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The official image of the newly elected U.S. president, captured by his primary photographer, Daniel Torok, conveys a powerful message, as noted by specialists. In this photograph, Donald Trump is depicted with a frown, somewhat leaning forward, with an intense stare.
The first sight for American citizens entering government buildings and agencies over the next four years will be a portrait showcasing a very stern Donald Trump.
Experts consulted by the BBC have analyzed the implications of this image and the technique used for its capture.
“The official portrait of the president is the most reproduced, the most observed likeness of the president,” stated former White House photographer Eric Draper in an interview with the BBC. He was in service for George W. Bush throughout his two-term presidency and produced both official portraits of the former president.
Draper’s initial reaction to Trump’s portrait is that the image has undergone considerable manipulation, both through the studio’s reverse lighting techniques and digital post-production adjustments.
The photograph exhibits pronounced bottom-up illumination, presenting the elected president in a striking manner, accentuating his eyes.
This lighting arrangement lends the image a “sinister” appearance, commonly associated with horror cinema, claimed Eliska Sky, a portrait photographer at the London Institute of Photography. She likened Trump’s portrait to that of a boxer preceding a bout.
“The illumination implies seriousness and purpose,” remarked Paul Duerinckx, a senior lecturer in documentary photography at the Swansea College of Art.
This image is compelling, he further commented, because in most photographs, the light source originates from above, such as the sun or ceiling fixtures, and the inversion of the source in this image “indeed has an impact on us.”
A multitude of social media users has likened the effect of this photograph to that of Trump captured at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia following his alleged attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat—an allegation denied by Trump.
The image, taken in 2023, has integrated itself into American culture, appearing on a variety of merchandise, ranging from coffee mugs to t-shirts.
“Naturally, you take pictures to satisfy the client, and in this instance, I believe this is the kind of image they aimed to deliver,” Draper commented.
He reminisced that together with former President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, they meticulously examined a collection of images before selecting their preferred choice. “The intention was to appear welcoming, to portray a professional portrait with a pleasing expression, as these photographs will greet visitors upon entering their post office,” he explained.
Conversely, Andrew Parsons, a political photographer who has collaborated with four British prime ministers including David Cameron, Liz Truss, and Boris Johnson, opined that the 2017 image represented “a portrayal of businessman Donald Trump,” while the official portrait of the new president holds greater political importance. “An image can make or break a political campaign,” he noted.
T.D.
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