Politics and photography collide for one professor at Ohio University ' this summer, Pete Souza, assistant professor in the School of Visual Communications, published a book entitled The Rise of Barack Obama. The book captures Obama from his first year in the Senate through the 2008 primary elections.
Originally
another reporter (Jeff Zeleny) and I came up with the idea to follow his first year in the Senate during the 2004 election said Souza, who worked as a photographer for the Chicago Tribune at the time. We started following him upon inauguration in January 2005.
Souza photographed Obama for two and a half years before accepting a teaching position at OU.
- his presence meant so much to the people. There was so much excitement
Souza said. Thousands of people came to see him.
While in Red Square in Moscow, no one recognized Obama as a politician because the trip was before the primary race began. That will never happen again because he is such a well-known figure now
Souza said.
Souza has plenty of experience taking pictures of politicians. He was the Official White House photographer for Ronald Reagan from 1983-89.
I realized that this guy could be president one day
Souza said.
The photographs in Souza's book show Obama as more genuine and revealing than pictures taken now. He was less guarded and scripted then
Souza added.
Once he secured a book deal and permission from the Chicago Tribune to use the earlier photographs, Souza returned to the project this spring, taking photos during Obama's primary elections against Hillary Clinton.
Souza enlisted Julie Elman, assistant professor for design and picture editing in the School of Visual Communication, to help him design the book's layout.
The book was put together between our two offices in about 30 days
Souza said.
When he teaches photojournalism classes, Souza incorporates the practical knowledge he learned from his work in the field.
I hope that my experiences give me credibility with my students
Souza said.
Students are receptive to Souza's teaching style and are excited to use the practical information that his classes provide for them, said Angie Wilhelm, a sophomore studying photojournalism.
In Professor Souza's class
I learned how to be a journalist
ethics and how to keep myself to the same high standards that he holds himself to
