography could understandably be a daunting task.
Looking these fascinating photos over, it seems official Presidential Portraiture lost some artistry, that element of power behind it, along the way. Did the camera become so common place, they just gave up?
how boring, where are the great video tutorials?
Elzora, it’s good to hear from you! Why has the Presidential photography become more mundane? It seems like the formality is going out of things. And maybe their photo budgets got cut. Soon they’ll give the intern a point-n-shoot.
zzzZZZzzz, I understand when a topic doesn’t appeal to someone. Yesterday was a pivotal, monumental day in the history of America and I wanted to share that, along with ways that history has changed photography. Hopefully, certain readers will find these images encouraging…Eisenhower’s striking portrait was created with just two lights, for example. Simple and effective.
As for the videos, I’ve tried to keep readers posted on everything that’s going on and my current inability to assemble, shoot and edit a weekly video. I have a bunch of ideas and enjoy making them as much as readers tell me they enjoy watching them but for the moment it’s just not practical. When I find other sources of quality video tutorials on the ‘net I’ll surely share them with readers.
Hello – I do concur with elzora statement.. and had to laugh when you spoke of handing the camera to an intern (point’n shoot). Guess the portrait photo of Clinton would have had an interesting perspective if that was the case..(LOL). ~g
Great topic and some great photos. The head+shoulders portrait of Hoover is very striking, at least in the medium resolution JPG format anyway. I haven’t looked over all the portraits yet, but it immediately struck me that Reagan’s photo was the most theatrical (fittingly) of our recent presidents. Looks like maybe a main and fill, with both rim light and hair light?
Love your site Jim. Though we all miss the video tutorials over the last few weeks, we understand how much time and effort they must require. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jim,
Good looking shots that you COULD send. Although not directly influenced by your politics (generous, ain’t I?) I can still enjoy the official piccies, and the sideways (?) comment about different point of view. Nice one, that. Anywho, thought I’d let you know you’re still very well respected over here, and your vids are missed something rotten, may they soon re-appear! Yes, I do think that you should worry, a lot, that D.o.D. attribute the first shot to Mr.Unknown, fancy someone else signing it! They’re tasked to watch over you, guns and bombs sorta stuff? Man you’re stuffed! Be Well,
Doug.
Hey! I’ve got some proper catching up to do. George, I about burst when I read your comment!
I have to say, Garfield’s really stands out…
Wow, that Garfield shot is cool. It makes any of the other presidential portraits shot in the last twenty years look VERY unimaginative. And I agree, Tom, the Reagan shot is slick, if we’re looking at the same one. A straightforward head’n’shoulders portrait but very expertly lit.
Doug, it’s nice to hear I’m respected on that side of the pond, one of these days I’ll have a visit. It would be good to dig up some ancestors…figuratively, of course.
The shots of Teddy Roosevelt are my favorite. They capture his personality the best of all the ones that I looked at. The one shot of him as a younger man in the coon-skin hat and lever-action rifle is the one I liked the best.
Just wanted to put in my 2shekels. The first president to be photographed was John Quincy Adams (Though he was out of office at the time) You can find an image of it on Wikipedia. It was a Durangotype photo
Here’s my personal favorite “portrait” photo of Obama I took in July 2008 in San Diego.
reyesfoto.com/photos.htm (the barack pics #31)
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