The sunlight is being filtered through a tree which is creating an uneven shadow effect on Obama and his Grandparents. The background seems to have full sunlight, washing it out compared to the foreground.
As far as the wall goes, if the purpose was to add Obama to the picture, there would be no reason to edit the wall on the left.
71 posted on 03/29/2011 11:37:55 PM PDT by Tex-Con-Man