The O-B-A-M-A Photos Dan Wagner Ebook
by Dan Wagner
About the Ebook
October – November 2008
One day in late September 2008, I had a brainstorm. I would take photos of strangers all over New York City, in Washington, D.C. and other locations brandishing three-foot tall letters spelling O-B-A-M-A.
Seemed plausible -- except for a few minor challenges.
First, I didn’t have the letters. A little research and a check for $650 to a letter manufacturing company solved that problem.
My second challenge was less easy to solve. Would I be able to persuade strangers to pose with the letters? There was a hopeful excitement in the air surrounding Obama’s candidacy that felt physically tangible. I decided to go for it.
Luckily, people were willing to hold the letters and eager to participate. I was surprised when one woman said, “I’m a Republican, but my friend is holding the letter O, so I’ll stand next to her and hold the letter B.” I received my single negative comment in Washington D.C. near Republican headquarters where a woman remarked, “If you have a letter N, I’ll hold it before the letter O.” That was funny.
A high point of this project was when I managed to convince people in rowboats in New York City’s Central Park to hold my letters. The hundreds of onlookers around the lake had no idea what we were up to until I gave the signal for the people in the rowboats to raise their letters. The moment was rewarded with resounding applause.
As I write this, the 2012 presidential election is heating up. These photos are a visual record of just some of the ordinary people who cast their votes for Obama four years ago.
I still have my O-B-A-M-A letters. Who knows, I just might run into you and ask if you’ll hold one up in a photo.
Dan Wagner
New York
Summer 2012
Features & Details
- Primary Category: Arts & Photography Books
- Version Fixed-layout ebook, 40 pgs
- Publish Date: Jun 24, 2012
- Last Edit Dec 23, 2018
- Language English
- Keywords Obama, 2008, Signs, New York City, Washington
About the Creator
From the age of eight, when he received a Kodak Instamatic for his birthday, Dan Wagner has always been passionate about photography. Following his muse, Dan majored in photography in college. He subsequently assisted top shooters, opened a photo studio, and taught photography at FIT. His expertise runs the gamut to include fine art, advertising, corporate, editorial, event, and still life photography. Dan’s clients include Chubb Group, NYPD, FDNY, NBC Comcast, DuPont, MJHS, NSLIJ, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, numerous magazines and newspapers, as well as Fortune 500 companies. When not on assignment, Dan enjoys writing novels and articles, sailing, watching foreign films, hiking, travel, and most of all spending time with his family.