president Archives - Chicago Photographer & Director of Photography

Its Obama!

John — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:06:13 +0000

Four years ago I photographed election night from a scissor lift on the President’s left, and this year was more of the same. However last time we seemed so far removed from the crowd, that I was in disbelief until the next day. Being there last night made me think of the last four years and it made me imagine what the next four years will bring.

Here I am posing for a photo in the lift with other photographers after Obama won in 2008.

U.S. President Barack Obama is embraced by first lady Michelle Obama after his victory speech during his election night rally in Chicago, November 6, 2012. REUTERS/John Gress

Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama cheer during his election night rally in Chicago, November 6, 2012. REUTERS/John Gress

U.S. President Barack Obama gives his election night victory rally speech in Chicago, November 7, 2012. REUTERS/John Gress

U.S. President Barack Obama talks to Vice President Joe Biden (R) after his election night victory speech in Chicago, November 7, 2012. REUTERS/John Gress

U.S. President Barack Obama hugs Vice President Joe Biden as the first family looks on to during their election night victory rally in Chicago, November 7, 2012. REUTERS/John Gress

U.S. President Barack Obama leaves the stage after delivering his victory speech in Chicago, November 6, 2012. REUTERS/John Gress

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NATO: Freedom Is Free, Fame Will Cost You

John — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:58:52 +0000

US. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) waits to speak during the Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast at McCormick Place in Chicago January 15, 2007. REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES)

One thing stuck out in my mind this weekend as I was ushered from one place to place by military and State Department personnel: It wasn’t that long ago that I could roam the hallways of McCormick Place freely with then Senator Barack Obama. In the very room where NATO was held, I photographed Mr. Obama up close and personal, there wasn’t a rope, there wasn’t any security and there weren’t 50 other photographers trying to do the same thing. Five years ago, I was free and today I can move around my neighborhood without a care in the world, but, our President will never be able to go from A to B without bodyguards protecting his every move.

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 21: U.S. President Barack Obama arrives to a meeting during the NATO summit on net to General John Allen May 21, 2012 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 21: U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during the NATO summit as British Prime Minister David Cameron looks on May 21, 2012 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 21: French President Francois Hollande gestures to reporters and photographers after posing for a group photo during the NATO summit on May 21, 2012 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 21: (Front Row) Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. President Barack Obama, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Afghan President Hamid Karzai (Second Row) Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Norwegen Prime Minster Jens Stoltenberg, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and German Chancellor Angela Merkel pose for a group photo during the NATO summit on May 21, 2012 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 21: French President Francois Hollande leaves the stage after posing for a group photo during the NATO summit on May 21, 2012 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 21: (Front Row) U.S. President Barack Obama, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Afghan President Hamid Karzai (Second Row) Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Norwegen Prime Minster Jens Stoltenberg and Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves chat as they arrive for a group photo during the NATO summit on May 21, 2012 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 21: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) looks up as British Prime Minister David Cameron arrives at the NATO summit on May 21, 2012 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 21: Afghan President Hamid Karzai attends a meeting during the NATO summit on May 21, 2012 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 21: U.S. President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks at a press conference closing the NATO summit on May 21, 2012 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 21: U.S. President Barack Obama leaves his closing press conference at the closing of the NATO summit on May 21, 2012 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

What were they thinking? I couldnt belive the Asociated Press posted this image outside their workspace... and neither could the Secret Service Agent posted next to it. He Called out from his post, "I couldn't agree more!" When I said to a college, "Wow, that took inappropriate to an all new level."

Me and fellow photographer, and sometimes Colonel, Anthony Bolante. By Tasos Katopodis

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NATO: I Can See Barack From My House

John — Mon, 21 May 2012 04:05:08 +0000

The North American Treaty Organazation meeting began today just a five minute walk from my own bed. It was a lot of fun seeing scores of world leaders all in one place and even odder to have them so close to home. It was interesting seeing the interaction between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande… given the EU economic crisis and Hollande’s policy proposals.

Of course most of my photographer friends were in the streets mixing it up with protesters and the police. I even heard some of the best action happened in front of my house… but oh well…. what I did was still pretty cool.

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 20: World leaders pose for a group photo at the NATO summit on May 20, 2012 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 20: U.S. President Barack Obama and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen greet French President Francois Hollande as he arrives at the NATO summit on May 20, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 20: U.S. President Barack Obama greets German Chancellor Angela Merkel as she arrives at the NATO summit on May 20, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 20: (L-R) U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen speak while posing for a group photo during the NATO summit on May 20, 2012 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 20: German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande talk before posing for a group photo at the NATO summit on May 20, 2012 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 20: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and French President Francois Hollande depart a group photo during the NATO summit on May 20, 2012 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

Every car wreck needs a crash test dummy. David Cameron looks just like me!

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 20: British Prime Minister David Cameron (L) Turkish President Abdullah Gul (C) and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa arrive for a group photo at the NATO summit on May 20, 2012 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. As sixty heads of state converge for the two day summit that will address the situation in Afghanistan among other global defense issues, thousands of demonstrators have taken the streets to protest. (Photo by John Gress/Getty Images)

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President Obama

John — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 03:40:21 +0000

I just got done photographing US President Barack Obama during a campaign rally in Chicago.

US President Barack Obama and Chicago Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel shake hands during a campaign event in Chicago, April 14, 2011. With three Chicago events, Obama begins his re-election campaign in earnest on Thursday needing to recapture the energy of liberal voters who swept him to power and attract independents. REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES)

It looks like me and my photographer friend Kamil should stay on the other side of the lens!

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