Barack Obama's White House photographer Pete Souza shares final Year in Photographs
Updated
Chief White House photographer Pete Souza has released his eighth and final Year in Photographs collection, comprising some of the best moments captured from inside the Obama administration in 2016.
The selection of pictures includes some deeply emotional scenes as well as some lighter moments, conveying the ups and downs of a turbulent year in American politics.
"As always, the editing for this project is both subjective and personal," he wrote in a post on Medium.
"Yes, there are some historic moments included but mostly I was looking for behind-the-scenes moments that give people a more personal look at the President and first lady.
"And I've included a few that I thought were just cool photos."
Children, world leaders, golf, a young prince and the Obama family feature in some of his favourite shots:
"I had my eye on this youngster while President Barack Obama spoke during a reception at the White House celebrating African American History Month.
"When the President starting greeting audience members along the rope line, I bent down in front of the young man and captured this moment of the President touching his face before he too bent down to greet him.
"Afterwards, I tracked down his name — Clark Reynolds — and had the President sign a copy for him."
"This photograph evokes the President in deep thought, which is not always an easy mood to convey.
"He was prepping with his national security staff before a teleconference with European leaders."
"The President was about to welcome local children for Halloween trick-or-treating when he ran into Superman Walker Earnest, son of press secretary Josh Earnest, in the ground floor corridor of the White House.
"'Flex those muscles', he said to Walker."
"What an honour to watch these girls grow up. Malia, foreground, and Sasha were both invited guests for the State Dinner in honour of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and Mrs Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau.
"Following the actual sit-down dinner in the East Room, they made their way down the Great Hall to the State Dining Room for the musical entertainment."
"More often than not, my access in foreign countries is much more limited than at home. But I've learned a few tricks in the past eight years.
"During the ASEAN gala dinner in Laos, after all the photographers and cameramen were kicked out, I hid in a corner of the room next to a couple of Secret Service agents. And then I only approached the President when he left his seat to talk with other leaders.
"Here, he has a lighter moment with [now former] prime minister John Key of New Zealand and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia."
"With sunlight streaming through a window in the Green Room, President Obama listens to his introduction by Mark Barden, whose 7-year-old son Daniel was killed during the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
"Later, as he made remarks in the East Room, he began to cry as he recalled the day of the shootings; he called it the worst day of his Presidency."
"President Obama reacts as his putt falls just short during an impromptu hole of golf with staffers Joe Paulsen (left) and Marvin Nicholson after the US-ASEAN Summit at the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, California."
"It just happened spontaneously one afternoon as the President began dancing in the Outer Oval with personal aide Ferial Govashiri.
"As I recall, he was helping her practice for her upcoming wedding."
Topics: world-politics, government-and-politics, us-elections, obama-barack, united-states
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