# Annie Liebowitz Official Obama Family Portrait

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-liebowitz-official-obama-family-portrait/515009>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [October 24, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-liebowitz-official-obama-family-portrait/515009 "2009-10-24T22:36:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-liebowitz-official-obama-family-portrait/515009/81 "2009-10-28T01:44:19Z")

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> [@Baal\_Houtham](#):
>
> When I read historical accounts of famous people or events, I’m often struck by the mundane reasons behind historic occurrences, so I can believe almost anything…

Yes. And along those lines, speaking of famous VIP photos, Karsh got this great expression when he snatched a cigar from the mouth of his subject and then immediately took the picture: [http://www.yale.edu/terc/democracy/may1text/images/Churchill%20Life.jpg](http://www.yale.edu/terc/democracy/may1text/images/Churchill%20Life.jpg)

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**Author:** ![Infor\_Mation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aeb1de/32.png) [@Infor\_Mation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infor_Mation)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-liebowitz-official-obama-family-portrait/515009/82 "2009-10-28T03:09:55Z")

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This is a photograph you don’t have to look at to appreciate.

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**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annie-liebowitz-official-obama-family-portrait/515009/83 "2009-11-05T22:41:29Z")

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> [@Baal\_Houtham](#):
>
> When I read historical accounts of famous people or events, I’m often struck by the mundane reasons behind historic occurrences, so I can believe almost anything regarding high level decisions.
> 
> Not that this is really an important matter, but there could be dozens of reasons why the picture came out the way it did and why it didn’t get redone.
> 
> Here’s a scenario:
> 
> Michelle asked for Annie. White House staff discouraged Leibowitz from moving any furniture, and restricted her choice of rooms. Annie’s been depressed about her financial problems and had trouble focusing on the assignment until the morning of the shoot and then turned hyperactive. Barack had a high priority meeting that morning that ran late and the pictures had to be done in 12 minutes. The photos came out so-so, Michelle picked the one that was best of her and Barack said okay.
> 
> Is any of that true? I don’t know, but not a bit of it would surprise me if it had actually happened.
> 
> And there could well be embarrassment for Leibowitz if the pictures got rejected. Keeping it completely under wraps might not be easy, and trying to hide a redo might be even more embarrassing for all concerned.

Meh. Ever heard of Occam’s Razor?

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