How A White House Photographer Ended Up In Madison

There is a Madisonian whose name you might not know, but you’ve certainly seen his work. He is the photojournalist behind the photo of President Obama in the White House situation room during the Bin Laden raid. He captured the iconic moment when a five-year-old child reached up and touched Obama’s hair, after asking if it was like his own. White House photographer Pete Souza captured history as it was happening, and then when he was done with his work at the White House, he moved here to Madison, Wisconsin. He currently freelances and occasionally pops off about current events online, when he’s not taking beautiful images of our fair city. 

We caught up with him last year to learn what it was like to be a witness to history during those years. 

And of course, how we can become better photographers. 

Pete Souza’s most recent book is called The West Wing and Beyond: What I Saw Inside the Presidency. 

Also on the show: 

• Beginner’s Photography Class from the Madison Photography Group
• Mansion Hill West Historic Architecture Walking Tour from the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation

This episode originally aired June 28, 2023.

Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram! 

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