5D2 & Obama

[distant.star]

I just learned that Obama is the first U.S. president to have his official portrait done with a digital camera. Here's a link to the info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Official_portrait_of_Barack_Obama.jpg

The camera was a Canon EOS 5D MarkII. I don't see any info about the lens though.

Fascinating when you look at the largest rendering available, you can see small pieces of lint, etc. on the lapels. In the "old days" a brush or lint cloth was a standard tool for serious portraitists; I guess now it's post processing. I think they should have done some better post here. You'd have to expect a lot of people would be seriously looking at this piece of work.

[K-amps]

Looking at the EXIF data on wiki.... it was shot at 105mm... Is that a 24-105 F4? I would have thought they'd use a 70-200f4 or 135 F2. Maybe they have and it is pure coincidence that the focal value ended up being exactly 105mm 

[dstppy]

Looking at the EXIF data on wiki.... it was shot at 105mm... Is that a 24-105 F4? I would have thought's they'd use a 70-200f4 or 135 F2. Maybe they have and it is pure coincidence that the focul value ended up being exactly 105mm 

Since you mentioned it, do you have an easy way of viewing exif data in a browser?  If I get curious enough, I save a pic and inspect . . always interesting to know what was shot with what.

[zim]

Really surprised how little the photo seems to have been ‘cleaned’ up for official portrait, little things like that little bit of shirt thread showing above the collar would really annoy me and if I dare say it the spot to the right of his nose needs a bit of makeup. Makes me wonder if he specifically requested no photoshop for a more honest record.

[awinphoto]

I think it's on PBS but there's an hour long video called "The Presidents Photographer"...  very fascinating show...  Takes something like 20,000 photos a week or so, they keep every image... I'd hate to know what kind of memory/backup that chews through and we get to pay for it in our taxes... =)  But anyways check out the video if you can...

[machingo]

http://thedigitalvisual.com/through-the-viewfinder-pete-souza-life-as-the-presidents-photographer

Haven't gone through the whole thing, but looks like an interesting documentary on Peter Souza (who took the portrait) and his work with the president. 

This behind-the-scenes stuff is amazing!

[bainsybike]

Since you mentioned it, do you have an easy way of viewing exif data in a browser?

Try http://www.opanda.com/en/iexif/index.html - versions for Internet Explorer and Firefox available

[Gothmoth]

Since you mentioned it, do you have an easy way of viewing exif data in a browser?  If I get curious enough, I save a pic and inspect . . always interesting to know what was shot with what.

im using the free KUSO EXIF viewer.
goes into your right click context menu.

this opanda viewer looks nice too.
but it seems KUSO shows more infos.

[Picsfor]

Looking at the EXIF data on wiki.... it was shot at 105mm... Is that a 24-105 F4? I would have thought's they'd use a 70-200f4 or 135 F2. Maybe they have and it is pure coincidence that the focul value ended up being exactly 105mm 

Why wouldn't you want to use a 24-105 f4 to work with Obama? It's quite a good focal length to carry around. It has to be remembered that he gets to shoot in rooms, corridors, lifts as well as in hall and so on.

the fact that he is working with a 5D2 is a fair sign he needs to travel light, so 5D2 and 24-105 is fairly light, as opposed to a 1Ds3. Probably carries two of them, 1 with 24-105 and 1 with 70-200 permanently fitted - without reading all the story. And for good measure, a couple of 430EXII flashes. These with a supply of CF cards and batteries should keep him going all day.

The real question is, how many 5D2's has he gone through in the course of this contract?

[Harley]

Yes, Pete Souza was the official photographer for both Obama and Reagan.  He has also work for National Geographic and the Chicago Tribune.

http://www.petesouza.com/

The President's Photographer is a great documentary.  Highly recommend it.

[bornshooter]

the whitehouse also has an official flickr account obama's photographer shoots with the 5d mk2 heres a link to that official account where it tells you you are free to download images but not manipulate them great stream enjoy http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/

[Harley]

the whitehouse also has an official flickr account obama's photographer shoots with the 5d mk2 heres a link to that official account where it tells you you are free to download images but not manipulate them great stream enjoy http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/

Didn't know about this.  Thanks!  ...and +1!