A New York Times photographer assigned to cover the White House just made a statement that is sure to generate opinions across the political spectrum: President Donald Trump is more accessible to photograph than former President Barack Obama.
In a snippet from a recent interview with C-SPAN, Doug Mills, New York Times staff photographer, compared and contrasted his experiences photographing the former and current occupants of the Oval Office. Mills stated how exciting it is working in the White House at the moment and said, "from a photographer's standpoint, we get a lot more access to the president. I see him more on a daily basis than we did with Barack Obama." Mills went on to say that there are days where he is able to photograph Trump multiple times in a variety of situations, including meetings, bill signings, and on his frequent weekend trips to his properties, such as Mar-a-Lago resort and Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster.
Mills photographed Obama for the eight-year duration of his presidency and has photographed Trump during his first year in office. Mills said, "I think photographing Barack Obama for eight years, he was probably the most photogenic president in my generation...I look at just the past year photographing Donald Trump and he's probably one of the most iconic."
Mills said that the greater access to Trump has resulted in more opportunity to spend time finding creative angles and interesting lighting by which to tell his photojournalistic stories. Mills utilizes a monopod at times to obtain unique overhead shots of the president in the Oval Office. He pre-focuses and eyeballs the composition, hoping for the best. The results can be striking, offering a new vantage point of key events.
You can watch the full interview with Mills on C-SPAN's website.
Lead Image by Marianique Santos via Wikimedia Commons.
He was a reality tv star. Going back decades, Trump was never shy about being out front and in the papers. This isn't a shocker at all, perhaps the country is still learning about Trump what New Yorkers have known forever about him. I don't think he puts a premium on privacy, I think he wants to win the front page at all times. He's a vain egomaniac.
Religion, Politics...Race...hardly jives with our thing. "as I get the popcorn"
I'm leaving this alone as a sh** storm will be brewing. However, I will say that I do like the photo with the "45" embroidering.
Agreed, that's a great shot. Thanks for reading and commenting!
But the shirt was probably made in China.
No comment, LOL!
I like how Mills "stands back" on many of the images above showing the amount of press (mics, cameras, etc). The images have a vintage "Eisenhower, Kennedy" era feel. I love this image taken a couple years back https://obamadiary.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/bx1wxtncqaakbqd.jpg?w=844...
Totally agree with you on the vintage feel of those photographs! Great stuff
All politics aside that’s got to be an amazing gig for a photo journalist. If there’s conflict in action every single day. Never a dull moment.
People love to watch things explode... hence why we all love seeing him fail. Glad he has access and gets to document this properly.
Not sure why people want to see our president fail, it’s not good for us as a people. I didn’t vote for Obama, but I didn’t want him to fail once he had the job. That’s like wanting to live in a shitty environment where crime is rampant, jobs are gone and there is no security for the future.
It's not that I want to see him fail... My life is literally in his hands (I wear a uniform). I just don't expect anything less when he's the least qualified person for the position.
I applaud the honesty and lack of political agenda of photographer Doug Mills. HAND CLAP! HAND CLAP!!!! There is not enough of that lately. Unlike other media Democratic Party Operatives who lie every day. http://dizeman.com/politicalvideos/cnnbusted.mp4
Wherever this comment lands, I just want all of you to know that you are loved, valued, and can do amazing things. Despite your differences, believe this about each other first. Stay well my friends.
I don't know what's happening here. Are people making remarks about such things of no significance for the purpose of getting their 15 minutes of celebrity, or are people just making random personal observations that Internet bloggers and promoting as though they were genuine news of importance?
Trump is obsessed with the pomp and pageantry of being president. Having been a third-rate game show host (The Apprentice, Celebrity Apprentice), he uses stagecraft to project his image. He uses Republicans, Democrats, Supreme Court Justices, people as props. His bill signings and executive order signings are nothing more than props.
hhmmmm...................
Great way to increase traffic to your site and to increase sales in microwave popcorn. This will do until we get another CaNikon debate or polarizing iPhone film making / photography article.
Continue.