The new official portrait of Donald Trump, produced for his inauguration as the 47th president of the United States, arouses controversial lives. Both by its aesthetic only by the implicit messages that it conveys, this image appeals to photography enthusiasts as well as political analysts.
Dramatic and theatrical lighting
One of the most notable elements of this portrait is dramatic lighting. Using a light placed below the eye line, the official photographer, Daniel Torokgave the image an appearance dark and theatricalwith marked shadows.
The photo was taken with a Nikon Z 9 and a Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.2 S. It was lit using Profoto lighting equipment: a D30 for front lighting, two B10X positioned above the shoulders and below the eye line and a flash A2 for hair lighting, with light boxes and honeycombs. A lot of editing was done to get the final image.
According to several professional photographers, this lighting technique is unusual for an official presidential portrait. “The deliberate choice of underlighting was intended to draw attention to the subject’s eyes, creating a dramatic and intentional effect,” Jared Polin says in his review. Moreover, the photographer told him that he had never taken a portrait in the studio with such lighting. Amazing.
In comparison, the former official portrait of Donald Trump, taken in 2017presented more neutral and conventional lighting, offering a image plus accessible. This radical change could reflect a communication strategy aimed at imposing a image of firmness.
A severe expression, far from conventions
Trump’s face in this portrait sports a serious expressionwith furrowed eyebrows and a piercing gaze. Shealah Craighead, a former official White House photographer, noted that this pose is one of Trump’s favorites, as he considers smiling a sign of weakness. “He always tries to project an image of power, and this pose illustrates that perfectly,” she told the New York Times.
To this is added a strange similarity with his famous mugshot taken in 2023 in Georgia during his legal troubles. This visual association could be interpreted as a assumed message of defiance in the face of adversity. Moreover, Daniel Torok, at the origin of this photo, confirmed that this official photo was strongly inspired of Donal Trump’s mugshot, “one of the most searched photos on the web since 2023”.
-Timothy O’BrienTrump’s biographer, describes this development as a mixture between the narrowed gaze of a Clint Eastwood and one reminiscence of his mugshot. In this sense, this portrait stands out radically traditional American presidential portraits, which generally present a warm and approachable image of the head of state.
A photographer also noted that the lighting reminiscent of the series “End Times” by Jill Greenberg, known for her provocative portraits of crying children.
A deliberate political choice
Beyond purely aesthetic aspectsthis portrait reflects a clear political strategy. Pete Souza, former chief White House photographer under Obama, points out that official portraits often reflect not only the president’s character, but also the mood of the nation. “This portrait is more than just a photo; he is a statement about how Trump sees himself and wants to be seen by the nation,” he explained to the New York Times.
By moving away from the conventions of presidential portraits, this visual choice reinforces the image of a fighting Trumpbreaking with traditional norms. For its supporters, this image embodies the determination and the strength necessary to lead the country. For its detractors, it refers to a authoritarian leadereven intimidating.
The official portrait of Donald Trump, far from being a simple protocol exercise, constitutes a real communication stunt. By his dramatic lightingson severe expression and his implicit references to significant eventsit polarizes as much as it fascinates. Whether we appreciate this aesthetic or not, it marks a singular step in the history of American presidential portraits.
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