Sunday, October 25, 2009

Greening Annie Leibovitz

Here’s our new  official First Family Portrait in the Green Room.President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their daughters, Malia and Sasha, sit for a family portrait in the Green Room of the White House, Sept. 1, 2009. (Official White House Photo) Photo by Annie Leibovitz/Released by White House Photo Office This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House. It’s quite lovely, and done by the even lovelier (and famous!) Annie Leibovitz, although she has found herself in financial straits as of late. It’s absolutely not true that she was paid a $25 million stipend by the White House for this shoot. She’s getting that in a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

I was present for the entire shoot. Not just to make sure that Lady M looked radiant (which she does, of course). No, I was a little more concerned about Annie’s reputation for being, well, shall we say edgy? Sometimes with these fashion-forward types, you just need to keep watch with a stern eye. Especially if there are children present.

But who else could we have do the official White House portrait? Annie has been deemed the photographer of iconic figures, and we are nothing if not iconic. Or is that ironic? I always mix those up.

Anyhoo – take a peek at some of Annie’s other artistic expression:

 

Well, I think you see why I felt the need to chaperone. Miley with her dad was bad enough, but a naked Harry Potter? Do we really need that? And what exactly is up with that “dark horse” comment?

Also noteworthy about the photo-shoot in the Green Room: Bo was banished from the official photo. Lady M and BO didn’t want him in the portrait, just in case he’s not, shall we say, “in the picture” for the long term. You know, because of his little “problem”.

Big Guy didn’t mind so much when he peed on Joey B’s leg, but the other day he left a big old turd sitting in the Oval. Even Big Guy could see the public relations nightmare that disclosure would generate. Especially over at FOX.

at 1:30 PM