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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

He shouldn’t have apologized. News is news and for once the modern MSM leaked the truth.


81 posted on 12/11/2013 9:16:37 AM PST by madison10
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To: JoeProBono

Is that Dane looking at the photos she just took of zero and herself? She looks so sad... I’m surprised “mommy” did not confiscate the cell phone.


82 posted on 12/11/2013 9:26:33 AM PST by 1_Rain_Drop
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To: listenhillary
My thread with this new never posted before on FR picture got pulled but it's important to the series. He's trying to kiss and make up and she's not having it.
83 posted on 12/11/2013 9:41:49 AM PST by bgill
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To: listenhillary

Just noticing in those pictures that Michelle is in between obama and the blonde woman, and in one of them she is not..


84 posted on 12/11/2013 9:56:15 AM PST by txgirl4Bush (Impeach obama)
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To: kristinn
The Story Behind "That Selfie" (Photographer "sad" he made Obama look bad)

Obama has nobody but himself to blame for coming off looking like an insensitive lout.

85 posted on 12/11/2013 9:58:15 AM PST by DoodleDawg
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To: kristinn

That was my reaction, too. It reads like a forced apology. You’re right, tho. Media types DO feel badly if they do anything to make The One look bad.


86 posted on 12/11/2013 10:00:38 AM PST by EDINVA
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To: bgill

Post the pic on this thread?


87 posted on 12/11/2013 10:23:45 AM PST by listenhillary (Courts, law enforcement, roads and national defense should be the extent of government)
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To: kristinn

88 posted on 12/11/2013 10:25:04 AM PST by JoeProBono (SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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To: txgirl4Bush

Timeline - 1) Moo is on hussein’s left. 2) hussein is getting attention and taking selfies with PM and another guy. 3) Moo gets mad. 4) Moo makes hussein trade seats so she’s between him and the PM. 5) hussein leans forward in the seat he’s been banished to and is looking contrite. 6) Ending with hussein kissing Moo’s hand to make up and she’s still mad.


89 posted on 12/11/2013 11:47:26 AM PST by bgill
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To: GOPJ
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.

Very true. The day is past when such thoughts would be considered paranoia. To be totally honest, I find the whole thing very scary.
90 posted on 12/11/2013 11:48:37 AM PST by Shannon
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To: kristinn

Why is this photographer apologizing when he was not the only one who has taken a photo of zero selfie-ing?

There is a photo from Cameron’s side and another one taken from zero’s side. One photographer cannot be in two places at once.


91 posted on 12/11/2013 12:29:41 PM PST by 1_Rain_Drop
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To: kristinn

I guess he doesn’t want to be BREITBARTED or have his car computer taken over!!! I guess he just wants to LIVE!!


92 posted on 12/11/2013 1:45:14 PM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion......the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: JoeProBono
There's another shot in the series where the Danish PM has a shocked look on her face. Look at the middle phot in this series. I'd LOVE to know who (likely Michelle) said WHAT (expletives deleted) to make her look like that.

(And you can see Valerie Jarrett behind them in white... at a funeral...)


93 posted on 12/11/2013 3:22:51 PM PST by Teacher317 (We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men)
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To: Servant of the Cross

They’re trying to equate Bush’s conversation to Obama’s flirting:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/obama-bush-earn-disdainful-wives-funeral-flirtations-article-1.1544404


94 posted on 12/11/2013 4:02:02 PM PST by TwoSue
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To: Shannon

Me too. I have no idea why the FBI isn’t investigating the IRS targeting conservatives. My only explanation is that they were targeting conservatives too. These are agencies that serve the country - well, they’re suppose to serve the country... In stead it appears they’re working as enforcers for one political party. And yeah, that’s scary.


95 posted on 12/11/2013 4:46:10 PM PST by GOPJ ("Remember who the real enemy is... ")
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To: Teacher317
That's the sequence my daughter showed me.
The “facebook crowd” was not impressed by the antics of wold leaders at a memorial.....
96 posted on 12/11/2013 5:22:10 PM PST by sarasmom (Extortion 17. A large number of Navy SEALs died on that mission. Ask why.)
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To: Teacher317

Just playing “devil’s advocate” here, but is it possible that obama briefly switched seats with his wife so he could be in the photo with the Danish PM and the English fellow (he disappears in the later photos)?


97 posted on 12/11/2013 5:46:46 PM PST by Flag_This (Liberalism: Kills countries dead.)
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To: kristinn

What a moron this photographer is. Better to have kept his mouth shut and remained anonymous.


98 posted on 12/11/2013 5:47:02 PM PST by La Lydia
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To: Breto

It wasn’t so bad that he was yukking it up with the hot blonde next to his dour wife, it’s that he was doing at another man’s funeral service.


99 posted on 12/11/2013 6:27:37 PM PST by ez (Muslims do not play well with others.)
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To: JoeProBono

This pic was right after she said “did you people forget you are at a funeral?”


100 posted on 12/11/2013 6:35:38 PM PST by ez (Muslims do not play well with others.)
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