Photo 2 of President Obama seems most confident to me. I see the current president in a down-to-earth, “let’s sit and talk straight” persona. He looks like he is reaching out to the public to explain the crisis situation with a calm demeanor. His shirt sleeves are rolled up and his top button is undone, a symbol of the working American. An admiral is looking to President Obama in such a way as to support him. Images that represent crisis and management are in the background. Both men look like they are working hard and need the cups of coffee to keep them going in a unified effort to stop the leak. I know that President Obama seemed “on the ball” with national briefings during the crisis time and was often seen speak to or visiting the Gulf Coast locals in a way of showing concern, wanting to witness the damage, and reassuring the concerned Americans that the problem would be fixed. Obama seems to be looking up, communicating that he is looking forward and sees a light at the end of the tunnel; that the crisis will end soon. The president sits close to the admiral and this demonstrates that he is working close with those on the front addressing the issue. Both men looked aged (experienced). I think this photo is spontaneous, because it looks like he is answering a question.
This photo raises the following questions:
What is he doing to solve the problem?
Who is the officer to his right and what role does he play?
Is the situation under control?
In photo 1, Obama seems concerned and confused. This photo makes him seem unaware of the crisis and not sure of himself. He looks older here, in a posed picture.
Photo 1: New York Daily News June 14, 2010
Caption: Obama cautiously concerned about oil spill
Photo 2: Christian Science Monitor June 14, 2010
Caption: Obama takes action at a press meeting concerning the recent Deepwater Horizon crisis
Photo analysis activity.
The link to the right will take you to a worksheet that guides a student's analysis of an image and helps the student form inferences and questions about an image.
I agree that President Obama has the let's sit and talk straight.That's his persona.I also agree on the other aspects of your analysis. But do think it was set up that way? Lots of coffee cups, papers etc around? President Obama is the people's president. He's showing his stuff here.
ReplyDeleteYou went deeper into the meanings of the photos than I did but I agree with your assessment. By getting the photo in a working environment is shows that the president is more personal.
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