To me, this is the most fascinating photo to come out of anything. Tonight I stumbled on a really interesting conversation about it, speaking to my thoughts exactly. I would suggest reading the whole thing, but if you're the browsing sort here are some highlights:
"On a human level I’m struck by the varied emotions etched on people’s faces. I can read nothing on Bob Gates’s face or even Joe Biden’s, whereas Obama, Denis McDonough and John Brennan look tense. Hilary Clinton’s face is the most riveting, a mixture of anxiety, dread and concern. I suspect most people will relate to her expression...
The posture of the president is fascinating. Instead of occupying the power chair in the center of the table, he is perched on a low chair off the side, hunched over looking tense. If you just looked at this picture, you might think that Joe Biden was president or Bill Daley, who is standing behind looking imposing and grave. You’d think Obama was a midlevel aide."
-David Brooks
"The president really did put all his chips on the line. These are the kind of moments we elected him for — we knew from the financial crisis that when all hell breaks loose, he doesn’t lose his cool. But he’s also lucky. People partly make their own fortunes, but I wonder if he’d have had the confidence to take such a huge gamble if he didn’t believe innately that he’s the kind of guy fortune favors."
-Gail Collins
2 comments:
very interesting. The Atlantic has the low brow take on the photo.
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/05/the-situation-room-meme-the-shortest-route-from-bin-laden-to-lulz/238251/
Damn, that's crazy! "The photograph may not be manipulated in any way..." from the Flickr page.
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