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The Story Behind "That Selfie" (Photographer "sad" he made Obama look bad)
AFP ^ | Wednesday, December 11, 2013 | Roberto Schmidt

Posted on 12/11/2013 6:41:47 AM PST by kristinn

SNIP

The atmosphere was totally relaxed – I didn’t see anything shocking in my viewfinder, president of the US or not. We are in Africa.

I later read on social media that Michelle Obama seemed to be rather peeved on seeing the Danish prime minister take the picture. But photos can lie. In reality, just a few seconds earlier the first lady was herself joking with those around her, Cameron and Schmidt included. Her stern look was captured by chance.

I took these photos totally spontaneously, without thinking about what impact they might have. At the time, I thought the world leaders were simply acting like human beings, like me and you. I doubt anyone could have remained totally stony faced for the duration of the ceremony, while tens of thousands of people were celebrating in the stadium. For me, the behaviour of these leaders in snapping a selfie seems perfectly natural. I see nothing to complain about, and probably would have done the same in their place. The AFP team worked hard to display the reaction that South African people had for the passing of someone they consider as a father. We moved about 500 pictures, trying to portray their true feelings, and this seemingly trivial image seems to have eclipsed much of this collective work.

SNIP

It was interesting to see politicians in a human light because usually when we see them it is in such a controlled environment. Maybe this would not be such an issue if we, as the press, would have more access to dignitaries and be able to show they are human as the rest of us.

I confess too that it makes me a little sad we are so obsessed with day-to-day trivialities, instead of things of true importance.

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.afp.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: allthisforadamnfag; classless; mandela; maybealittlebloooooo; obama; prdisaster; selfie; selfish; thephoto
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To: kristinn

“This reads like one of those forced apologies in communist countries,...”

So very true. The apology was made out of fear.


61 posted on 12/11/2013 7:53:15 AM PST by Amigo04
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To: kristinn

“Her stern look was captured by chance.”

By chance four times in one minute with no other allegedly happy-most-of-that-time looks captured?


62 posted on 12/11/2013 7:55:20 AM PST by ctdonath2 (Making good people helpless doesn't make bad people harmless)
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To: xsmommy

Those two are just Pure Class, all the way... Yup...
/S (do I really need the sarc tag?)


63 posted on 12/11/2013 7:55:32 AM PST by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
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To: NFHale
i think the urban dictionary definition of "trifling" fits the two of them to a TEE.
64 posted on 12/11/2013 7:57:30 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: kristinn

Wait a minute....

When I saw the headline I thought it was an apology from the moron holding the cellphone...but from the news photographer who caught this shameful moment and preserved it for history?

Who the he|| apologizes for reporting facts?

This is REALLY weird.


65 posted on 12/11/2013 7:58:15 AM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: VRWCarea51

Bingo!


66 posted on 12/11/2013 7:59:16 AM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: kristinn
Michelle Obama seemed to be rather peeved

She looked peeved, more peeved, got the rolly eye and lips pursed thing going big time, peeved even more and revved it up to totally @(&U#_!(*% off and traded seats. We've seen her pull this junior high attitude time and time again when there's a better looking woman than her around and if she'd rather be anywhere in the world except where she is or if there's anything going on that isn't spotlighting her.

67 posted on 12/11/2013 8:01:54 AM PST by bgill
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To: kristinn

Moochie: “It’s bout to get ghetto up in here”


68 posted on 12/11/2013 8:04:15 AM PST by turducken
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To: canuck_conservative

Except is wasn’t one photo of a second of time. It was several photos over several minutes of time telling a very interesting story.


69 posted on 12/11/2013 8:06:35 AM PST by bgill
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To: kristinn

Was Roberto blinking his eyes as he spoke? It might be morse code or the effects of either benzodiazepine on his system or an IRS audit notice. Pick two.


70 posted on 12/11/2013 8:11:11 AM PST by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: kristinn; sickoflibs; Liz
I took these photos totally spontaneously, without thinking about what impact they might have.

OMG - the guy was accidentally being a photo journalist rather than a paid Obama flunky. The horror... the horror....

71 posted on 12/11/2013 8:12:45 AM PST by GOPJ ("Remember who the real enemy is... ")
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To: Paulie
The Photographer didn't make Obama look bad, Obama made a fool of himself with his infantile and disrespectful behavior. Kudos to Michele, she was the disciplinary adult. obama
72 posted on 12/11/2013 8:20:39 AM PST by Dqban22
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To: 1_Rain_Drop
Wouldn't "mourning" be a more appropriate word?

"Somber" does not seem to be part of the African emotional makeup. It's either "happy" or "angry."

73 posted on 12/11/2013 8:26:25 AM PST by Moltke (Sapere aude!)
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To: listenhillary

He looks very much the chided child in that last one.


74 posted on 12/11/2013 8:31:17 AM PST by bgill
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To: Shannon
The IRS is gonna get him... you're right Shannon - it's audit time for that dude.

And the FBI will be checking him out - FBI and Homeland - hand and glove with the IRS taking down Obama's political enemies. Charming isn't it...

75 posted on 12/11/2013 8:31:49 AM PST by GOPJ ("Remember who the real enemy is... ")
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To: kristinn
Her stern look was captured by chance.

That chance being appr. 99% any day of the year.

76 posted on 12/11/2013 8:32:52 AM PST by Moltke (Sapere aude!)
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To: autumnraine

Several threads here already. This one was just posted.


The Sign Language Interpreter At Mandela’s Memorial Was ‘A Complete Fraud’ Making Nonsense Gestures
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3100662/posts


77 posted on 12/11/2013 8:48:53 AM PST by Arrowhead1952 (The Second Amendment is NOT about the right to hunt. It IS a right to shoot tyrants.)
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To: xsmommy

I can think of many, many words you’ll find in the dictionary - and a few you won’t - that fit them to a tee...


78 posted on 12/11/2013 8:53:15 AM PST by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
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To: Texas Eagle

Unbelievable.


79 posted on 12/11/2013 9:09:05 AM PST by autumnraine (America how long will you be so deaf and dumb to thoe tumbril wheels carrying you to the guillotine?)
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To: kristinn

80 posted on 12/11/2013 9:14:28 AM PST by JoeProBono (SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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