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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

photo of the decade

Sam Eilertsen

Sam Eilertsen

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Nothing special about its lighting or composition, but this is one of the most incredible and important photographs in recent memory

tjRP1.jpg
 
The most incredible thing, I think, is that even though the president isn't at the center of the picture -- he's in the corner and a bit out of focus -- the eye is instantly drawn to him because of his expression. I'm not sure a great actor or a master painter could ever have created that expression. You can see right there, in a way I'm not sure we've ever seen before, what the weight of the presidency, of making decisions that affect every human being on this planet, really is.
 
Wait ... why is this particular photograph significant? I get that vibe that maybe I've been living under a rock. Is this the moment when the President learned Obama was killed? Or did aliens contact us? What?


(I should note that I do know our President is Obama and the newly dead guy is Osama ... its part of the under the rock gag.)
 
Alexander Ibrahim said:
Wait ... why is this particular photograph significant? I get that vibe that maybe I've been living under a rock. Is this the moment when the President learned Obama was killed? Or did aliens contact us? What?


(I should note that I do know our President is Obama and the newly dead guy is Osama ... its part of the under the rock gag.)
Click to expand...

Lol.

I don't know what specific moment it was, I assume it was while they were waiting for news on the raid. I think the photo is significant because it illustrates the burden and the humanity of our political leaders in a way we rarely ever get to see.
 
According to another news source, it was taken as they were watching the raid live. Your eye is drawn to Obama because of the leading lines from perspective and the other figures, and that he is the dark set against a clear field of white, and that creates greater contrast and focus. It's interesting to note the expressions on the civilians faces as they watch the raid. Quite a bit different from the military, but the gravity is worn by all.
 
He's probably thinking "How the F*%K am I gonna explain to Michelle that I'm late for dinner AGAIN!!!"
 
Gates looks like he's watched a few of these before.
 
very interesting photo...look at Hilary Clinton, she looks real worried (looks like she is thinking "oh my god")...and the only one not watching the screen is the General...They should release what they are watching one day...
 
Sam Eilertsen said:
The most incredible thing, I think, is that even though the president isn't at the center of the picture -- he's in the corner and a bit out of focus -- the eye is instantly drawn to him because of his expression. I'm not sure a great actor or a master painter could ever have created that expression. You can see right there, in a way I'm not sure we've ever seen before, what the weight of the presidency, of making decisions that affect every human being on this planet, really is.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on this, Sam.

When I saw this picture on CNN, my immediate thought was how powerful a photo it was, for all the reasons you stated above, and even a few more. I was also struck by Hillary Clinton's rare exhibition of vulnerability. Every single face in that small room has its own individual story ... right down to the young woman trying to peer in.

I only wish that General could have waited a couple minutes to update his Facebook status. :blush:

This picture is yet another great example of why the camera is one of the most important inventions ever.
 
Brad Webb said:
It's the moment the playstation network went down.
Click to expand...

lol!

Tom Lowe said:
Gates looks like he's watched a few of these before.
Click to expand...

That's true. He's probably seen a ton of these live feeds, can't imagine the things he's seen.


Antonio Forjaz said:
very interesting photo...look at Hilary Clinton, she looks real worried (looks like she is thinking "oh my god")...and the only one not watching the screen is the General...They should release what they are watching one day...
Click to expand...

I thought that was a very interesting shot of HC. If she had been the President, they would never have let a photo like this out, it's not very Presidential. If ('if') she ever decided to run for president in the future, this photo would come back to haunt her.
 
Skynet just became self-aware...
 
Notice the photo on Hilary's computer. It has been digitally blurred. Looks like it was a satellite surveillance photo of the "mansion" judging by the triangular layout of the property and the dark lines are shadows perhaps taken before sunset Saturday evening.
 
I understand gallows humor but I'm sorry that I just can't find levity in a situation where these people knew they had ordered others into a situation where there was a great chance they might be killed, and watching it unfold in real time, anticipating the actual confrontation. I'm sure they saw the gunfight and the killing of people.

Having said that, it was a job well done, and took amazing courage and discipline, from the folks in that room who made the call, to the boots on the ground who made it happen.
 
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