The Rise of Barack Obama

Illinois Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign has galvanized Democrats and independents in ways not seen or heard since John F. Kennedy was president. In fact, the belief in Obama's political positions, his charisma, and Barack's affinity for connecting with his audience has brought an endorsement from Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy, Ethel Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy.

Pete Souza has extensively documented Senator Barack Obama's rise to political stardom with exclusive photographs beginning with Obama's first day in the U.S. Senate. He has accompanied the Senator to seven countries including Kenya, South Africa, and Russia. Souza had unprecedented access to photograph private and political moments as senator and presidential candidate Obama went about his duties. His photographs of Obama have won national photojournalism awards for the past three years.

Souza is a freelance photographer and assistant professor of photojournalism at Ohio University. He has worked as an official White House photographer for President Ronald Reagan and was also the official photographer for the President's June 2004 funeral. He is the author of two celebrated photographic books of President Reagan's term in office, Unguarded Moments: Behind-the-Scenes Photographs of President Reagan (1992) and Images of Greatness: An Intimate Look at the Presidency of Ronald Reagan by Triumph Books (2004.)

Souza's photographs have also appeared as photo spreads or covers in renowned magazines as National Geographic, Life, Fortune, Newsweek, and U.S. News & World Report. His photographs have also been part of group exhibits at the National Archives, Smithsonian Museum of American History, and Corcoran Gallery of Art.