Chasing Light

by Amanda Lucidon

  Mrs. Obama participates in a photo shoot for Ladies’ Home Journal in the East Room of the White House, September 18, 2013.

  The First Lady participates in an InStyle cover photo shoot in the East Colonnade of the White House, July 13, 2016.

  Mrs. Obama delivers remarks at the “Black Girls Rock!” event at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey, March 28, 2015.

  Attendees, including Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, and Cicely Tyson, give the First Lady a standing ovation.

  This photo and following photo: President Obama and Mrs. Obama attend the Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, December 8, 2013.

  A Secret Service agent opens the door as Mrs. Obama enters the Presidential Box for the Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, December 6, 2015. Tyler Perry, along with other box guests, stands to greet her.

  President Obama and Mrs. Obama typically attended cultural events at the John F. Kennedy Center together. But on this night, Mrs. Obama arrived alone and took her seat in the Presidential Box for the Kennedy Center Honors. Meanwhile, the President was delivering unscheduled remarks to the nation regarding the terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, California.

  Although this was a difficult time for our country, it was important to show the world that we are resilient. Even in our darkest times, Mrs. Obama was a shining beacon of light and hope.

  President Obama and Mrs. Obama observe a moment of silence to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, on the South Lawn of the White House, September 11, 2015.

  President Obama and Mrs. Obama walk to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, September 23, 2014.

  Mrs. Obama meets with members of her staff aboard her plane, Bright Star, September 12, 2013.

  Mrs. Obama meets with members of her staff aboard her plane, Bright Star, May 2, 2016.

  The First Lady boards Bright Star at Orlando International Airport, July 1, 2014.

  President Obama and Mrs. Obama take in the view while on a hike in Chilmark, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, August 22, 2014.

  Chapter 2

  THE PEOPLE’S HOUSE

  I once heard a longtime White House usher refer to the White House as a “living, breathing museum.” It seemed like the perfect way to describe it, because it paid homage to the history of the residence, art, and furniture, and most important, the people who came before us.

  One of my favorite things was to slowly ascend the stairs from the Lower Cross Hall to the East Room. If you’re paying close attention, you can feel the indentations in the steps where the marble is worn with history. I liked to imagine whose footsteps I was walking in.

  Often, because I arrived early for my assignments, I would find myself alone in various rooms of the White House. That meant that I had the time to study details on a lamp in the Grand Foyer, the ornate feet on the sofa in the Red Room, the Native American art in the Library, and the wallpaper in the Diplomatic Reception Room. I could take a moment to admire Mrs. Obama’s choices of art by Alma Thomas and Josef and Annie Albers in the Old Family Dining Room.

  It also gave me time to talk with the ushers and butlers who’ve cared for the White House residence for decades. They shared their favorite personal memories from varied administrations and interesting facts about the history of each room. I learned that Teddy Roosevelt held a wrestling match in the East Room, while Abigail Adams used it to dry laundry. And Dolley Madison saved the portrait of George Washington from the fire set by British troops in 1814. It still hangs in the East Room today. There was so much to learn and appreciate.

  President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama wanted everyone to be able to experience the history of the White House. They made it their mission to open the doors to as many people as possible. The First Lady often referred to it as the “People’s House” and emphasized that it belongs to every American. It was amazing to witness the Obamas’ efforts to make sure that White House guests felt welcome there. The guests of the Obama White House reflected our diverse nation: young, old, black, white, rich, poor, religious, agnostic, gay, straight. It was a place of inclusion. Everyone was welcome, even those who felt like they didn’t belong, including myself.

  Through the lens of my camera, I watched Mrs. Obama make everyone feel at home. She inspired students through arts education workshops and highlighted their talents in performances presented at the White House. She delivered poignant remarks that moved her audiences; she hosted foreign leaders with dignity and grace. She made guests feel loved through her kind words and thoughtful consideration.

  It was inspiring to see. Many times, as I photographed a special moment in history, I had tears in my eyes. I will never forget the chills I felt when I saw the determination of seventy-five young black girls practicing an African-inspired dance in the State Dining Room under Abraham Lincoln’s portrait. Or the time when a student poet nervously introduced her two moms to Mrs. Obama, only to be greeted with open arms. Or the squeals of excitement from a group of Liberian schoolgirls who got the opportunity to leave their small town for the first time in their lives to be welcomed as Mrs. Obama’s special guests at the White House for the screening of a documentary they were featured in about global girls’ education.

  Mrs. Obama led by example and showed that the People’s House was really ours, and that inclusivity leaves no one out.

