As simple as it is – it’s Barack Obama: The Freshman by Lisa Jack. No other words needed from us. Only photographs of the President back in the day.
Recollections of President-Elect Barack Obama
By, Lisa JackIn 1980, while a student at Occidental college, I was experiencing some success as a photographer. My black and white portraits of fellow students had gained some positive recognition. Consequently, when a friend of a friend introduced me to this “hot guy” named Barry, I knew I had to take his picture because, well, he was “hot” and I just couldn’t resist. Barry agreed to be a model, and the following photographic montage and accompanying story emerged. I never did realize my dream of becoming a professional photographer, but I did keep the negatives from my early photographic explorations. And now that “Barry” is the President, I offer them up so that others may see a side to him I have yet to observe captured in the current maelstrom of contemporary media. I believe the following images reflect his spirit of fun and thoughtfulness that I hope he hasn’t lost on his road to the White House. For the record, there wasn’t a nicer, more sincere guy in college. – Artist’s Statement
I next saw Senator Obama on that historical night in St. Paul, at the Excel Energy Center, when he learned that he was to be the Democratic nominee for President. I won’t share how I made it into the bowels of the building, but I bet the Secret Service guy remembers me☺ Yet again, when Barack saw me, he smiled widely and said, “hey you guys, look it’s an old classmate”. He conveyed a genuine response of happiness when he saw me, and asked what I was doing. When I asked how one could get in touch with him in the future, he replied, “you can’t”… he looked around, pointed at all the dignitaries, and said “this is my life now”. – Artist’s Statement
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