This week’s top photo comes from Assistant Photo Editor Pat Nabong. Follow her on Instagram.
Why is this photo important?
The Obama Presidential Center opened to the public on Juneteenth, the federal holiday that celebrates the abolishment of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865. In Texas, slave owners defied the Emancipation Proclamation that President Abraham Lincoln had signed more than two years before. One hundred and sixty-one years later on June 19, 2026, the Obama Presidential Center welcomed people from Louisiana, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and other parts of the country. That day was a celebration of Juneteenth and the center, which traces the struggle and accomplishments of Black people through the years, reflects the history of movers and shakers as well as everyday people, and provides a space for the surrounding community.
How did you make this photo?
The Obama Presidential Museum’s architecture has become somewhat iconic, standing tall as a representation of the center and also a visual symbol that can be interpreted in many different ways. Since it was Juneteenth, I was watching for any scene that could convey the joyous vibe. There were people dancing on the John Lewis Plaza, visitors touring the garden and people taking selfies outside the museum. This person caught my eye because she was standing under the towering building as her colorful outfit moved with the wind. It seemed to be a moment of reflection for her since she stood there almost unmoving for several minutes, unlike people taking selfies and roaming the grounds around her. I was drawn to that quiet moment and crouched behind her, waiting for her to move so I could see a profile of her face. When she turned around to walk to her friend, the sleeves of her top swayed, creating a more dynamic frame.
Technical details:
- Equipment: Sony A7IV with a 24-70mm lens
- Focal length: 24mm
- Shutter: 1/1600
- Aperture: F/4.5
- ISO: 200
