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 ...
“This reads like one of those forced apologies in communist countries,...”
So very true. The apology was made out of fear.
“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?
Those two are just Pure Class, all the way... Yup...
/S (do I really need the sarc tag?)
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.
Bingo!
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.
Moochie: “It’s bout to get ghetto up in here”
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.
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.
OMG - the guy was accidentally being a photo journalist rather than a paid Obama flunky. The horror... the horror....
"Somber" does not seem to be part of the African emotional makeup. It's either "happy" or "angry."
He looks very much the chided child in that last one.
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...
That chance being appr. 99% any day of the year.
Several threads here already. This one was just posted.
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...
Unbelievable.
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