  President Obama, Mrs. Obama, and former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton depart a ceremony commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, August 28, 2013.

  Mrs. Obama waits in the Red Room with personal aide Kristin Jones prior to a Let’s Move! event at the White House, September 18, 2013.

  This photo and following photo: The First Lady participates in a panel discussion with students during a dance workshop in the State Dining Room of the White House, February 8, 2016.

  Students rehearse for their performances in the Blue Room during a day-long dance workshop in celebration of Black History Month, February 8, 2016. Workshop leaders included Debbie Allen, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Judith Jamison, the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Virginia Johnson, and hip-hop choreographer Fatima Robinson.

  Students perform in celebration of Black History Month, highlighting the contributions African American women have made to dance, in the East Room of the White House, February 8, 2016.

  Mrs. Obama and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett watch student performances in the East Room of the White House, February 8, 2016.

  First Lady Michelle Obama, Meryl Streep, and Susan Pocharski share a laugh during an interview for MORE magazine in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House, February 24, 2015.

  Mrs. Obama redesigned the Old Family Dining Room and opened it to the public on White House tours for the first time in history.

  She preserved the crystal chandelier from 1780, as well as the Kennedy-era antiques. She also updated the room with the addition of modern art and design, including original paintings by Robert Rauschenberg and Josef Albers, as well as a custom rug adapted from a pictorial weaving by Anni Albers.

  My favorite piece in the room is Resurrection, a painting by Alma Thomas, the first African American woman to have her art included in the White House permanent collection.

  Mrs. Obama and Mr. Sindre Finnes of Norway tour the Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC, with Nordic leaders’ spouses, May 13, 2016.

  Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Akie Abe of Japan are greeted by Bo and Sunny in the Ground Floor Corridor of the White House, April 28, 2015.

  Several times a year, the White House hosts a State Arrival Ceremony to welcome foreign dignitaries and strengthen the bonds between countries. The day is filled with pomp and circumstance, from the flags, military marching band, and formal remarks to the beautiful atti
re worn by the First Ladies of both countries.

  Mrs. Obama learned that Mrs. Akie Abe, wife of the Prime Minister of Japan, loves dogs. So she arranged for Mrs. Abe to meet the First Family’s dogs, Bo and Sunny, after the ceremony. To my surprise, the First Ladies sat on the floor in their formal attire as they laughed and played with the dogs. It was such a sweet and informal moment—I could imagine both women as little girls doing the same thing.

  The US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps performs during the Singapore State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, August 2, 2016.

  This photo and following photo: President Obama, Mrs. Obama, and Pope Francis wave to the crowd from the Blue Room Balcony following the State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, September 23, 2015.

  President Obama and Mrs. Obama take their place on the North Portico for the arrival of the Nordic leaders for the State Dinner at the White House, May 13, 2016.

  The President and First Lady enter the State Dinner for the US–Nordic Leaders Summit on the South Lawn of the White House, May 13, 2016.

  The First Lady’s place setting at the State Dinner, May 13, 2016.

  Mrs. Obama dances on stage following a Broadway performance hosted by Matthew Morrison and Kristin Chenoweth in the East Room of the White House, November 16, 2015. The event featured music from Finding Neverland, Fun Home, Something Rotten!, School of Rock, An American in Paris, and On Your Feet! Students were invited to participate in a day-long workshop with the artists.

  First Lady Michelle Obama and the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities host the White House Talent Show in the East Room of the White House, May 20, 2014. The event showcased the talents of students from schools participating in Turnaround Arts, a program to help turn around low-performing schools and increase student achievement through arts education.

  Students from the Minnesota Schools of North Port, North Side, and Bethune perform at the White House Turnaround Arts Talent Show in the East Room of the White House, May 25, 2016.

  The First Lady congratulates Sphinx Overture students following their performance during the 2016 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards ceremony in the East Room of the White House, November 15, 2016.

  When students from the Sphinx Overture took the stage in the East Room, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The audience, which included the First Lady, waited in anticipation for the performance to begin.

  I was photographing from the side of the stage so I could compose an image that included Mrs. Obama in the background with the musicians in the foreground. I watched the faces of the crowd as the silence continued. The musicians tuned their instruments with a few squeaky adjustments. I held my breath and hoped they wouldn’t freeze in such a high-pressure environment.

  But the leader of the quartet gave a quick head nod and the music began. They were phenomenal! The audience erupted with joy, and I could see the look of amazement and pride on Mrs. Obama’s face as they finished their performance.

