The White House released a new official portrait of President Obama just a few days before his second term in office is set to begin.
The photo, taken by White House photographer Pete Souza on Dec. 6 of last year, shows the president standing hin front of his desk in the Oval Office with a big smile on his face.
That’s a contrast from his first official portrait, which was also taken by Souza just a few days before Obama took the oath of office in 2009. In that image he had a more serious, determined facial expression than this new one—he had no smile, and was in a less recognizable setting with a flag over his shoulder.
The four years that have passed between portraits can be seen in his hair, now speckled with gray.
While the setting, tie, and expression may have changed, at least two things have remained the same, the subject and the American flag pin on his left lapel.
Morgan Whitaker