First published 2008
Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign awakened civic engagement across America. Award-winning photojournalist Scout Tufankjian captured this historic moment through more than 200 color photographs, documenting Obama's journey from announcement to victory. Tufankjian was the only photographer to cover the entire campaign, following Obama for twenty-three months across the country. She photographed him in coffee shops and diners, manufacturing plants and bowling alleys, wealthy homes and impoverished reservations. Her images show both the candidate and the Americans who came to see him, from skeptical Iowa farmers to excited children who saw themselves reflected in this politician. The book reveals how Obama inspired millions of people from every background, capturing their faces, questions, and reactions as they hung on his words. Tufankjian's personal journey began reluctantly with a drive to New Hampshire for a book signing, where she immediately recognized the campaign's importance. Her photographs document not just a political race but Americans rediscovering their hopes and dreams through a candidate who gave voice to their aspirations.
Genres: biography, american, political-science, 21st-century, activism, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: inspirational, social-commentary
Setting: America, New Hampshire
Period: 2008
192 pages · Hardcover · powerHouse Books