David Axelrod slashes stache

Barack Obama strategist David Axelrod poses in Chicago April 25, 2008. John Gress/for The Washington Post

When I met David Axelrod in 2008 at Obama for America campaign headquarters I instantly wanted to photograph him in front of this iconic Obama image. I decided to light Axelrod with light similar to what was in the Obama portrait, only from the opposite side, to create symmetry and contrast all at the same time.