[PurpleMan]

I'm sure others will have "other" things to say,but from a artistic portrait standpoint, this is horrible.

The flags are out of focus, it looks like any old office wall, the tie isn't pulled up, it's not tied tight, and he faces in such a way that he looks...well...like ET.

Lookiin' at that for 4 years will be painful.

[SunStar]

Without bringing any politics into it, I think the portrait looks great and stands up to the level of quality expected in Presidential portraits.

[Puppage]

Well, they certainly caught his likeness

[Dallas59]

Why is he wearing an American Flag pin? Disgraceful.

[Yaelle]

He looks fine. Are the Presidents supposed to be off center like that? The background looks weird.

[TheZMan]

“I’m watching you.”

[ElayneJ]

He’s wearing a flag pin.

[icwhatudo]

This is not a photoshop--whats the deal with that circle around his mouth?

hmmmm

LOL

[Katarina]

I agree, the Flags are all blurry, that is beyond disgusting. It is like they are being treated as an after thought. Also the shadows on his face are not good.

I could care less about this jerk, except for anger I feel but like you said just looking at it as a photo image an nothing more it is horrible. I bet a kid could take a better photo of Obama that what we see here.

[Jackson57]

As a photographer, I’d be ashamed to present something like that as an “official” portrait.

[library user]

[HomersNose]

He’s tight lipped....and there’s something behind those eyes that’s a little disarming.

[ZULU]

“.and he faces in such a way that he looks...well...like ET”

He always does.

Say, you don’t think....

Maybe THAT is why he doesn’t produce a birth certificate.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

I want a do-over. It is awful. I don’t like it. His expression is all wrong and he’s off-center (okay, no jokes, please). It’s terrible. DO-OVER!

[Plutarch]

Needs a retake. Kinda look likes he scowling at you, like you didn’t pay enough taxes or something.

[keepitreal]

I thought he had already posed for his official photo in Hawaii.

[reagan_fanatic]

[DoughtyOne]

[upchuck]

IMHO, this “portrait” sucks, and that’s just fine w/ me.

We’ll see this “official” portrait everywhere. Super!

[RobinOfKingston]

I thought that two-color monstrosity with ‘HOPE’ across the bottom was the official portrait.

[Karma Police]

In defense of Pete Souza, by all professional standards, the photo is fine. The background and flags are supposed to be out of focus (see Bush 43’s photo), the light is even, and the image well composed.Souza was Reagan’s Presidential photographer, and is an excellent photojournalist in every respect.

As for Obama, his expression does seem very cold. I also find it interesting that he isn’t showing his teeth, like he did in his Senate portrait. Interesting.