  First Lady Michelle Obama and Sarah Jessica Parker take a selfie in the Blue Room prior to the White House Talent show, May 20, 2014. Kori Schulman, Director of Online Engagement, assists.

  President Obama and Mrs. Obama pose for a photo with Usher and Grace Raymond in the Blue Room prior to “Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles,” February 24, 2016.

  Mrs. Obama welcomes girls from Morocco and Liberia in the State Dining Room before a screening of We Will Rise: Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World, October 11, 2016.

  The First Lady and the Obama family dogs, Bo and Sunny, get a sneak peak of the official White House Christmas tree at the White House, November 27, 2015. The eighteen-and-a-half-foot Fraser fir arrived by horse-drawn wagon.

  This photo and following photo: Mrs. Obama talks with Oprah Winfrey during their last interview in the Yellow Oval Room of the Private Residence of the White House, December 14, 2016.

  Mrs. Obama greets Alicia Keys prior to a screening of the movie The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete, at the White House, January 15, 2014.

  Mrs. Obama waits in the Red Room as she watches Alicia Keys introduce her to the audience gathered in the State Dining Room.

  Mrs. Obama embraces Keniya Brown in the Blue Room prior to the Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day event at the White House, April 20, 2016.

  It was really touching to watch Mrs. Obama greet Keniya Brown in the Blue Room prior to the Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day event. As a foster child, Keniya was a guest invited by DC’s Child and Family Services Agency.

  Keniya had tears in her eyes. She couldn’t believe she was in the same room as the First Lady. Mrs. Obama gave her a big hug and spent time talking with her and sharing encouraging words. I was fortunate to be able to witness and document this meaningful interaction.

  Guests line up in the State Dining Room to meet Mrs. Obama (this photo: July 10, 2015) before the Kids’ State Dinner in the East Room of the White House (following two photos: July 14, 2016).

  President Obama gives Mrs. Obama a kiss on the Blue Room Balcony after welcoming guests to the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, March 28, 2016.

  President Obama and Mrs. Obama read Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak to children during the Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, March 28, 2016.

  The First Lady kicks off an obstacle-course activity in the Rose Garden during the Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, March 28, 2016.

  This photo and following photo: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama sing songs with Girl Scouts during the White House Campout, on the South Lawn of the White House, June 30, 2015.

  This photo and following photo: People gather on Pennsylvania Avenue to celebrate as the White House is lit with the colors of the rainbow marking the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, June 26, 2015.

  Mrs. Obama talks with Mr. Brainwash, a Los Angeles–based graffiti artist, during an event marking the one-year anniversary of Let Girls Learn at Union Market in Washington, DC, March 8, 2016. The mural was commissioned by The Girls’ Lounge.

  President Obama and Mrs. Obama share a moment in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, March 27, 2015.

  It was a common occurrence for President Obama and the First Lady to participate in tapings for various greetings, events, and public service announcements. A camera crew would set up in one of the rooms of the White House to film the message, and I would also be there to document the scene.

  Most times, tapings were quick and straightforward. But there was always a chance for spontaneous moments, especially when President Obama and Mrs. Obama did the tapings together. On this day, they were taping multiple greetings for the 2015 World Expo. After the first taping, the camera crew readjusted their equipment to set up for the next shot. There was a lot of movement in the room, which allowed the President and First Lady to have a moment to enjoy each other’s company. It was just long enough for me to make one quick photo. It happened so quickly that I didn’t even have time to compose the image.

  I typically like a photo that is clean and thoughtfully composed. At first, this shot felt like an “almost” for me because it was so cluttered with the lights and equipment visible in the shot. Luckily, Al Anderson, our wonderful White House photo editor, convinced me that it was great despite its composition because the moment was so sweet and special. This photo has since been shared widely and has become one of the most well-known images that I captured during my time as a White House photographer.

  Chapter 3

  REACH HIGHER

  The First Lady of the Unites States doesn’t earn a salary. She has a small staff and no budget for her initiatives. But that didn’t limit Mrs. Obama’s goals—she used her platform to shine light on the issues that were most important to her. She harnessed the strength of her relationships to build partnerships in support of her initiatives. And she used her voice to
inspire and empower people throughout the country and the world.

  Mrs. Obama and her staff knew the significance of reaching people through various outlets. She embraced the power of social media and celebrity support. She wasn’t afraid to be silly, to dance, to get dirty in the garden, to exercise, or to participate in funny skits, especially if it would help to communicate an important message. Mrs. Obama was candid and authentic. She was always willing to share her personal stories because she knew it could help others.